
120V 240V Electricity explained - Split phase 3 wire electrician
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Date: 2023-11-17
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Comments and reviews: 30
Seemsayin
I don't get it. If schools suck SO bad. then how the hell did this video get made? Electricity only works ONE way, based upon the system in which it exists. The guy who made this video didn't have his own video to learn from. So then. how the hell did he come up with this video? You guessed it: the SAME way you're learning.
School probably sucks because the learning curve will always be steep. And it can get boring. It's advanced. It's supposed to be difficult to the average person. Is it any wonder so many people commenting have such negative things to say? School doesn't suck. The learning mentality sucks. I went through trade school. I had good and bad days. But, overall. Anyone who wants to learn, and is truly interested in the trade will NOT be deterred by not having a cool video to watch. Learning anything technical is NOT supposed to be easy, entertaining, nor fun.
One commentor said this is baby, compared to the entire scope of the industry. He's right. Electricity is INVOLVED. There's a LOT to know, even before you get to the field. There's even more in the field. With all of its applications, in the field. you'll wear yourself out just thinking about it. It takes years of hands-on experience just to get the basics down, and become proficient.
And keep in mind that the people who invented this industry, did it from scratch, with little to no resources, by candle light. They didn't have meters, testers, reference material, specialized tools, nor TEACHERS. They didn't think it was boring or sucked to learn.
What would you do if this video WASN'T available? Gee. I guess you'd be stuck learning, just like this guy did. Good luck.
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I don't get it. If schools suck SO bad. then how the hell did this video get made? Electricity only works ONE way, based upon the system in which it exists. The guy who made this video didn't have his own video to learn from. So then. how the hell did he come up with this video? You guessed it: the SAME way you're learning.
School probably sucks because the learning curve will always be steep. And it can get boring. It's advanced. It's supposed to be difficult to the average person. Is it any wonder so many people commenting have such negative things to say? School doesn't suck. The learning mentality sucks. I went through trade school. I had good and bad days. But, overall. Anyone who wants to learn, and is truly interested in the trade will NOT be deterred by not having a cool video to watch. Learning anything technical is NOT supposed to be easy, entertaining, nor fun.
One commentor said this is baby, compared to the entire scope of the industry. He's right. Electricity is INVOLVED. There's a LOT to know, even before you get to the field. There's even more in the field. With all of its applications, in the field. you'll wear yourself out just thinking about it. It takes years of hands-on experience just to get the basics down, and become proficient.
And keep in mind that the people who invented this industry, did it from scratch, with little to no resources, by candle light. They didn't have meters, testers, reference material, specialized tools, nor TEACHERS. They didn't think it was boring or sucked to learn.
What would you do if this video WASN'T available? Gee. I guess you'd be stuck learning, just like this guy did. Good luck.
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NICU
My country electricity devices is called
AFCI = RCBO or RCD with overload protection might be main breaker prevent for short circuit overload and earth leakage that over 30 mA of current
GFCI = ELCB or earth leakage breaker may be in the water heating that prevents only leakage current that over 16 mA
and sockets might be have a GFCI or call an RCD Residual Current Devices that prevents like ELCB but prevent current leakage over 10 mA may be used of water pump and water purifier
MCBs are single pole and prevent only short circuit and overload in curve C
All of MCBs RCBO ELCB are cover for Alternative Current Used Only
And Direct Current is used another device
MCCB for prevents overload and short circuit like MCB
RCDB for prevent earth leakage current like GFCI or ELCB
1 Phase 240v for socket and home used and triple phase 380v for air conditioning EV charger or motor like hybrid car
Ground and neutral is same busbar
Transformer for AC to DC
An inverter for DC to AC
A convertor for voltage modification
electric meter is measured the KWh and Kcal and includes TAX and Maintenance fee by multiplicator factors
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My country electricity devices is called
