1 + 2 + 1 + 1 is...

I got out late and still need to do some work later tonight, but I did get up to the property.  I got the rest of the wiring in.  Well, most of it.


I apparently can't count.  You may notice that there is a black wire just chilling.  Oops.  I am a breaker short

Panel mostly wired in.

I got out at a normal time today, and despite the heat (it was 96 today) I did manage to get some of the electric done.

I borrowed some bolt cutters and got the main supply installed.

I then started installing circuits.  I decided to do one of the tricks I saw online.  

I got most of the panel wired in.  The entire left side is done.  It isn't a mess, but it isn't the neatest job I have seen.  

The breakers were a real pain.  They have a square head bolt in it, but only appear to be close to standard size.  It didn't work that well.  

I am also not a big fan of how well it clamped down on the wire.  It didn't do it well.

I will be load testing each circuit, so it shouldn't be a big deal, its just not a great clamp.  All of my outlets did a better job.

More aggravation.

Today wasn't any better.  I did get everything around the electric panel put back together.  I used a lot of staples when I originally installed the paneling, and had to pull them all out, but it is back up.  The ceiling insulation is installed as well.


After that was done, I got the first piece of the ceiling cut.  Without thinking, I cut it on the top, since that was how I did all the paneling, less chance of things being mirrored or laid out wrong, and all the marks would be covered with trim.  That doesn't hold true with the ceiling though, the circular saw left marks the whole way.  I also discovered something else: the boards aren't an actual 4 foot by 8 foot.  Which means every single board will have to be trimmed in each direction.  That is rather annoying.


Then I tried to install it.  It didn't go well.  Even with the third hand.  I spent an hour trying to get it installed.  I tried the brace in the middle, which left the board dangerously close to breaking, and at the end the board was too floppy, it just fell off.  I almost got it when I split the difference, but with how floppy the board was, it would have been a crapshoot as to whether I lined it up correctly.  A second person will be required.  Especially since I won't have factory edges since I have to cut every board.


I have come to the conclusion that the brown pressboard was definitely the wrong choice.  Since I have painted it though, I can't return it.  Bummer.  Maybe it will be better when it is hung.

Next up I installed the shower fan.  I spent a little extra up from the cheapest to get a supposedly quiet one (only 2 sones instead of the normal 4).  It also bumps up to 70CFM from the bottom barrel of 50.  I don't really need the extra throughput though, the room is only 16 square feet...


I would have installed the outside portion of the vent, but unfortunately it started to rain on me.  It wasn't supposed to.  The wind was blowing in the right direction for my phone to work, and it looked like while it would be brief, they were popping up all over the place.

I cut it a little short and headed home at that point.  The landlord and the prospects (I actually work with their daughter) that are interested into moving into my apartment are visiting tomorrow to tour the place, and I still needed to do some cleaning before they arrive.  I also had to stop at Walmart to get a new broom, though I forgot that it was college move in day, so it was a zoo.

I did get a hold of the septic guy, and he didn't think September would be a problem, so I got the ball rolling on getting the design re-approved.  It'll cost me 400 bucks, but hopefully no more headache.

What a real PITA.

I spent pretty much all day installing the box.  It was an exceptionally aggravating experience.  It started off with drilling the second hole. 


On one I hit the nails in from the side, on the other I hit the screws holding the top plate on.  Grrr.  I ended up going at a slight angle in between the two so I didn't end up with three sets of holes.  That said though, it still broke my drill bit.  The miscolor at the end is where it chipped off.


After literally 4 hours of wrangling, I got it installed.


Unfortunately in the wrangling, it actually broke the wire clamp on the main.


I also originally had Romex clamps as well, but I couldn't get it installed with them on there.  As it is, I didn't get the box all the way up.  The electrical tap was supposed to be in the Romex clamps.  I put it on to hold the wires together to feed it into the panel.  I didn't get far enough to get to it.


Also a little bit of the insulation got chewed up.  I did check, and none of the wires themselves got damaged.  The yellow insulation all gets stripped off once you are inside the panel, so it won't be noticeable. 


All the wires, including the side ones are all ready now.  I installed the breakers and essentially assigned breakers to wires.  It does look like the wires are long enough.  Barely.


Another annoyance:  I had to modify the Homeline Square D ground bar to fit in a Homeline Square D panel.  The holes were the wrong places to mount it in the panel.


Even though it isn't required, I connected the ground bars.  The panel itself would bridge the ground.  It is 6 gauge, just like the main ground. 


That said, outside of actually doing the wiring, the panel is installed.  The insulation has been replaced. 


What I did would likely fail an inspection if there was one, but there doesn't appear to be any danger, nothing is going to arc.  Some lessons learned: even though the panel is designed for a top feed, it really wasn't worth it to run the main feed wires behind the panel.  I should have run them in from the bottom hole.  I also should have installed the panel, then ran the wires through the top plate.  Even embedded in the wall, the panel didn't fit well, the screw holes had to be angled back to reach the studs, so putting in trim won't be easy.  Pretty much anything I could have done in the wrong order, I did. 

