Tag Archives: DIY

More Electric Outlets, Pretty Please

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If someone asked me if I could have one wish for my home, I would reply, “More outlets please, and more easily accessed.”

I don’t know what it would cost, but I would have to say at least 3,000 dollars to rewire my home. So, if the house needs to be rewired, may as do it right. All the aluminum would need to come out. If I knew they used aluminum, the house would have remained vacant.

Every place where there is a double outlet, I want four. I no longer have cable. However, when I had AT&T cable, each of the following had to be plugged into an extension chord. The TV, The gateway, the DVD player, and the adapter for the TV. I’m really not sure. I just might have left something out. At any rate, the extension chord was plugged into one side of the double outlet.

Moreover, every time I needed to access one or more plugs, it was no fun. Actually, it was a neusance.

The kitchen has got at least twice as many appliances as outlets and only two are accessible. The outlet for the stove is behind it and the thing keeps coming unplugged. Every time it does, I must pull the stove out. My wife actually likes that. It does gives her a chance to clean behind it.

If I were so fortunate to have a house built for me, I would have far more outlets and they would all be accessible, even if behind the bed or couch. They don’t have to show. Covers could be designed to cover it all. Then they could be flipped out of the way to gain accessed.

My current house was built in the early 70s. It was a different time without computers or fridges with ice makers. I must watch the balance of my load or I’ll trip a breaker. When I used my central air conditioner, it tripped one of the main breakers every few weeks anyway. I had an electrician look at it and he basically said I need to rewire my house, which I already knew.

Here’s a thought right off the top of my head. How about a switch to control 3 or 4 sets of outlets. I would like a switch on each one. that way, if I need to open that individual outlet box, I could turn it off right next to the outlet and connect the ground wire the builder neglected to connect. Also, the switch could double as a circuit breaker as on the modern extension chords. That can’t be that expensive.

Wrenches, Wrenches and More Wrenches

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There was a time a few decades ago, we used to use the wrenches based on inches. Then, someone came up with the brilliant idea of going to the metric system. It was supposed to make things simpler.

No one told me as much, but I think it was those who make wrenches and sockets. The instant we started the conversion, I needed twice the wrenches and twice the sockets. That had to make someone a dollar or three.

I mean, just because someone up there in that ivory tower decides to go metric, doesn’t mean all previous things built are metric. Besides, there are still some manufacturers using the old hardware.

So I pick up a wrench and try to use it, only to realize it’s too small. I pick up a larger one only to realize it’s too big.

It is then I realize that, though I have countless wrenches, they are all just two sizes…too big and too small.

I take closer look. I must first determine if I am in search of a metric wrench or an English one. I then search my numerous wrenches and realize the one I need is missing.

I am sure every professional mechanic will tell you, the size of their toolbox has about doubled as soon as went into this so-called transition period. However, no one seems to know just how long this transition will take.

I am certain I will not see the end of it. Actually, I am not sure my grandchildren will.

Meanwhile, all those making wrenches, sockets and hardware will continue turning out a profit on all of it. Whenever we go to the hardware store, that area holding the nuts and bolts and such, will remain twice the size into the foreseeable future. Possibly just a little longer.

Meanwhile, has anyone seen my 9 mm wrench?

The Door

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In my book, “The Secret of the Ring, ” I write about how amazing doors are. Few ever think about them. We build walls about us to keep us safe.

Then, of course, the simplest way to get through the wall is by going through a door. I think life would be more difficult if we had walls and no doors.

And so it is that we build walls for shelter from animals, thieves and weather. However, without the doors, we might not be able to enter or exit.

I am not an expert on doors, but I know outside doors should have some basic requirements. We should be able to secure, or lock it. Depending on the neighborhood, we may want it to be strong and difficult to enter without the key. We might even want bars on it.

Oddly some folks like windows in the door. That sort of confuses me. After all, glass is easily broken. Also, it doesn’t provide much privacy.

When younger, I was told to remember to close the door. In some cases it was to keep the flies and insects out. In other cases, it was to keep the warmth in. In still other cases, we left the doors wide open to let fresh air in.

Much is said about doors and windows in literature. Certainly, most of us have heard that when God closes a door, then, somewhere He opens a window.

I suppose in a way, it implies that we can go in and out windows too. That would be particularly true when escaping fire.

However, homes are not the only thing to have doors. Barns, storage sheds, planes all have doors. So do ships but when I was in the Marines, I was encouraged to call them hatches. In many cases, such doors are designed more for keeping things in.

To be sure, life would be more difficult without doors…or gates.

One piece of advice, especially about car doors. I was trying to close the car door for my wife as she pulled it firmly closed. That hurt.

Apparently, that is one thing those engineers got right. As much pain as it caused, there was no permanent problem.

Word to the wise. Don’t get your fingers between the door and the car. It was close to half an hour before the feeling returned to my fingers.

Would you believe she had the nerve to laugh about it.

Watch out for those doors or hatches, or windows or whatever you call them.

As an aside. The warning given to Scott in my my book…”Never open a door until you know who is on the other side.”