AFCI = RCBO or RCD with overload protection might be main breaker prevent for short circuit overload and earth leakage that over 30 mA of current
GFCI = ELCB or earth leakage breaker may be in the water heating that prevents only leakage current that over 16 mA
and sockets might be have a GFCI or call an RCD Residual Current Devices that prevents like ELCB but prevent current leakage over 10 mA may be used of water pump and water purifier
MCBs are single pole and prevent only short circuit and overload in curve C
All of MCBs RCBO ELCB are cover for Alternative Current Used Only
And Direct Current is used another device
MCCB for prevents overload and short circuit like MCB
RCDB for prevent earth leakage current like GFCI or ELCB
1 Phase 240v for socket and home used and triple phase 380v for air conditioning EV charger or motor like hybrid car
Ground and neutral is same busbar
Transformer for AC to DC
An inverter for DC to AC
A convertor for voltage modification
electric meter is measured the KWh and Kcal and includes TAX and Maintenance fee by multiplicator factors
reply
Billy
This video is amazing! My dad set up a 220V line in the family house 20 or so years ago so we can use appliances from Asia. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with cancer and now in the hospital. He tried to explain to me how he did it (so I can take it apart after he pass) by tapping together two hot wires. that made no sense to me. As I thought that would just be a parallel circuit and the voltage would be the same with increased current capacity. After seeing this, it made perfect sense. the two hot wires run the full length of the 240V transformer! And normally we only use half of that! Idk how my dad figured it out without ever finishing high school or getting electrician training. And here I am getting my second Master's degree in engineering.
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This video is amazing! My dad set up a 220V line in the family house 20 or so years ago so we can use appliances from Asia. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with cancer and now in the hospital. He tried to explain to me how he did it (so I can take it apart after he pass) by tapping together two hot wires. that made no sense to me. As I thought that would just be a parallel circuit and the voltage would be the same with increased current capacity. After seeing this, it made perfect sense. the two hot wires run the full length of the 240V transformer! And normally we only use half of that! Idk how my dad figured it out without ever finishing high school or getting electrician training. And here I am getting my second Master's degree in engineering.
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Govind
Hi Mr. Paul Evans,
this is Govind, I just have a small doubt regarding Philips (or on that note on every induction cooktop)
Sir Philips 4928 and 4938 are valued at a peak wattage of 2100W but they are provided with a mere 6A plug.
But how is this possible to reach a wattage of 2100w with a 6A plug.
Considering power(W) = Current(A) x voltage (v)
i. e. considering the max voltage of the Indian average voltage of 240 volts a 6 amperes plug should be able to provide only 240x6 =1440 Watts of power, but how can they claim to reach 2100W?
2)My 1400W microwave oven uses 16A plug.
Please do reply ASAP sir I am ready to buy one and anyone who knows the answer please feel free to reply. and correct me if I am wrong
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Hi Mr. Paul Evans,
this is Govind, I just have a small doubt regarding Philips (or on that note on every induction cooktop)
Sir Philips 4928 and 4938 are valued at a peak wattage of 2100W but they are provided with a mere 6A plug.
But how is this possible to reach a wattage of 2100w with a 6A plug.
Considering power(W) = Current(A) x voltage (v)
i. e. considering the max voltage of the Indian average voltage of 240 volts a 6 amperes plug should be able to provide only 240x6 =1440 Watts of power, but how can they claim to reach 2100W?
2)My 1400W microwave oven uses 16A plug.
Please do reply ASAP sir I am ready to buy one and anyone who knows the answer please feel free to reply. and correct me if I am wrong
reply
Alpha66
I appreciate this informative video. Been wondering why my 240v outlet in the shed is only putting out 120 on each leg but 0 when combined. I took apart the outlet and inspected/cleaned it thinking that was it but nope. I checked the 30 amp breaker. 120 on each leg and 240 combined so that checked out ok. I then noticed that someone attached both hot wires from the shed to only one pole on the breaker. I'm no expert but that just didn't make sense. Why would someone do that? Mistake maybe? IDK. The information in this video confirmed that in order to get 240V each wire has to connect to its own 120V breaker pole. Thank you for sharing. Liked and subbed.
