Author: Andy

Wiring Update

I’m approaching the halfway mark on our wiring project, but we’ve pretty much only worked with the easy branch circuits so far. The panel and service have been updated, the basement lighting and outlets have been added/changed, the overloaded fridge/crawl space/lighting/home theater/radon circuit has been broken up in to 3 separate circuits, the furnace, garage and water heater have all been updated and moved, and a whole panel surge suppressor has been added. And as of last night, the guest room has it’s own AFCI protected circuit with a ceiling fan.

But that’s the easy stuff. The remaining circuits span multiple floors, are split up with junction boxes like nobody’s business. The wiring is much harder to access without doing some damage to the plaster, and there’s just no easy access to most of the runs.

One of the more challenging aspects is trying to understand some of the exiting circuits. You pop of the lid to a junction box and the rat’s nest of old wiring and wire nuts is frightening. There’s also this old junction box in the basement stairwell which must have been the original service panel. Most of the first floor and second floor is lit and powered by the wires coming in and out of the box. I spent some time flipping breakers and labeling wires last night and I think time will be saved if I just bust open the plaster so I can see what is going on behind the walls.
An old junction box with old and older wiring. Scary.
Anyway, the project has been mostly fun, though I know I do have to go back in to the crawl space again soon, and I’m more sore than I expected, but there’s great satisfaction in making these updates. The basement, for example, is a completely different place.

Found on Google Street View

Last November, while the girls and I were hobbling barefoot to the beach, we encountered a Google Street View car making it’s rounds. The car is odd enough looking that the girls were curious about it. When I explained what it was doing, and that in roughly a year, we’d be able to see ourselves on the internet, they didn’t quite get it. Well, the photos finally went live, and there are several different views of us as we meander down the street while the car tries to capture the awkward dead end street.


View Larger Map

This was the first time that these streets had been mapped, so I suspect that we’ll be there for a while. Regardless, I screen-capped a few different shots to show the girls later. It might be one of those “and this was the first time you encountered the robots” kinds of talks.

Ella Rides

Ella Anne now rides on her own. She just started a few weeks ago. She’s more comfortable on a smaller bike which make the riding a little awkward for her long legs, but she’s working on her bigger bike as well. She’s not yet gung ho about riding, but now there’s a moment of consideration about which method of locomotion to use when we go to the park. I’m so pleased.

Kauai 2011

In November, Michelle, the girls, and Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Dave all met up in Kauai for a week in paradise. It was a lovely time despite the record rainfall. We spent some excellent time in the water (sometimes while be rained on), visited Wimea Canyon, and went back to Tunnels Beach where I proposed to Michelle 11 years ago. In case (in the likely hood that) I don’t post a full report, here are the photos: