This is going to drive me nuts til I figure out what it is. This is the fireplace in the house we're buying. That leaf spring looking thing...any ideas on what it is? I'm thinking an old wooden bridge arch support? I thing it's too weird/different to be something designed for the application, but more like something somebody saw and said, Hey...
Rich I don't know what that is, but you are not buying a house, it's a castle !
Are you sure you got the right adress ? :003:
Rich , if you don't like the fireplace you can get Chip and Joanna to come remodel for you. They can tare down walls and put up some shiplap!
LOl...those 70's ugly chandeliers look like something from a castle. note also in the adjoining room and atrium...swag lamps!! yuk! and veined mirror tiles...double yuk!! Fortunately that's the worst of the updating needs. I think home photographers use the widest angle lens possible on their cameras...always look much bigger in the ads than they really are to the point where your setup for disappointment the minute you walk in..
I do like the fireplace....definetly reminds me of something from the 17-1800's. very industrialish. Not sure if I'll get to talk to the seller. Hopefully I will and will get some background and info that'll be otherwise lost. Kinda like buying an old car. There! I knew I'd have a tie in somewhere (other than that thing looking like a leaf spring.)
UM?
Could that be some sort of a huge modified truck leaf spring that they are using for a wall / fireplace support?
Sorry ........ That's the best guess that I can come up with.
This is cotton growing country...so it's got me wondering if it's a piece from some old 1800's textile mfg. machinery?? The three small "pegs" sure aren't real heavy duty stuff.
I did a little looking... my guess it that it is the bottom of an arched wooden vaulted truss. The pins located the three legs that would have supported the upper parts of the vault. That curve was from the same structure that the other "beams in the room came from. How is that for a WAG!
It's as good as my guesses, lol.
I don't know what it is Rich.. but it looks like Ben Cartwright lived there....Better see if Hop Sing is in the Kitchen!..... Beautiful home!!!!
Kinda looks like an entrance archway to a large gate, like in a ranch. The three pegs would be for the name plaque of the ranch?
Is it carved out of one solid piece of wood?
Now that's a better guess than what I came up with. The house inspection is tomorrow, and the inspector said I was welcome to tag along. I'll take a closer look at it.
Be sure to bring a compass, in case you get lost somewhere in there :003:...
Is a home inspection a state, local or banking requirement? The State of Michigan does not require a home inspection. Michigan is a Caveat emptor state ("let the buyer beware"). It is the buyers responsibility to know what they are buying. On the other hand, the seller is suppose to disclose known defects. A very few cities require a per inspection as a seller requirement (Detroit). Some government assured loans require some inspection; usually pest and/or lead based paint. As a real estate broker, I went to every home inspection whether I represented the buyer or seller. I was going to be present if someone had the potential to blow up my deal. Michigan inspectors are not licensed and require a waiver that they are not responsible for any errors or omissions related to their inspection. Most inspections involved turning on everything to see if it worked (lights, garage door, furnace, AC, oven, refrigerator, water heater, well, any other appliances). Inspectors usually document all tests. They typically take note of cracks, weathered, worn and missing things. They also go on the roof (if not too steep) to note condition and age. They typically check crawl spaces and attics for mold, mouse and insect droppings and/or damage and insulation. This is nothing you can't do yourself. If an inspection turns up something, the inspector is NOT a licensed contractor and can not do further service. For example, the furnace does not work (oh, they don't test for CO because they are not a licensed HVAC contractor!!), you are referred to an appropriate licensed contractor. The same thing you would do. If its broke, call the professional! The last few buyers that I represented, we used HVAC contractor that also had a plumbing license (fairly common) and a building contractor. These contractors could do more testing and provide cost estimates and usually they did it for FREE or cheaper than the home inspector. Home inspectors provide a lot of information but I think contractors do a more in depth job, cheaper and can provide an estimate. The estimate is really what you need to determine whether to close or pass on this one. Whether you use an inspector or contractor, be there and follow them around. They will point out good and bad about one of the largest purchases you'll ever make.
In our case it is the VA requiring the inspection, and probably the lender as well. The inspectors here are certified, and insured. This is the only thing we are paying for with all the other closing costs being paid by the seller.
