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Home projects

The Sum of Awe

Brought to you by the moment that spacetime began.
Does anyone else suck at home projects? It took me four hours just to replace the blinds in my house, took me two hours to replace one outlet (and after it was all said and done I tried the outlet and it doesn't work - I don't know how I could've hooked it up wrong I followed the youtube instructions step by step, my dad's going to call me to help me figure it out)

Yeah this is all just annoying and frustrating. I hate house projects
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
For electrical outlets, don't follow a video. Just copy what was behind the outlet before.

If it's not working, you may have just crossed the polarities.
 

beenherebeforeagain

Rogue Animist
Premium Member
Does anyone else suck at home projects? It took me four hours just to replace the blinds in my house, took me two hours to replace one outlet (and after it was all said and done I tried the outlet and it doesn't work - I don't know how I could've hooked it up wrong I followed the youtube instructions step by step, my dad's going to call me to help me figure it out)

Yeah this is all just annoying and frustrating. I hate house projects
I long ago realized that the few dollars and sense of accomplishment I have for doing the job myself is far outweighed by the stress of having undertaken the project and the cost of having a qualified person correct my work...

It's easier and cheaper just to hire it out in the first place...
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Does anyone else suck at home projects? It took me four hours just to replace the blinds in my house, took me two hours to replace one outlet (and after it was all said and done I tried the outlet and it doesn't work - I don't know how I could've hooked it up wrong I followed the youtube instructions step by step, my dad's going to call me to help me figure it out)

Yeah this is all just annoying and frustrating. I hate house projects
Don't fret it. More you do, the better u get.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
I can do many things around the house. But I'm not very good at plumbing (I've done maybe two or three plumbing things).
I'm better with cars though.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Does anyone else suck at home projects? It took me four hours just to replace the blinds in my house, took me two hours to replace one outlet (and after it was all said and done I tried the outlet and it doesn't work - I don't know how I could've hooked it up wrong I followed the youtube instructions step by step, my dad's going to call me to help me figure it out)

Yeah this is all just annoying and frustrating. I hate house projects

I consider myself lucky if I don't make something worse. Unless it is something incredibly simple like changing a light bulb, I no longer attempt it. Fortunately, our youngest daughter is an electrician, and pretty decent handywoman. She just started her own company. So I always get her over with the family discount applied.
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
I can do many things around the house. But I'm not very good at plumbing (I've done maybe two or three plumbing things).
I'm better with cars though.

Plumbing is my weak spot too. And anything that requires actual building, ie framing/drywall.

I've been getting better at the plumbing though. I installed a toilet and sink this year, as well as changed out the tub drain, faucet, handle, and shower head.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
Plumbing is my weak spot too. And anything that requires actual building, ie framing/drywall.

I've been getting better at the plumbing though. I installed a toilet and sink this year, as well as changed out the tub drain, faucet, handle, and shower head.
Framing, drywall, general carpentry and set construction I'm good with.
When I was in high school I was involved in theatre (acting and tech) and one year we did a play that required an upper stairs area. I was the only one with any real sort of construction experience (I did a lot with my brother and he taught me a lot) so I was put in charge of building that set. No one trusted it, however, despite me even taking naps under it waiting for my parts, lol.
 

crossfire

LHP Mercuræn Feminist Heretic ☿
Premium Member
Does anyone else suck at home projects? It took me four hours just to replace the blinds in my house, took me two hours to replace one outlet (and after it was all said and done I tried the outlet and it doesn't work - I don't know how I could've hooked it up wrong I followed the youtube instructions step by step, my dad's going to call me to help me figure it out)

Yeah this is all just annoying and frustrating. I hate house projects
Is that outlet hooked up to a light switch? ;)
 

Sedim Haba

Outa here... bye-bye!
For electrical outlets, don't follow a video. Just copy what was behind the outlet before.

If it's not working, you may have just crossed the polarities.

True. The actual wire colors might be totally different than in the video.
Go to the hardware store, they have simple neon voltage testers which
is the minimum you need for this work. Also voltmeters which are more
money but well worth it, save you money just in batteries. You'd be surprised
just how often one cell can go bad and the other(s) are just fine. Without
a way to test, you might toss out good ones.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Does anyone else suck at home projects? It took me four hours just to replace the blinds in my house, took me two hours to replace one outlet (and after it was all said and done I tried the outlet and it doesn't work - I don't know how I could've hooked it up wrong I followed the youtube instructions step by step, my dad's going to call me to help me figure it out)

Yeah this is all just annoying and frustrating. I hate house projects


Before we moved to france we did no DIY/home projects. We decided that here we would do as much as we can. Tilling floors, modernising the kitchen and decorating. Even small electrical and plumbing jobs,

Our trick is yo find out as much as we can before we start. Books magazine articles the internet


Caution if the outlet is wired wrongly, crossing live and earth can be deadly
 

PureX

Veteran Member
Some people are good at this sort of thing, and some are good at other sorts of things. I can fix most anything in the house, easily. Been doing it since I was young. But I will not even bother to try and fix the car. I know my limitations. And I hate the damn thing except to drive it. Don't even want to open the hood.
 

The Sum of Awe

Brought to you by the moment that spacetime began.
Before we moved to france we did no DIY/home projects. We decided that here we would do as much as we can. Tilling floors, modernising the kitchen and decorating. Even small electrical and plumbing jobs,

Our trick is yo find out as much as we can before we start. Books magazine articles the internet


Caution if the outlet is wired wrongly, crossing live and earth can be deadly
That's terrifying. Even if the breakers off?
 

The Sum of Awe

Brought to you by the moment that spacetime began.
Mains breaker or local outlet mounted switch

If its isolated via the mains then no problems. If its a local switch then possibly depending on how it's wired
That's relieving then. I mean it's not gonna explode or anything right? just don't touch the wires?
 

PureX

Veteran Member
Once the power to the outlet is off, your safe. But I don't touch the bare wires with my hands, anyway. I use the proper tools to cut, strip, and bend the wires.

If you wire an outlet wrong, and it arcs when you turn the power on going to it, it will simply trip the breaker back off, immediately. Could be why it's not working.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
That's relieving then. I mean it's not gonna explode or anything right? just don't touch the wires?

Just don't touch it or use it.

Thinking about it if live were connected to earth it would have blown a fuse or burned out the wiring so I don't think that's a problem.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Does anyone else suck at home projects? It took me four hours just to replace the blinds in my house, took me two hours to replace one outlet (and after it was all said and done I tried the outlet and it doesn't work - I don't know how I could've hooked it up wrong I followed the youtube instructions step by step, my dad's going to call me to help me figure it out)

Yeah this is all just annoying and frustrating. I hate house projects
I find that the trick is to do things I like doing.
Hire out the rest.

Perhaps this will help you....
 
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