I will probably finish the wiring tomorrow.  I also realized that I have nothing that will cut the main feed wires.  I will poke people tomorrow to see if someone has a set that I can borrow, and maybe a set of electricians pliers.  The electricians pliers were in my toolbox that was stolen, and I don't want to spend 25 dollars for another set when this is the last time I will use them.  I never had any cable cutters, and are almost 40 bucks for a set.  I can do it with a pocket knife if I have to, but I do need a solution for cutting the main feeder. 

When this train wreck was done it was after 6, so I just went home.  I kinda wanted to punch something at that point, so I decided not to do anything stupid. 

I do need to get a move on though.  Fall is just around the corner.  The people moving into my apartment wanted to take a walkthrough Monday, so I will have to clean up a little tomorrow, so I will need to get a new broom tomorrow.  Turns out the handle I bought for the painter doesn't fit in the broom.  Ugh.  But at least the colors are coming in.  It is still August though, which is really obscenely early, even for the earlier spots.

Closing for the loan is done. More electrical.

The loan is official.  I have the check on my clipboard for the loan.  The closing was today.  Because of that, I got out of work early for a change. 

For starters the picture I missed yesterday.


I got up to the property fairly early too.  I started to do the final run for the electric.  I thought when I ran the wires that I had more than plenty of slack in them.  I was apparently wrong.  Those wires are barely long enough.  Even then just barely.  A couple might be too short actually. 


The other issue was that I couldn't get all the wires into the stud bay.  I didn't really want to put in more than four holes in the top plate, especially right at a joint.  I decided to run part of them down in the next bay and run them through the wall.


You may notice there were only three holes  I hit some screws or nails one one of them, went to put in another one, and the drill died partly through.  My corded drill was at my apartment unfortunately. 


I did prep the panel and the insulation board as well. 




I still hope to finish it up tomorrow and maybe start on the ceiling.  I don't think the house is in jeopardy of not being finished, the bigger threat at this point is the septic and well. 

Plumbing and wire.

Even though I didn't get out of work until well after 6 today, it was such a nice day that I decided to go up anyways.  It was in the 60s when I got up there, and clear with a slight breeze.  Unfortunately I am presenting at the demo again, so I will only be taking a half day off again.  Given how late I have stayed the last couple of days, I won't need to use vacation for it though.

Unfortunately the only picture I took of it was just a blur, but I finished the plumbing vent.  The plumbing is now complete.  The only thing I need to check before installing the insulation there is the bathroom vent.  I had considered installing a wall vent, but haven't really looked into them.  If I do a ceiling vent, that will have to be done before the insulation is installed.

I also put the wire in.  I haven't run it or anything. 


Didn't get a chance to run it up the wall, it was well after 7 by this point and starting to get hard to see.


As I mentioned, I am taking a half day tomorrow, so I should hopefully get the panel installed tomorrow. 

Quick update

I got out of work late, and all I did was mow today.  I didn't want to put it off, since it was waaaay overdue already and it is supposed to storm again tomorrow.  One thing I noticed is that the town apparently felt bad about destroying my driveway, and they dumped a truckload of gravel in it.


I didn't do the back, there was still standing water, but I did do the firs pass around the slab.  It looks like it was hayed, and that isn't entire inaccurate.


I have decided that I am going to embed the electric panel in the wall, but will likely do that tomorrow.

Round two on electric ready.

Today was mostly just peeling the layers apart.  The wiring is exposed.  It was admittedly easier than I expected.  Mostly just time consuming.


A quick inspection turned up that my clip didn't make it.  I was able to bend it back in shape, but it is pretty clear the wire is greater than the clip.


I picked up fancy new clamps to help.  Too bad they don't fit.  Two wires fit nicely, but not all three.


And the annoying part is that they are rated for 3x2 gauge.  I only have 2x2 gauge and a 4 gauge.  I probably wouldn't have been able to fit in the ground wire anyways though, so I will have to do two wires in each.  I looked for a larger one, but they went to single wire at the sizes larger than this one (only hold one 0 gauge for example).  Bummer.


At that point it was getting dark and I wanted to contemplate my options, so I turned to finishing the sawhorses.  They are both standing and I can sit on them.  The boards on the inside was intentional, them being so high up on the frame not so much. I installed the legs upside down.  Oops.


Having one set on the inside makes them stackable.


I still haven't installed the pieces on the side, but to be honest, they are rigid enough I am not sure I need to.  The design modifications were a success, I can curl both of them with one arm, so they aren't a huge nuisance to move around.  Being not pressure treated, I am not sure how long they will last, but I should get a few years out of them, more if I paint them. 

Getting back to the electric, I see a few options.  The first is to just run the wire and continue with the original plan, with the box on the wall.  This gives me more insulation behind the box.  I can move the supply wires up so that I won't have them sticking out of the wall, they would stick out directly into the box. 

Alternatively, I could go with the traditional installation, and embed it in the wall.  Dad mentioned a good idea that I could a piece of the foam board insulation behind it.  This hides all the wires, and looks cleaner.  I am starting to lean this way.  It will make the box a cold spot, but I could put a second door on it to cover the metal to keep from being too bad.