They have disclosed several things we are aware of, for example the house has two seperate central heating systems, one of which has an inoperative blower motor. Oddly enough to have two heating systems, but it also has two hot water heaters, and two central air systems. They had added a third bathroom and a 4th bedroom, so maybe being a slab foundation house, it was cheaper to add the seperate systems.?
My main concern that will get checked out tomorrow is the house had 31K hail damage in '13, apparently mostly the roof. If there is/was no mortgage on the house at the time, it would have been up to the owner to make all the repairs...or not, as the insurance check would have been made to him with no other (mortgage company) signatures required. A local insurance agent informed me that the subdivision was hit particularly hard in that storm, to the point of damage to sheathing, etc. That was the same storm that got our property here.........remember the pics I posted of the hunderds of holes poked thru my garage roof over the '57? Obviously, if the owner elected to make sub parr repairs, that could affect payments for any new future damage from our insurance company.
Roof can be an expensive replacement item. One of the most important items of a house! If it isn't solid the rest of the house will "rot" out from under. Well worth the money for the inspection!
Put a new one on my place two years ago, $8500, (2200 sqft ranch style house). Worth every penny! If I were still "bullet proof" I would have done it myself but the knees will not let me do the kneeling for that kind of lob. That plus there was three layers up there and would have taken me months to finish stripping.
No new major surprises with the house inspection. He spent almost 4 hours, and when he was done walked me thru it. No major problems, just tons of small stuff from being neglected because of the owner's age. He confirmed that the (low pitch) roof had been recently replaced and had "a very expensive rubber membrane roofing on it....probably at least 30K". That is where we were an hour ago.
We thought we were good to run with it until we got a call from the realtor. The termite inspecter apparently got there about the time we were leaving. They found evidence of termites "in every room of the house with no evidence of it ever being treated." Shoot. Probably going to be a deal killer, but I'm waiting for a copy of the inspection with pics, and hopefully I'll get to talk to them so I can get up to date on termite treatment and how to/or if they can determine the actual extent of the damage.
This is the second house we've been wanting, but found out it had the termite problem. That I'm aware of, I've never had a house with them. My wife's cousin who was a realtor, says almost every house in Phoenix has had them at one time or another...no big deal if they're treated". Not sure what to think about that.
Our deadline for making changes to our proposal is 5 pm Friday. I told my realtor to get that extended if she can.
That fireplace thingy, btw is not a one piece old heavy timber...it's been fabricated from 3/4" boards...probably hollow.
Are they subterranean or the flying kind? The key is "is there structural damage?", termites are a pain and will eat up a house in short order. They like anything organic, sheet rock paper, wood of course, and news paper, card board and such.
Main reason I don't like slab houses. If you're up off the ground you can at least sea the tunnels they build to get to the good stuff. Two houses I've had have given me a termite education I would just as soon not had! Both in VA Beach!
Not sure why a builder would put up a house without treating the grounds. Guess if you're building a large number of houses it would save money ($300 - $400 per site).
Got a copy of the report last night. The inspector was very clear in stating there was evidence found in all rooms of previous infestation of subteranian termites. They also stated no evidence of treatment found anywhere. So......where did they go? As you said, the bigger question is how long where they there and what kind of damage did they do. Were they treated, when, how? etc etc.
Right now the big question for me is is there any current technology that allows inspection of structurals within walls without tearing in to walls? Lots of phone calls to make today, but Connie and I are pretty much decided to back out of the purchase unless we get some really fast and positive feedback from the seller. Not really expecting that as I'm guessing this is a surprise thing for him as well.
IIRC sometime back there was an article about dogs being used to locate termites within a house. No help I know but I found it interesting.
I, fortunately, have not lived in a house with know termites. I always thought that once an infestation started, it continued until the food supply was exhausted unless the house was tented and treated. If the house was treated to eradicate them, the former owner had to know!
Termites swarm and can leave a structure completely. They need access to water so wet wood can be a source otherwise they need access to the ground. I have had houses where they have come and gone. I have found evidence of modest damage in other homes as well. Homes on slabs will have mud tunnels on the exterior in a lot of cases. I would personally get a pest control opinion.
Had lengthy discussions with both the house inspector and the termite inspector. First, apparently we only have subteranean termites here in Amarillo. Too cold for the other common species.
