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naraburns  nihil supernum  1yr ago (text post)   3850 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for January 15, 2023

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

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Any recommendations for open source or free programs to draw electrical schematics? I'm working on remodeling my kitchen and there will be some major changes. New 20amp circuit, new ground wire, stuff like that.

I could MSPaint or hand-draw it, but I also want to add to my resume.

SketchUp may be what you’re looking for.

Use OrCAD Lite. It was good enough for me for a EE degree, it should be good enough for some rough schematics. The Lite version has simulation and testing capabilities as well.

Isn't that more for designing circuit boards than house wiring circuits?

Yes but you can create custom blocks with specified transient characteristics. It's not ideal but it's better than MSPaint or hand-drawing it. I might have misread what OP asked for, if he is looking strictly for a layout and not planning to do any sort of simulation, then OrCAD isn't ideal.

They all seemed pretty shit last time I checked. Just drafted everything imitating my dad's old drawings. Make sure to include an elevation page, aka the actually helpful "where are my wire drops hiding behind this fucking drywall" one.

AutoCAD is still the resume building option iirc.

What's going in the kitchen?

Electric - A new 20A circuit dedicated to the microwave, toaster oven, and possibly food prep items (e.g. mixer, food processor). Proper grounding for the existing 15A circuit feeding the overhead lighting, front porch, and ceiling fan. Moving the 50A cable to match the oven's new location. Moving other 15A outlets to match new geometry of kitchen.

Physical - Tearing up 3 layers of tile and replacing with LVP (original floor is pine & not fit to refinish). Opening up the kitchen by replacing an L-shaped wall (blocking view of the front door) with a straight wall. Building a P-shaped peninsula with oven cutout on the top of the P and an extended counter for the leg. Knocking out a window-shaped hole on the opposite side of the peninsula to make a garden window over the sink (for year-round herbs). Moving the refrigerator to a different location on the wall and building a proper 2-cabinet pantry in its place.

Finally, moving the swamp cooler from the new location of the refrigerator to the roof of the house & building ductwork to match.

I'm not gonna be done til around April/May at the rate I'm going. Which is perfect timing for the new swamp cooler to activate.

Wow, nice project. Yeah, I'm starved on 120v amps in the kitchen just for a big kettle and toaster. A 20a circuit dedicated to the big stuff would be awesome, but fuck working with GFCI...

Would love to hear about the swamp cooler sometime. Was thinking of getting one until the mini split went in, and it could still be useful for an office outbuilding.

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