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I appreciate this informative video. Been wondering why my 240v outlet in the shed is only putting out 120 on each leg but 0 when combined. I took apart the outlet and inspected/cleaned it thinking that was it but nope. I checked the 30 amp breaker. 120 on each leg and 240 combined so that checked out ok. I then noticed that someone attached both hot wires from the shed to only one pole on the breaker. I'm no expert but that just didn't make sense. Why would someone do that? Mistake maybe? IDK. The information in this video confirmed that in order to get 240V each wire has to connect to its own 120V breaker pole. Thank you for sharing. Liked and subbed.
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John
My home is in California and currently has 100A, 120V / 240V split phase service from the Electrical Utility provider. I want to understand what is required to increase the service to be 200A. I know a new meter, service panel and main breaker all rated for 200A will be required. What else will the Utility provider need to do? How can the electrical service keep the 120V / 240V, yet provide the correct amount of Voltage to accommodate twice the amperage? Is it because 120V / 240V is more voltage than is necessary to accommodate 100A, to begin with?
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My home is in California and currently has 100A, 120V / 240V split phase service from the Electrical Utility provider. I want to understand what is required to increase the service to be 200A. I know a new meter, service panel and main breaker all rated for 200A will be required. What else will the Utility provider need to do? How can the electrical service keep the 120V / 240V, yet provide the correct amount of Voltage to accommodate twice the amperage? Is it because 120V / 240V is more voltage than is necessary to accommodate 100A, to begin with?
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Anton
4: 01 So the purpose of the neutral bar is to return the used electricity back to the transformer? Isnt it an AC current and current goes back and forth between hot and neutral? And the really the purpose of the neutral is to complete the circuit and only the difference that the neutral is grounded? You show animation showing that earlier in the video and then is that which is very confusing, especially for someone who is trying to learn it the first time or clarify it. Please correct me if Im wrong.
Thanks
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4: 01 So the purpose of the neutral bar is to return the used electricity back to the transformer? Isnt it an AC current and current goes back and forth between hot and neutral? And the really the purpose of the neutral is to complete the circuit and only the difference that the neutral is grounded? You show animation showing that earlier in the video and then is that which is very confusing, especially for someone who is trying to learn it the first time or clarify it. Please correct me if Im wrong.
Thanks
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Tom
UK Electrician here. This seems like a mix between TT systems, and how our 110v site transformers and shaver sockets work.
Few notes. I find it pointless to have a ground coming back, when its connected to the neutral bar anyway, might as well fly lead each metal casing at the accessory; at least with our TNCS its at the head.
The isolated transformer brings in a high impedance, so surely youre much less likely to get a shock when you calculated the earth fault loop impedance form the supply?
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UK Electrician here. This seems like a mix between TT systems, and how our 110v site transformers and shaver sockets work.
Few notes. I find it pointless to have a ground coming back, when its connected to the neutral bar anyway, might as well fly lead each metal casing at the accessory; at least with our TNCS its at the head.
The isolated transformer brings in a high impedance, so surely youre much less likely to get a shock when you calculated the earth fault loop impedance form the supply?
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Martin
New to electricity and really enjoying your videos, but I have a question: Is it really a helpful simplification to say that the electricity gets used? Makes me think of red blood cells depositing oxygen in the cells, and carrying carbon dioxide back out. But the electrons don't really care about the load, right? I mean, they don't deposit anything, right? So would it not be better to just say that the hot carries the electrons to the load, and the neutral away from it (in the DC example?
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New to electricity and really enjoying your videos, but I have a question: Is it really a helpful simplification to say that the electricity gets used? Makes me think of red blood cells depositing oxygen in the cells, and carrying carbon dioxide back out. But the electrons don't really care about the load, right? I mean, they don't deposit anything, right? So would it not be better to just say that the hot carries the electrons to the load, and the neutral away from it (in the DC example?
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Charley
If there is a connection between ground and neutral bus bar than how can there be 120V read on the DMM between them? I feel like the connection should make the voltage between them 0V? Look at 4: 28can someone please clarify this or is this a mistake in the video? Or is this measurement only 120V before you make the connection between ground and neutral bus bars?
If so why doesnt this trip the breaker as soon as the connection is made?