The house inspector was somewhat surprised as he saw no evidence of termites. He did say he was not looking for it, as termite inspections are done specifically by the bug people, but he often sees it when inspecting a house, and none jumped out at him here.
The termite inspector is just that, they do not/cannot look for structural damage...that's done by engineers and can get very costly. They only look for evidence of termites. The lady that did the termite inspection was also quite thorough and her honest, but unofficial, opinion was the house was basically sound. She said as a matter of habit over the 15 years she's been doing this, she regularly thumps on walls, baseboards, etc...anywhere she suspects damage. she said she did not find any areas substantially chewed up, and even pulled one loose baseboard off in the garage area to look behind.
So, both inspectors have unofficially said they feel comfortable with the house, no major issues, just a lot of obvious small ones.
Not sure what we're gonna do. At the very minumum we'll request the seller pay for the termite treatment, which he's gotta do anyway before he can sell the house. We may go back and relook at a previous house we were interested in.
BTW, the termite lady told me the same thing Lynn said......they''l just up and leave if there is not enough moisture present. She said it's not uncommon for a house to be vacated, and with the lack of moisture from showers, etc, they'll leave, and then come back after the house is inhabited once again.
Termites leaving is good to know. I hope things go well either way you go with this house. I don't envy your move. I spent time in the military and moved every three years or less, I almost hate moving.
We told our realtor tonight to get us out of it. We're going to be back to square one looking again. I need a break...road trip this weekend.
Rich, I have been following you excitement with the new home. Tonite I am sure will be a little depressing for you and your family. You did the rite thing. I am sure you have heard the old saying ( better safe than sorry). I have a little story for you that might help ease that let down feeling. Where I live here in Ontario, on the outskirts of Toronto , the demand for housing is so great that if you are a buyer and want to use a home inspection as a condition of purchace, you will never buy a house. Example: As a seller , your agent puts up a sign on the lawn (coming soon) About 2 weeks later the FOR SALE sign goes on the lawn. Now an open house viewing, (heard on one in town last week that had 70 familys go through).Usually the listing price is below a realistic selling price. Now the agent says the seller will look at offers in two or three days. The buyer who wins the sale usually goes 2 to 3 hundred thousand, sometimes more, over the asking price. Now the Sold sign. Here is the kicker. If the buyer had put any conditions at all in his offer (like a house inspection) it would have been thrown out . Be thankful you have the security and ability to make use of conditions. Our market is so heated up here that unfortunately some home buyers get stuck with total disasters. If this is hard to believe , ask Jeff Norwell, he lives not too far from me. He will 2nd my story. You will find the rite house, be patient, and good luck.
I have always bought houses "as is" and used it as a negotiating term. That said, I think you made the correct choice under the circumstances. Good house hunting!!! ROAD TRIP!
Thanks, Lynn. Hopefully we did make the right decision.
At least we're not house hunting in Toronto. That's a heck of a story. I guess on second thought, I wouldn't/couldn't be house hunting there.
After reading the Toronto story I'm glad we have the inspection option with home purchases here. My sister inlaw lived in Austin Texas and when she put her house up for sale it was sold within a few hours and was above asking price due to a bidding war, so it happens in areas here too but the over asking price was double digit. I am courious about the realtor fee percentage. Realtors typically get 6% of the selling price. What do they charge in the Toronto area? Rich I don't envy your having to move but in happy you'll be upgrading, I hope you are able to procure something with a nice garage or workshop for your tools and 57.
Typical realty fee in Ontario is 5%. The market here is totally out of control. In my area home prices have roughly doubled in five to 6 years. In our town there are not many homes that sell under one million. Without a lot of help grandkids will have to move away if they ever want to own a home. Just crazy.
Wow, thanks for the info. Sellers market for sure.
Yes.. the Market is here is truly insane. Fordaholic is quite correct.
We live outside a small town that has tripled in size since 2004.The Population in 2004 was roughly 7800 ... last year the count was 29000.
Point in case.. a builder local here planned on 80 units.... Townhouses.... not big at all...the weekend they were to be released ...folks were sleeping in their cars from the Thursday before the Saturday opening.The builder was only going to release 45 units for the first phase.Only 1 hour after the opening ALL 45 units were gone and people were flipping them for as much as $300,000 more than they cost(the basic model was about 3 hundred K.)
