Electrical upgrades
I replaced another three electrical outlets in the house today. Again, I really have to question the thinking of whoever did the original work here; Most of the outlets are upside-down, and the outlets on all of the exterior walls have their boxes filled with expanding insulation foam to keep drafts out. That not only makes repairs difficult, but the foam itself is flammable which could be a disaster if there was ever a short-circuit in the box. One of the boxes on an outer wall had three branches in it, which in itself is not a problem as there is plenty of room in the box for the wiring. The problem was the that person who installed it didn't use proper (insulated) morets, but just a crimp-on metal band, then wrapped with electrical tape! The outlet did't even have its ground screw attached, it was only grounded via its contact with the box! That is a serious violation of the electrical code!
I replaced that mess with the proper materials, and am pleased to say that everything is now done properly, and is working properly. Besides the outlet on the outer wall, I replaced two others on an inside hallway wall. Those ones were merely upside-down, there was no foam to deal with, and the original installer had left plenty of extra wire in the boxes work with. These ones were also properly grounded, so they were probably done with someone who had a little better idea as to what he was doing. There's another outlet in the kitchen that I want to replace, but it's also on an outer wall, and I'm not looking forward to having to dig out more of that blasted insulating foam. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've seen the same thing at the bowling alley, so it would seem to me that there was an electrician in this area at one time who really ought to have been shot. :P
Tomorrow, trixstir and I are going to Swift Current to get snow-tires put on her van, and for an exam to make sure everything is coming along properly in the baby department. At this stage, there should be a fetal heartbeat, though I don't know if there will be much to see on an ultrasound.
A quick note of follow-up on yesterday's tractor-driving. Last night my legs felt like Jello, and my butt felt numb from the rattling and shaking of the machine. Today, the true side-effects have settled in, and my legs are aching badly. Stairs are particularly nasty, and since the only way in and out of the house is via the staircase, I'm just going to have to grin and bear it.