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If there is a connection between ground and neutral bus bar than how can there be 120V read on the DMM between them? I feel like the connection should make the voltage between them 0V? Look at 4: 28can someone please clarify this or is this a mistake in the video? Or is this measurement only 120V before you make the connection between ground and neutral bus bars?
If so why doesnt this trip the breaker as soon as the connection is made?
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fred
another crazy american thing, like still using inches feet and miles, fahrenheit and not Celsius, starting with the month in dates and not the say - day - month - year, america is a backward sort of place.
take temperature, zero degree's celsius water freezes and at 100 celsius it boils, now that makes sense, and 1000 meters equals a kilometer, it's all so much simpler to go metric, everything makes sense?
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another crazy american thing, like still using inches feet and miles, fahrenheit and not Celsius, starting with the month in dates and not the say - day - month - year, america is a backward sort of place.
take temperature, zero degree's celsius water freezes and at 100 celsius it boils, now that makes sense, and 1000 meters equals a kilometer, it's all so much simpler to go metric, everything makes sense?
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Dragon
Oh god the breakers protected me, I almost died when I was a little kid. So, when I was a kid, I once tried to plug a paper clip between the 2 holes. The ones I have is the one with 2 rounded holes 220 volts. Then the breakers shut off the electricity. Imagine what would happen if I don't have circuit braker.
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Oh god the breakers protected me, I almost died when I was a little kid. So, when I was a kid, I once tried to plug a paper clip between the 2 holes. The ones I have is the one with 2 rounded holes 220 volts. Then the breakers shut off the electricity. Imagine what would happen if I don't have circuit braker.
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Raven4K
so if your going to run up the resistance with charging an electric vehicle over a long period of time at home would 120 volt last longer then the 240 volt line or would it be the other way around which would reach end of life first please do a video on this subject please pretty please
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so if your going to run up the resistance with charging an electric vehicle over a long period of time at home would 120 volt last longer then the 240 volt line or would it be the other way around which would reach end of life first please do a video on this subject please pretty please
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teelermeeler
This is an amazing video. I was actually looking for something that broke these systems down and happened to find this video. Can you do one like this, but connecting a solar array and back-up batteries for your house? I don't need to back feed power, but store it.
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This is an amazing video. I was actually looking for something that broke these systems down and happened to find this video. Can you do one like this, but connecting a solar array and back-up batteries for your house? I don't need to back feed power, but store it.
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bradley200711
How is a solar power main panel wired for 240 volts in U. S? If an inverter is connected to a dedicated solar main breaker panel (not grid tied) is the neutral busbar connected to the grounding busbar and is the grounding bus bar connected an earth ground?
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How is a solar power main panel wired for 240 volts in U. S? If an inverter is connected to a dedicated solar main breaker panel (not grid tied) is the neutral busbar connected to the grounding busbar and is the grounding bus bar connected an earth ground?
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Phat
i use to to vacation to my home country vietnam, they used 220/240v system. Can i buy at a panel 120/240v to install over there and install a ground bar for neutral to get 120v out of it? i want to do it because i want to use american tools over there.
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i use to to vacation to my home country vietnam, they used 220/240v system. Can i buy at a panel 120/240v to install over there and install a ground bar for neutral to get 120v out of it? i want to do it because i want to use american tools over there.
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Whisley
I don't get it. If the earth is looped with the neutral will always have some voltage returning through the earth cable so if you bond the water pipe so could make you jump if you touch it right and may be would go through the water aswell right?
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I don't get it. If the earth is looped with the neutral will always have some voltage returning through the earth cable so if you bond the water pipe so could make you jump if you touch it right and may be would go through the water aswell right?
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TazxTehz
could you explain whether when terminal changes(negative terminal/ opposite direction of current) does current start flowing through neutral wire from the A. C power source into appliance then into the live wire back to the a. c source?
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could you explain whether when terminal changes(negative terminal/ opposite direction of current) does current start flowing through neutral wire from the A. C power source into appliance then into the live wire back to the a. c source?