The builder at noon released another 20 units andante they were all gone by 3 pm that same day.
These are TOWNHOUSES!!!!!!
The average single family home in the little town next to us goes for $550,000......It's truly ridiculous.
The average single detached home in Toronto is now 1.2 mill to 1,5 mill.
When we lived in Toronto--20 years ago..A decent 2 bedroom apt was $1600 plus plus a month.Now its about $2500 a month,
I have no idea have people survive.
Yes... you can sell and make(what you think is mega bucks....) but you will never find a home you can afford...... Unless it's in Baffin Island.
Jeff, before you make the move to the Island you better check on internet service, you might be out of business up there. ( Email me if you still want to look at the tray again before it goes in the car. )
Quote from: fordaholic on 2017-02-25 08:27
Jeff, before you make the move to the Island you better check on internet service, you might be out of business up there. ( Email me if you still want to look at the tray again before it goes in the car. )
Ok Gary..I need to go see Don VERY soon......Or just call me,..I am working all weekend
It's terrible in Europe also. prices have doubled in 20 years. Latest trend is tearing down 100 yrs old Art Noveau houses. They are rock solid and well built brick buildings and beautiful historical. reason is because those buildings were owned by wealthy people back then who could afford to have large properties. nowadays there will be 6 to 12 appartments per property, where once only a family of 3 generations lived. profit is the only thing they think of. those mansions can never be replaced again.
Who is tearing down solid 110 year old houses? talking about culture in the old world.... :005:....they could as well be scrapping '32 Ford roadsters to make tin cans out of them....
Rich where are we (I use "we" because we all have been with you on this move from the beginning) with the house adventure. Hard to get all excited by the prospect of a purchase only to have it be dashed by bad reports followed by a sense of relief of the near miss.
Keep the faith buddy, there is a match out there just waiting. Have to believe the first one fell for a reason, just not apparent at this time!
We've already found one that may work. The inside was very similar to the pic I posted of the fireplace, except the owners had horrible taste in Decor and painted all the inside brickwork, beams, and kitchen cabinets. You have to look past the colors. My wife asked what I thought after we were looking a while, and I told her I could make this house beautiful. She asked if I was up to it.
The neighborhood setting isn't quite as good only because this particular house is on the very edge of the otherwise nice tract facing a commercial area. LOL.I guess somebody has to be on the edge. This new house is 300 sq ft bigger than the one I talked about, and has a big front yard with a circular drive and one of the biggest back yards we've seen. (great for our dogs, which will number 7 when my wife's cousin arrives this week.) It's the same asking price as what we had negotiated on the house we gave up on. I'm not sure why, but it has a drive thru garage.
One thing we learned, if we make an offer on it, we'll have the inexpensive termite inspection done before spending the 400 on the full house inspection.
Rich, I think this home may have your name on it. About that drive through garage. Time to dream a little. Maybe when the painting is done ask the family if they would mind if you used up part of the big back yard for your new workshop / mancave. Something like 30 x 40. Now the drive through garage will have a real purpose. Good luck on this one. Gary
Well, As Fordaholic said, it looks like it is meant to be. We made an offer on it last night, and since it is owned by a properties company, no bs'ing around. within an hour our realtors had worked an agreement out verbally, got ok'd both sides with signatures from both. The big thing for us this time, being a properties company they have guaranteed they will fix anything that may be wrong with it, and will purchase a ($500 cost) home warranty. After our past two experiences, that's great. Their realtor told ours when we first contacted them this home was in great shape all around.
They are paying 100% of all the closing costs.
We made the offer before My wife's cousin (now living with us) saw it....which was only an hour later...she loved it.
The reason it was meant to be....this new home for my '57 was built in 1957!!!
It looks nice but...where's the shop?
Congratulations.
It's beautiful!! and must have been a very fashionable place to own in 1957!
Is this a brick building ?
Quote from: terry_208 on 2017-03-03 13:25
It looks nice but...where's the shop?
Congratulations.
The 2 car garage
is my shop. Room for one in the back yard if I want one.
