Do it right

A question from one electrician (30yrs in) to another.

I need to install gutter and downspout heating cable on a house.

Grade level to eave is about 24' up.

The code states that the dedicated gutter heating cable outlet doesn't need to be GFI protected because it is out of reach.

Question: Since the heating cable is going to be run down the downspout to grade level; can I install the dedicated outlet at grade level if I do put it on a switched GFI breaker?

(switched so the homeowner can turn it on when needed)

It will be MUCH easier than snaking wires two stories and across the attic to the super-high eaves.

And cutting-in boxes up there will be no fun.

I have a question for any Toyota technicians out there.

My wife drives a 2000 Sienna, it has 96K miles on it and soon will need the timing belt to be changed.

I've searched on rockauto.com for the parts, but there's so many associated parts that I'm not sure of exactly what I need.

I'm not planning on doing the repair myself, but I do want to get the parts.

Can anyone help me with my parts list?

This is what I have so far....

Timing Belt

Idler Pulley

Hyd Tensioner (not sure if this is needed)

Crank Seal

Cam Seals (2 req)

Water Pump w/gasket

Drive (serp) belt

Am I missing anything? gaskets, etc.

Thanks

I have a 2000 Toyota Sienna. In August of 2008 I replaced the condenser (dealer traced refrigerant leak to that part). The a/c worked fine afterwards...till now.

I added dye and refrigerant, only to hear a hiss definately coming from the front. I couldn't find the leak as at the time I didn't have a black light (that illuminates the dye).

Holding it to the condenser and connections, I still couldn't see any sign of the leak.

Question: Does the vehicle have to be running, and actively "leaking" to see the dye with the black light?

We have some nice maple trees in our yard.

The trunks are covered with a light green moss, some of which grows kind of leafy.

It makes the trunks look ugly, and I want to remove it.

Can I use my power-washer for this? Or will I drive the moss roots deeper into the bark?

Obviously I wouldn't power-wash hard enough to remove the bark.

If a resort is "owned" by time-share owners; Can those owners force the "management" to sell the entire place?

I have owned a week of time at a resort since the 1980's.

The place is small with not too many "owners".

It needs a lot of work, and the maintenance fees are no longer worth going there.

If I bail-out and turn in my deed I will loose everything and (I assume) will have no chance of getting any monetary value back.

Can we (current up-to-date owners) force the sale of the place as a whole?

roofing paper.

I finished a rec room in the basement. There is a crack in the floor that seems stable, I haven't noticed any widening or anything in years.

I've been told to put down heavy roofing paper and tile right on top.

This is to prevent the crack from coming though the tile.

I'm curious if I should put down TWO layers of paper, to be on the safer side?

The room is 18' x 22', clear-spanned with no lally columns, about 7' below grade.

I'm near Boston Mass.

Thanks

An expert stated that when you're on the phone our brains can't concentrate on all the stimuli going on and it will limit some of what we should notice going on in front of us.

So with that in mind.....

Why is talking on a cell phone more distracting than if you were having a conversation with someone sitting in the car?

Forget about texting.....that DEFINATELY should be illegal (while driving).

The wifes 2000 Toyota Sienna is going in soon for a new timing belt. (It's got 90K on it)

They are replacing the water pump and drive belts? while they're in there.

I'm curious if there's anything else I should have them replace while it's in the shop.

I'm bringing it to my local Toyota dealer, 2 shops quoted me $1,100 for belt, w-pump,& pulley's?.

Dealers quote is $650

Money is tight, especially this close to Christmas!

Any advice is appreciated...

We have a 2000 Toyota Sienna with 90,000 miles on it.

It's overdue for the timing belt to be replaced.

I was quoted $650.00 for the timing belt, water pump, and drive? belts, from a Massachusetts toyota dealer.

Is this the going rate?

Should I ask for anything else to be done at the same time; while they're "in there"?

Thanks

It has just over 90,000 miles.

I know it's time for the timing belt to be replaced, but I'm curious what else should we have done while it's at the shop?

What would you have replaced if it were your mini-van?

I know that the water pump and timing-belt tensioners are usually replaced with the belt. I'm thinking plugs, etc.

I just did the oil (Mobil 1), and air filter.

I'm from a close-knit Italian family and an uncle passed away last night. He was a huge influence in my life. My kids are 11 and 13, the wife says it's up to them.....the 11y.o. says he wants to go, the 13 y.o. says no.....

What's your opinion....

Auto manufacturers offer "0% 5 years or $3500. OFF"....

Which makes it BLATANTLY OBVIOUS that the $3500 in interest is built into the loan....DUH!

My Credit Union offers 4.50 % for 5 years....

On a hypothetical purchase of a vehicle costing $35,000.

Putting down $10,000 in cash and a trade-in.

Which would be the better way to finance?

Using their 0% and financing $25,000 (60 months)

OR, Using the Credit Union's 4.5%, (getting the vehicle for $3500 less)

So now the loan would be for $21,500 for 60 months.

I'm not sure how to do the equations. Thanks

I've had my Masters since 1986, but this one I'm not sure of.

Can rigid conduit be run through a plastic box, using bonding bushings, and a bonding jumper (sized to the largest current-carrying conductor of course) to maintain the bonding requirements of the installation?

I'm NOT planning on doing this....I was wondering if it COULD be done.

Thanks,

What if your car is from 1983?....that's not recyclable?

What about older models? I understand they don't want people turning in "classic" cars.....but if somone has an older car that they WANT to scrap, they can't....??

Are they trying to protect the (auto) scrap yards?

Your thoughts on this?

I need to "zoom out" so I can read without constantly moving the web site I'm on from right to left and back. It's like the screen images are to big for the monitor....How do I make what I'm viewing smaller?

Windows XP system (if it matters). Thanks.

I have a 2004 F150 4.6L 65K miles.

Through a previous scan at a shop one of my coil-packs was questionable. Today it started miss-firing, I went and bought a Standard Ignition coil pack ($69.95) When I removed the original one it made the typical 'pop' noise as the boot released from the plug.

But I couldn't get the new one to "snap" onto the spark plug?

How do you know if it's on right when you can't see or feel it down in the plug well?

I took it for a test drive and it ran fine.

I think the song came out 6 to 8 years ago, The video showed a genie in a bottle?

"Love me, love me, say that you love me

Tease me, tease me, go on and tease me

I can't think/love of anyone else but you....."

I have an 04 F150, 4.6L 64,000 miles on it.

I rinsed the engine compartment. (As I'd done about 4 other times)

This time though, it's misfiring. It has been 12 hrs since I rinsed it and everything appears to be dry. I drove it home from work, (30 miles) and it misfired the whole way.

What should I look at first? Coil packs? Wiring?

If this was an older vehicle, I'd have no problem fixing it.....

These new vehicles....I'm lost.

I'm in southeast Mass. Our Crab Apple tree is beginning to bud, grow leaves, whatever you call it. Can I trim it now, or do I need to wait till the leaves are in full? Any advice is appreciated.

Apparently I'm not......

I'm stumbling on this one.

We're supposed to write the equation that goes with the sentence.

EX; The sum of twice a number and 8 equals 28

This one's easy.....2xN+8=28

1) The product of a number and six plus 4 is 36

My guess.....Nx6+4=36 ??? Am I correct?

2) The quotient of a number and 4 is 96

No clue???

3) 11 plus 3 times a number is equal to 5 less than 4 times the number.

My guess 11+3xN=Nx4-5 again, am I correct?

This is my kids 7th grade math....I'm doomed!