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IC_01
Thank you for making this video! Im in school right now and I was having trouble following along in class because I couldn't visually see what the instructors are explaining. This video is very easy to understand and so helpful!
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Thank you for making this video! Im in school right now and I was having trouble following along in class because I couldn't visually see what the instructors are explaining. This video is very easy to understand and so helpful!
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Moayad
Is it possible that we have 2 live wires without a neutral? For example if I have a 240V device with two terminals (L) & (N) is possible to connect two live wires each carrying 120V one to the (L) and one to the (N?
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Is it possible that we have 2 live wires without a neutral? For example if I have a 240V device with two terminals (L) & (N) is possible to connect two live wires each carrying 120V one to the (L) and one to the (N?
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Simon
Wait, so the grid shown at 1: 04 is 3 phase? As in: each phase is 120 degrees apart from the next phase? So how can it be that people claim that the two hot wires from the 240V dryer receptacle are 180 degrees apart?
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Wait, so the grid shown at 1: 04 is 3 phase? As in: each phase is 120 degrees apart from the next phase? So how can it be that people claim that the two hot wires from the 240V dryer receptacle are 180 degrees apart?
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projectartichoke
Great video and extremely accurate information. You can't believe how many people call this system two-phase when it is, as you said, split-phase meaning a single phase split by a center tap transformer.
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Great video and extremely accurate information. You can't believe how many people call this system two-phase when it is, as you said, split-phase meaning a single phase split by a center tap transformer.
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Frugal
well, Paul - how about explaining to your viewers EXACTLY how a 120V or 240V is manufactured. That is, what is the mechanical difference between a 120V incandescent bulb and a 240V incandescent bulb.
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well, Paul - how about explaining to your viewers EXACTLY how a 120V or 240V is manufactured. That is, what is the mechanical difference between a 120V incandescent bulb and a 240V incandescent bulb.
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William
If I use a 600Volts TS 6/2 with ground with a 50 Amp double Breaker do I Hook up the Black on one side of the Breaker an the White Wire to the other side of the Breaker at the supply Pole/Box?
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If I use a 600Volts TS 6/2 with ground with a 50 Amp double Breaker do I Hook up the Black on one side of the Breaker an the White Wire to the other side of the Breaker at the supply Pole/Box?
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Aidan
What is done with the third coil from the 3 phase transformer? I only see two phases being used. Do you have a video to further explain the transition from 3 phase to the 2-hot 1-neutral?
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What is done with the third coil from the 3 phase transformer? I only see two phases being used. Do you have a video to further explain the transition from 3 phase to the 2-hot 1-neutral?
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Flippusmn
Is the main breaker amp rating at 240V? Since the two hot wires would be on opposite phase? Like if you had a 60A main but ran 80A at the 120V receptacles would it be okay?
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Is the main breaker amp rating at 240V? Since the two hot wires would be on opposite phase? Like if you had a 60A main but ran 80A at the 120V receptacles would it be okay?
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Ted
Sir: Question please. Does the pictured single phase transformer (primary coil) have a NEUTRAL back to the substation? If so, is this a Wye Wye transformer? or something else?
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Sir: Question please. Does the pictured single phase transformer (primary coil) have a NEUTRAL back to the substation? If so, is this a Wye Wye transformer? or something else?
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Jarryd
Interesting about grounding neutral to ground rod, I thought ground rod to ground in panel not neutral. Good to know, I'm not an electrician just very interested in it!
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Interesting about grounding neutral to ground rod, I thought ground rod to ground in panel not neutral. Good to know, I'm not an electrician just very interested in it!
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Chris
Why is there only one wire on the top of the power poles on my street? Also there is only one wire and bushing on the top of the pole mounted transformer?
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Why is there only one wire on the top of the power poles on my street? Also there is only one wire and bushing on the top of the pole mounted transformer?
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Harpo's
What an amazing video! I purchased my home 3 years ago and often found myself staring at the electrical box in the basement wondering how it all worked.
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What an amazing video! I purchased my home 3 years ago and often found myself staring at the electrical box in the basement wondering how it all worked.
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