DJ.......the front area under the porch is a beautiful stone. I'm not sure if the wear patterns in the stone are natural or man made, but whatever it is I love the texture.(I walked off that porch last night and it's about 49.5 feet long.) Everything else is brick, except where they enclosed a covered patio in the back with siding. We're trying to decide on leaving the enclosure or opening it back up.......we all love sitting outside. It's gonna take me a while to make this house beautiful again.......I guess this is gonna be my next "restoring a '57 project". What's really weird about that is I told my wife I wanted to start checking (architectural) salvage yards for some really neat porch railings. We don't have any here, so Dallas, OKC,Denver....sound familiar??
Congratulations Rich! Patience is a virtue; I was always told. You just proved that. You won`t have to worry about termites tonite, instead you can dream about that future shop in the back.
Rich, I am a huge fan of 20th up to late mid century architecture (1900-1967). When I look at your new place it looks like a dream come true. They must have spent a fortune back then with the natural stone and brick construction. The rotary driveway is too good to be true ( I can already picture the 57 parked in front of the porch). loving the old trees all around the property. are these oak ? Do you have oak trees in Texas ?
Judging from the shadows this pic must have been taken in fall and the side we see is probably facing west. so you have the morning sun coming in east on the enclosed part of the property and evening sun when you come home from work ( you don't anymore). Is that just me dreaming up a story or is it true ?
I think somebody gave a lot of thought to this home and it looks the part as well. love the attached 2 car garage. That would also be something unheard of in 1957 Europe.
congratulations. I have no idea how you are going to remodel it, but it's never a bad idea to get some vintage touch back in an old house.
I'm a big fan ranchers, there easy to paint. :003:
Thank God for termites... this is meant to be! SWEET! :003:
Easy to paint and no stairs to fall down......a biggie for those of the elderly generation, lol.
Guenter, close, as near as I can tell from the maps, the house faces NW, and probably more North...about 310-320* I'm guessing, and the garage portion maybe 290ish. This is one of three of the biggest houses in the tract. This one is between the other two, and all three are on a curve. The three are shaped so they follow the curve around...really cool especially when you view the satellite image. Any body know how to capture a satelite view for printing?
Lynn......we've got our fingers crossed on both the termite inspection and the house inspection. Because of the previous house, Connie has already been approved for exactly the amount from the VA. Everybody can move quick and close in 3-4 weeks.....the VA again being the bottleneck.
Do you mean like this:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/4901+McCarty+Blvd,+Amarillo,+TX+79110/@35.159567,-101.8724776,80m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x87014ff6a050c3cd:0xd620f4afa6b66d92!8m2!3d35.159567!4d-101.8722049
You sly dog!!!!!!!!!!! You have the makings of a road course in your front yard!!!! I just got to move to Texas.
If you right click on the Google satelite you posted, it gives a print option that the one provided on realtor.com did not. Thanks. Yep, if you backed up on the image as it opened (-), you can see the rotary right in front of the house.....kinda would make a neat roadcourse. I've always wanted a circular drive....I bet with the double width, I could park close to 20 cars on the driveways.
Yep...come on down to Texas... It's been pretty much shirt or just hoodie weather all winter, and real estate in the panhandle (Amarillo) area is pretty reasonable. Other areas of Texas are much nicer though.
Now I see what you meant by drive through garage !
I don't know if your wife and cousin will approve, but I'd park the 57 inside the property anytime on Sunday morning, set up the BBQ, sit on the SE facing porch and look at the car all day long, while having BBQ, coffee and pie or what have you.... :003:
I am just happy for you Rich, it is a very interesting and cool house and property. the driveway is great, you could park about 16 abandoned project cars there, sitting on bricks, and I am sure your neighbors and wife would love it.... :003: And think about how you could drive the next project inside the property for open air hammering, sanding and painting :002:.....we car tinkerers have great ideas all the time! :003:
Told you it was out there! Great find, hope all the inspections come up roses! Does need an extension put on the back side of that drive through garage....:<)
Everything is moving along smoothly on the house for the most part. The inspection has been done, and there are no major glitches....just tons of little ones that can be expected in a 60 year old house. We're making a list of things we're asking to be fixed and things we'll accept as is. The sellers have already been working on repairs we previously requested, but tomorrow night we'll be formally listing the requested repairs.
