Obviously I’ve been spending hours at a time recently holed up in the utility portion of my basement getting high off the adhesive on the back of self-stick vinyl tiles. (Just kidding, it has no smell… not that I’ve tried or anything. Um. Moving on.) It’s not exactly a mentally-engaging project, so I’ve been considering what else needs to be done in the workshop/laundry area, and given unlimited time and project-funds what I want do do to the workshop/laundry area.
In the need column:
-
Ceramic tile in the stairway
-
Paint stripped off the stairs
In the want column:
-
New lighting in the shop area that operates off a switch and not pull chains
-
Drop ceiling (maybe)
-
Full time laundry monkey to sort, wash, and fold clothing
The tile and paint are easy (given time and motivation) the new lighting… ehhh. I have this minor fear of electricity, likely stemming from the time I electrocuted half of my body from a “hot” telephone wire that had been cut by the lawn mower in my dad’s front yard. Aside from a lingering tingle on the right side of my personal hemisphere, the other thing I took away from that experience was an irrational fear of changing light-bulbs. I don’t know why. I can shoot guns but I can’t change a light bulb without cringing and violently suppressing the urge to squeal like a girl with every twist of glass into socket.
I’ve sort of been talking myself down from that over the last week or so spent in the glow of 3 dusty 75 watt bare bulbs that light the basement. Giving myself the “I can do anything I put my mind to speech” and thinking I should really get a book or something on basic wiring.
Then I read this article, specifically the following:
| In most parts — but not all — of the United States and Canada, homeowners are allowed to do their own wiring. If you’re at all unsure about what’s correct or safe, don’t try it! Contact a qualified expert, licensed electrician, or local electrical inspector. Electricity is no joke; even small mistakes can result in shocks, fires, or electrocution. |
Except for I totally misread the first line and thought it said “In most parts of the United states homeowners are not allowed to do their own wiring…” And every cell on the right side of my body gave a huge sigh of relief.
So now I’m all debating, do I a.) Suck it up and do it myself, b.) whine and make pouty faces at MysteryMan until he agrees to do it hoping that he electrocutes himself and it puts him out of his misery, or c.) hire someone?
Anyone in the fabulous world of DIYers out there every wire in their own fluorescent fixtures? Did it result in electrocution or the fiery destruction of your home?
Just wondering.
PDF 
Possibly Related Posts
Comments
Aimee
We have done a lot of our own light fixtures and switches, but never fluorescents. Not sure how different they are, but usually normal lights are fairly straightforward.
jenni
Fluorescent fixtures wire up just like the rest. Black to black/ white to white/ neutral to neutral. I worked on installing fixtures, swithches, and outlets. I just found instructions from google.
Debi
Fluorescents are black to black and white to white, but you need to ground them properly.
kitliz
Thanks everyone… there is actually no wiring in place now so its more hooking it into the breaker and wiring it all into a switch. I imagine you have to shut off power at the breaker? I know, I know, I need to go get a book and figure it out. Definitely taking the “grounding” under advisement!
Good call on getting the instructions from google, Jenni… this is a weekend project if I’ve ever had one!
Hairy Weisenheimmer
Hairy Weisenheimmer
Oops! Tried to paste a picture in there and it didn’t work. Maybe this will
[IMG]http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/lostinthgt64/electrocution.jpg[/IMG]
Hairy Weisenheimmer
Well poop. Never mind then….
Be Careful!!!!!
brandy
Ahh no. I don’t do my own wiring. I remember you once mentioning that you didn’t like changing lightbulbs and nodding my head because I don’t like that to do that either. Maybe it’s because I too have been shocked by electricity (the result of wet hands, touching a metal frame that was charged), that resulted in blisters on all my fingers?
Possibly.
MowGood
DIYD,
Mowing a telephone wire!?! That’s a new one! We’ve heard concern about running over the cord of (non cordless) electric mowers but not phone wires! As for safety, would probably recommend the person doing concrete work (in your blog pic) NOT to be barefoot as well… there are a few corrosive ingredients in most mortar mixes…
Be careful,
MG
The Handyguys
I wired up quantity 8, 8 foot long, double tube florescent light fixtures in my garage, er ah, shop. Its a 2 1/2 car garage and now I have plenty of light when working on stuff. I would be glad to walk your through the process. Maybe even do a podcast on the subject! The Handyguys are recording this Friday night. If you get a question in before then I’ll make sure we use it on the air. We do not get much use of our call in feature yet. You could be one of the first. Give us a call at (615) 676-0877 and leave a voice mail message with your question. We then take the voice mail and splice it into the podcast and answer your question on the air. How cool is that? When you leave your message tell us your email address and/or phone number so we can contact you with follow-up questions if necessary. We will not broadcast your personal info in the podcast.
The Handyguys
http://www.handyguyspodcast.com
Maggie Saunders
hi
i9g4c8eoxzb3gnst
good luck
Bob
I have your site for its useful and funny content and simple design.
Preston
S1ZZtmoIUkN1T
Marly
Wonderful and informative web site.I used information from that site its great.g