Q:On the wires leading to existing system I can see the main power lead. However all the other wires are different in color leading to existing valves. From the wire bundle two black wires (the only black wires) lead out to nothing and were left with no electrical end caps protecting. Manual says nothing on wiring valves. Any ideas on black wires? Or how can I splice in to existing system wires at valve point having one valve working at a time when system is operating? Am I going to have to get a new controler or run new wires existing controler?

As long as you have an extra colored wire and your controller will support the extra valve, it will work. I am wondering why you have 2 black ones though, unless one of them has a stripe. Normally multi-strand wire has only one of each color. To see a wiring diagram, follow the link below

Q:i have 4 wires going to a ac unit #10 wires 2 wires for each cir. and i need to know how many amps can I run with 2 #10 copper for one side of the breaker

10 gauge wire is rated for 30 amps unless its a long run. I'm not sure I'm picturing the right setup you're proposing in your description but if you're talking about having two 'hot' wires and two 'neutral wires' clamped together at both ends its a bad idea. It would make sense that you could run 60 amps through the wire if it was doubled up like that but because of [science] it doesn't work like that. Not to mention any electrician or inspector would be drawing exclamation points on their notepad if they saw a setup like that. If you need to run more than 30 amps just buy lower gauge wire.

Q:Need to wire three ceiling fans in series

I don't think that's safe because light fittings are not rated to carry that sort of current.

Q:I just bought a remote starter/keyless entry/alarm system, i'm looking to install it myself... I'm just wondering what gauge wire that most cars use.I'm assuming power wires are lower gauge then others, Could I use 16 gauge for power lines or would i need something larger?Thanks in advanced.

Automotive Wire Gauge Chart

Q:Got a new kenwood stereo to replace the old kenwood one in my VW polo 1998. Workes fine but when I pushed the stereo into my dashboard a wire came out so I pulled it out and put it back in. It worked, but next morning my car battery was near dead, I unplugged the stereo and its fine now. I assume I used wrong wire? Does anyone have a diagram or picture of how it should be wired?

When you wired it did you butcher the wires or use a wiring harness? With the wiring harness, everything is labeled and color coded. Match colors to the kenwood wiring harness, splice or use butt connectors, plug harness into factory harness and player, attach antenna wire and you're done! If you did butcher the wires and left enough wire, repair the harness and buy a harness kit at your local sound shop, really cheap too! Good luck!

Q:Or can stranded wire of the same gauge be subsitituted for solid wire without any consequences? The reason I ask is because its for a massive 4kJ capacitor discharge circuit, and I need all the energy delivered to the power coils im using, cant afford to have much leakage inductance.

Stranded wires have slightly higher inductance than solid wires, but this is noticable only on transmission lines and larger conductors. if you are only using a short conductor, i don't think the inductance of the wire will affect the system, unless the wire is coiled.

Q:can a positive wire connect a negative and positive terminal together, or can a negative wire connect a positive and negative terminal together? This is regard to speakers in a guitar speaker cabinet. using rca speaker wire which is two wires that can be separated. One is positive and the other negative. If you are only using one half of the wire to wire two speakers in series does it matter if it is the positive(the side with the white stripe) or negative one since wiring in series is positive terminal to negative terminal.

Wire is wire. There is no positive wire and no negative wire. The wires are colour coded so you can keep track of what connects to what. You can use orange and green wires if you want; just keep track of what you are connecting.

Q:function of a fire-wire for backing up data

a firewire is just a port on your computer, mind you they are currently slightly faster then a usb. But what helps do a backup is the program you have on your computer, not the connection to the computer.

Q:I want to install a single-pole dimmer switch for a series of 4 pot lights in the same box (double gang) as a kill switch for a receptical already installed. There is a 14-3 wire (b/w/r/g) brigning power into the box from the main, and 14-2 wiring for the dimmer and 14-2 wire for the kill switch. How do I wire this? The single pole dimmer has a ground and two black wires. The switch to kill the receptical has only two brass screws on one side.

Wires that have continual power are called source wires. One of the source wires (any color other than white or green) should be hooked up to one of the brass screws on your kill switch. The other brass screw will have the wire going to the receptacle. NOTE: A switch is used to connect/break the connection of power going to an appliance/fixture. The other source wire will go to one of the black wires on your dimmer switch. The other black wire on the dimmer switch will go to the 4 pot lights as its source, in which we call a switch leg. The ground wire of the dimmer switch is hooked to the ground wire in the box. No white or neutral wires are needed for this...Test the wires first so that you know what wire is for what. Then, make sure you turn off all power so that you don't damage the dimmer switch.

Q:Hi there,I have a very old house which only has 2 wires (1 white, 1 black) coming out of the wall.The ceiling fan / light has 2 red wires, 1 black, 1 green.What is right way to wire for this to operate?Thanks,

Most fans have a wiring schematic and this will tell you how to wire it. Normally black is the power, green is a ground, which you don't have, and as for the red wires I'm not sure. Is this a new fan or one that has been used before. In the USA we have a white wire which is a neutral. I'm puzzled about the two red wires, these may have been added at a later date. If your in a country that has 240 volts then this may be an explanation. Regards, Dale