We had the termite inspection done today, and there are NO termites or evidence of past infestations. YAHOO!! my wife and her cousin were doing a dance when that news came in.
As far as I know, we're still on track for a 3/31 closing.
Outstanding news Rich! Keep the faith man.
Still on schedule. We had a list of 10 things we were requesting be repaired/replaced and they agreed to 9 of them, we accepted. Next on the calendar is getting the house appraised by the lender.
Still trying to figure out the garage setup. I mentioned the front and rear overhead doors, but it gets a little wierder. The garage was drywalled, and there is water damage to the drywall surface about a foot high entirely around the garage. Not enough water to damage the core, just the paper, and the top of which is a very straight line like it was masked off or shielded from a frequent water spray rather than a flood type soaking. Couple that with the fact there are three 3 phase 220 outlets in the garage (not for washer/dryer hookups).
So this mystery......I'm thinking the guy had a commercial operation going in the garage, like water jet cutting. I can't think of too many things that would combine the voltage requirements and high pressure water spray/overspray. If I remember correctly, one of the new technologies in the 80's was the mentioned n/c water jet cutting tables. Probably got outdated with the plasma setups??. Any other ideas why someone would have 3 phase in a home garage ?
Had to be some kind of industrial equipment? Three phase really don't run around residential neighborhoods as a matter of course. The cost of running that power in for just an air compressor does not make sense.
I thought 3 phase was what was up on the poles in the neighborhoods....just not brought down to the houses. Then again I get confused when I start trying to reason electricity anyways...as far as 220 voltage goes anyway. I know 220 is actually (2) 110 lines, 440 is 4 of them, ect........but if single phase is one line, and 3 phase is 3 lines, how does that work with the voltage? I guess it's in the connections. Can you have 3 phase 110?
I'm not a electrician so in laymen's term. You are correct with the single phase comments about 110 = one wire and 220 = equals 2 110 wires. But 3 phase has no logical relationship to single phase. It would be extremely odd to find 3PH in a residential neighborhood (but across the street is light industrial). 3PH can be 185-460 volts. 3PH does have three feed (hot) wires. Test with a voltmeter. If the wire has 110-121 amps, it's single phase. Look up at the overhead lines from the transformer to the house. Three twisted wires with two coated and one bare is single phase. 3PH would be four big strands of wire...three coated (hot) and one coated or not (neutral). One of the leads (hot) would likely read 230-460 volts on voltmeter. Usually about 5HP motor max out a single phase system. So usually 7HP and up are 3PH.
I built a topsoil milling/screen plant and used 3PH to run all the motors. I also had a very large Onan generator with around a 300HP Allis Chalmers engine running it. The plant had several 3PH motors from 10 HP to 60 HP. I had to learn a lot of stuff real fast!
Gasman is correct in his suggestion of looking at the incoming wire to determine 3 phase verses single phase. It it unusual to have 3 phase in a residential setting, but if you have 4 wires dropping in to the top of the meter riser and if there is 2 transformers mounted on the pole it is 3 phase. If your ac is 3 phase it will be cheaper to operate but in some cases you pay a higher price per per kva. You can run a larger air compressor with smaller wiring and breaker size and it will be more cost effective. If the plug or wiring in the garage does not end up being a 3 phase plug it could be a single phase 220/4 wire set up like for the new dryers. The old dryers just had 2 hots and a ground wire, the newer ones require a 4 wire set up due to needing a neutral wire to keep the ground seperate for safety reasons. I have installed 4 wire plugs in garages for kiln ovens and they look like a 3 phase plug. The true indicator and confirmation is the 4 wires outside (which is called a quardaplex) and 2 transformers.
I'm 100%sure the 3 phase is coming to the house...the 3 wrapped heavy wires as mentioned and the A/C is 3 phase. What I'm not 100% sure of is the garage outlets. I do remember the inspector saying they looked like 3 phase outlets, but I think he commented the ciruit breakers were not what was usually used on the 3 phase, so he wasn't sure...and he doesn't test for that, so I've got some checking to do when we get the house.