Big update.

I forgot my phone yesterday, so I had to take the pictures this morning.  Yesterday was a miserable day.  I spent more time moving things inside and then outside as the sprinkles started and stopped than I did getting things done it seemed. 

I did manage to get things done though.  The last piece of paneling is in.


I also got the wiring for the bathroom light and the laundry room installed.  I didn't have a box for the laundry room light to finish it though.


The shortened cap is installed.


I also started on the plumbing.  Got the standpipe cut off (admittedly rather poorly though) and made a list of what pieces I need to finish it.


I also got the circuit box installed.


There is only one problem with the circuit box though:  I never ran a ground wire, only the three supply wires.  This unfortunately means that I have to rip off the paneling and install the wire.  The NEC (National Electric Code) says that 8 gauge copper is sufficient for 100A service, but I already have some 6 gauge copper for a grounding strap for the gas lines that I never installed (it was too short and I didn't put the extra T and whatnot in the front), so I will likely use that.  Still disheartening. 

Today was also a mildly disappointing day.  I actually got up early to try to get through Home Depot before the mob came.  I had debated doing it the night before, and thankfully didn't get around to it since it rained last night.  Unfortunately though, they were restocking the plywood aisle and I had to wait for the forklift to clear out, and that was enough time that I missed the early window.  I picked up a few missing pieces from yesterday, and also the ceiling stuff. 

I started off with painting.  At least briefly.  It almost made the first coat.  Unfortunately this is the handle to my broom (a good chunk of the reason it didn't survive...). 


I did manage to get the first coat on though.  I got all 6 pieces out so that I could do them all at once.  I actually found 6 places to put stuff: the dryer, lawn mower, sawhorses, patio table, tonneau cover, and one in the truck bed. 




At that point I was going to start working on the electric, and realized that the wire is in the car, so I made a trip home.  I also stopped at Home Depot again, I needed another gallon (400 square feet coverage my ass) and I replaced the handle. 

After doing the second coat, I decided to work on the plumbing instead (go figure...).  I got everything set up to finish the plumbing, but I need a step ladder (my big one won't fit inside) since I need to fix the rather terrible cut.  It is the venting and I could probably get away with it the way it is, but would rather do it right.  It wasn't really intentional, but I ended up making a reverse p-trap, which is actually good since it means that if moisture does come in the wall vent, it won't get inside the plumbing system.  The picture is upside down compared to how it will be installed.


After that I moved on to the inside wall.  The plans for it are all done.  A little scant on details, but I know what they are. 


I got all the pieces cut for the front wall, which is the most important one. 


Unfortunately with everything else having paneling on it that was painted and drying, I cut them on my car hood.  Not a good plan.


I also went and located the grounding rod.  I knew I had seen one, so this is mostly just for reference for me so I can find it.


I then started to pick up.  Unfortunately the platform I have on the dryer wasn't ocmpletely dried out from yesterday's rain.  The piece of ceiling that was on their suffered for it.  Hopefully it isn't enough moisture to cause any problems.


The look nice.  Except for where the trees or bugs decided to be a pain.  I still have just over a quarter gallon left for touch up work though.


This does present a problem though.  The only place inside to put it covers where the interior wall is going.  I need the interior wall in to finish the ceiling.  I think I need to finish the electric and clear out the other half of the house...


At that point, it was getting late and dark inside, so I decided to work on the sawhorses until I ran completely out of light.  I got most of one completed. 


Even though the support in between the legs isn't installed yet, they will hold plenty of weight.  I sat on it, even incomplete.  Thus far I would say my modifications to Tim's design were a success.  I removed some wood, didn't use pressure treated lumber, and shortened them a little in a couple of dimensions to make them lighter and easier to use.  When they are stacked, I almost can't lift the pair that Tim built me.  But on the other hand, you can park a car on them...


It has been a while, but there are some updates to the checklist.  The last of the lights is in and the paneling is done.  The interior wall, electrical and plumbing, and the ceiling are all in progress now. 

1. Fix ruts in driveway.
2. Put lights on the plow.
3. Get the oil changed in the tractor.
4. Get the tire chains installed and a weight installed on the back.
5. Get the plastic installed
6. Get the truck oil undercoated.
7. Fix leaky underbelly.
8. Get skirting installed.
9. Find a way to run power that won't be damaged by snow/plow/snowblower.
10. Find a way to prevent the snow pushing on the shed.
11. Finish clearing off the slab.
12. Run the rough plumbing. (includes gas line for stove)
13. Install wall insulation.
14. *Install flooring.  *12
15. Install light fixtures.
16. Install ceiling and attic insulation. *19
17. *Install paneling  *13, 14
18. *Install interior wall *14
19. *Complete electrical and plumbing.  *17, 18
20. Install ceiling *19
21. *Install final flooring (carpet/whatever).  *18, 19
22. Install interior fixtures.  When I get here, I will likely create a new list for the interior work.