I was researching converting 3 phase to single, and I read on an electrical engineering forum three phase is basically 3 single phase circuits, so easy to convert.....just use one of the power wires and the neutral. The main thing to check on the conversion is whether or not the lighter wire normally used in 3 phase circuits is adequate to carry the load for whatever I'm running as single phase.
The discussion I read never talked about voltage though, so I'm not sure how one wire and a neutral gets 220 single phase (3 prong plug)as I thought the 220 was derived from two 110 wires and a neutral......maybe what Gasman mentioned in that one of the wires should actually be 220
LOL......don't worry, I'm not going to fiddle with the wiring until I know what's what.....and I probably will get an electrician in anyways.
Kerby....are you an electrician?
Yes I'm an electrician. The 220 will need to be derived from 2 of the hots. Your assumption is correct. There are multiple 3 phase systems and voltages. You either have 120/120/120 on each hot wire tested to the nuetral and 220 between any of the two hot wires. There is also 120/120/208, with 208 volts between any two of the hots. Your ac being 3 phase is good economically, if you ever replace it the replacement unit is more expensive to purchase but the energy savings over the years will definately offset the price differance. When you get the house I will be glad to look at photos of breakers, wires and panels to assist any way I can. If I have a chance I would be glad to come by and look things over too. I'm sure I could twist Jack Flash's arm to ride along too. It would be good to meet and see your car in person also. I'm happy for you in the new home purchase.
12.5K volts is typically distributed throughout a residential area along with a neutral. That is one insulated wire and one bare wire on the pole connected to the transformer. The transformer on the pole then converts it to 220V single phase along with a neutral to your house. The transformer is what makes the 110V we use for everything. Your power panel should have two rows of breakers with the total amps for each row being close to the same.
That 12.5K is why you hear the loud bang and see the huge flash when one fails or those flashes when looking at footage of a tornado going through a neighborhood.
Thanks for all the info guys. I did rewire the house we're in now including main boxes and adding 220 to the garage, but I have to refresh my memory. I never dealt with the 3 phase thing also.
One other question....the new house has 4 electrical/circuit breaker boxes with not one breaker identified as to what it controls. Do electricians have any shortcuts for identifying the individual circuits?? I seem to remember seeing a device that emits audible signals from a remote location to confirm power on to outlets/switches/fixtures.
Kerby....electrical stuff aside, I'd love to meet you and Jack. It would be best after we got settled in the new house so I can spend some time doing car stuff with you guys.
I hate this moving thing...no place to put stuff while I'm sorting thru a 18 x 36 storage shed that's been full for years. This morning I'm going to go over my buddie's speed shop 2 blocks from here to see if he's got a place I can park my '57 for a month or so. that way I can use the '57's parking spot for a staging area. I'm also in the middle of rebuilding my compressor so I can blow off 10 years of Texas silt over everything in storage.
I totally understand Rich, I hate the moving part too. Let me know what works for you or not. They do make a tool that plugs into an outlet and the attachment with the tool will be used at the breaker panel and it will beep and or squeel when to are next to the breaker that feeds the circuit. I have also used a radio and a noisy drill that I plug into a outlet and I can hear it from the breaker box, turn individual breakers on or off to locate the corresponding one that powers it. That's the cheapest and very effecting method.
Thanks for the info again! Much appreciated.
We got past the VA/lender appraisal today....at least the dollar amount. It came in a little higher than selling price. The inspector listed 3 things that had to be fixed, and then another inspection/appraisal. Two were easy and were previously agreed on to repair. The third is going to be a biggie expense wise for the seller. The appraise wants all the outside trim scrapped and painted. We were aware of it, it was just something I wanted to do as I'm picky. I hope they don't ruin the columns on the front porch doing it. It's all the windows, roof edging, columns etc. If the sellers agree to it without raising the price of the house (if they even can), I'm sure it's going to push things back a week or two.
One thing I've learned from this latest house buying adventure.....you can't buy a fixer upper if you're going VA.
My friend at the speed shop 2 blocks from here is making room so I can park my '57 there for a month or so. I need to get it out of the garage so I can start cleaning out/sorting thru an 18x36 storage shed that's been full and pretty much untouched for 10 years. I need the garage for a staging area for the sorting and packing and temp storage.
Our closing got pushed back to 4/7 on the new house. VA needed the time.
I finally got my compressor rebuilt. I replaced the old pump with a twin cylinder. Took a couple of days because everything was fighting me. Had to replumb the tank to pump and change the electric motor's pulley to a smaller 2 belt pulley. First place I went to for a pulley wanted 53 bucks! after 3 other stops including Graingers who wanted 113 for the same pulley, I went back to the first place. I also had to relocate the pump mounting holes, etc. I wished I had done this before I repainted my car. I can't believe how much faster the new pump builds up. I was hoping to replace the old compressor with a two stage, but that wasn't in the cards.
LOL>>>I needed to fix the compressor now because of all the Texas silt that has built up on the stuff in my shed that I need to blow off.
quote from earlier post:
"The appraise wants all the outside trim scrapped and painted. We were aware of it, it was just something I wanted to do as I'm picky. I hope they don't ruin the columns on the front porch doing it."
They did. Totally screwed up all six 8" (round) columns. They apparently used a coarse disc grinder to remove the paint.....or a chain saw.
In 1 day they turned what would have been a 2 week project for me to get the trim refinished correctly into a 2 month project. %$##!!@
we're letting it go, we want to close on the house asap.
I talked in an earlier post about the garage walls appearing to have light water damage along the bottom of the walls for a foot up. I was studying a pic I took of the garage and I'll have to look in person up close, but I think something else was going on. First I noticed the floor had no normal oil stains at all, very clean. Then it dawned on me what we thought was water damage and posible mold may not be that at all. I'm now thinking they had an indoor/outdoor carpet on the floor and it was glued to the walls for a foot. removing it caused the damage, and what I assumed was mold I'm betting when I get down and look close, it'll be black foam from the carpet backing/padding. A pic: (that's the inspector checking the elec. panel)
OR>>>>>>a combination of carpet going up the wall, and getting wet. There appears to be staining on the floor from water at the rear overhead door.
Rich, what a nice and huge shop ! leave the house to the ladies. you already got everything you need... :003: :002:
Quote from: djfordmanjack on 2017-03-24 03:24
Rich, what a nice and huge shop ! leave the house to the ladies. you already got everything you need... :003: :002:
Exactly! When we bought the place we are in 22 years ago I did the inspection thing of the house. All was good. Walked into the 30 X 30 shop, saw the power panel, receptacles for 110 & 220, 1/2 bath, and floor pins to tie down for a pull and told her to go back in the house and make sure it was what she wanted because I was in love!:<)
Those floor pins do double duty. Anchoring for pulling but I have a friend who locks his cars to the floor. He says it won't stop a thief but it sure will slow 'em down.
We closed on the house this morning. Finally the hectic ratrace is over. Yahooo! We spent the day picking up stuff for it we want to change. New storm/screen doors, new locks for all the doors,paint for the garage, a couple pet doors, etc.
I did find out I mispoke about the 220 in the garage. Those were not 220 outlets at all, but 30 amp 120 outlets (one marked RV use only??). So, looks like I need to run 220 from the back of the house to the garage. We had some heavy rain for a few days, and I found out I have a drainage problem outside the back of the garage. The soil level for 15 or 20 feet of the backyard gravel driveway is actually as much as 6" or so above the garage level. I think we're going to need someone with a small tractor to lower it to where it probably was when they built the house, and then do some additional gutter/downspout work to disperse the roof waters away from the house.
Wednesday we're flying to Phoenix to load up the cousin's stuff. Hoping to be back in town late Saturday....we'll see how the loaders/workers she's lined up work out.
Congratulations.
Moving party!!!
Congratulations Rich!
Thanks, Kerby.
Gary.the moving party is full underway. We flew to Phoenix Wednesday, and Thursday and Friday morning a hired crew loaded up a 24 and a 18 footer. I left as soon as the big one was filled Wed. Thursday night, and she left Friday afternoon. Got them both unloaded today with family and local guys I knew.
I'm tired!
It'll probably be a few weeks before we move out of our house, I've got lots to do and until Sherri gets all her stuff gone thru and put away, we wouldn't have room anyways.
I feel your pain...we moved from TN to AL with a 24 footer and a trailer. Got all out stuff unloaded into the shop, the owner let us do this before closing, and then into the house a week and one hurricane later.