Charlie Fritz

Charlie Fritz Electricial Tips 💡

Maintenance guys. "I don't know if you're allowed to do that." -Tim Robinson
11/07/2025

Maintenance guys. "I don't know if you're allowed to do that." -Tim Robinson

Why is the neutral and ground connected on the applianceI thought neutral and grounds were only ever to be connected at ...
11/07/2025

Why is the neutral and ground connected on the appliance
I thought neutral and grounds were only ever to be connected at the main breaker

My brother is 2 months into HVACMy little brother has started HVAC and started working with me and is about 2 months int...
11/07/2025

My brother is 2 months into HVAC
My little brother has started HVAC and started working with me and is about 2 months into it. He's a bright kid most of the time, but then he'll do s**t like this and i wonder how he's able to tie his boots 🤣🤣

SPAN Panel InstallI completed this SPAN panel a few days ago.200A Service 39 Circuits 10 - 240V 29 - 120VAll lighting ci...
11/07/2025

SPAN Panel Install
I completed this SPAN panel a few days ago.

200A Service 39 Circuits 10 - 240V 29 - 120V

All lighting circuits routed via a 90A 240V breaker to the sub panel to allow for required arc fault protection.

Homeowner gave me control of what circuits went in the SPAN and the grouping. This wasn’t my first choice as the SPAN panel cost is significant. I expected the customer to know the ins-and-outs but as he put it, “I’m not an electrician, you are.”

Word, bro.

I advocated for a 400A service to account for the amount of circuits, but the upgrade cost from utilities was $20,000+. We didn’t pursue that further.

Customer opted out of a second SPAN due to cost.

He also opted out of using a 200A 30-60 fed through the feed-through lugs at the bottom, since he wouldn’t be able to keep track of any circuits in the second panel that way.

At least there is built in load shedding.

For those who may not know, the SPAN has built-in load shedding. This is especially useful when paired with solar battery backups and/or generators. My understanding is that there are SPAN compatible backup power systems that make this a much easier process. (I got this info from the solar installer that was on site. Sounded like he knew what he was talking about.)

It’s only possible to set up load shedding and keep track of individual breaker slots, not the tandem ones. For example: on slots 5 and 7 I have a Quad/Tandem. 50A-240V for the double oven, 20A-120V for the hood fan and 20A-120V for the beverage cooler. Paired up like this the SPAN programming cannot load shed the 120s without the 240 going as well. Same with tracking energy use. The system will display the whole energy use for whatever 5 and 7 are labeled, but not track their individual use.

Still have some odds and ends to complete here but that can wait until we trim out the house.

I’ve always changed, upgraded, added my own electrics and have a reasonable knowledge of circuits and systems.I recently...
11/07/2025

I’ve always changed, upgraded, added my own electrics and have a reasonable knowledge of circuits and systems.

I recently bought a newly renovated house and noticed once we’d moved in the dual light switches for the hallway didn’t work correctly. We received an electric safety certificate on purchase and the fuse board has a checked sticker but it seems they didn’t check this switch.

I have no idea where to start, might be a job for a forensic electrican.

Mid 50s, size 11 clown feet.

What’s the difference between these two?
11/07/2025

What’s the difference between these two?

Apprentice here, house keep tripping main 100 Amp breakerOur house keeps tripping this breaker, it's hot to the touch. T...
11/07/2025

Apprentice here, house keep tripping main 100 Amp breaker
Our house keeps tripping this breaker, it's hot to the touch. The copper wire is oxidized. I'm an apprentice, so I don't exactly know what's wrong here.

I'll probably have my landlord come fix it but it's just for my curiosity.

Ac was one, oven was on, and the dryer was on. Misc lights.

The heart of the system. Safety is always paramount when working inside electrical panels.
11/07/2025

The heart of the system. Safety is always paramount when working inside electrical panels.

Let me have it, boys.3rd year apprentice here. Just installed a 26.4kw Generac System with a double ATS on a 400a servic...
11/07/2025

Let me have it, boys.3rd year apprentice here. Just installed a 26.4kw Generac System with a double ATS on a 400a service, wired it all up on my own. This only my 5th or 6th panel and definitely the most complicated one (for me) by far. My Jman is coming to look it over in the morning, and I want to fix anything you guys find before he decides to actually roll out of bed and get there at like 11 am. What issues are there with it, and how could I have done a better job?

We had house painters leave our doors open for hours while they painted them. Now my outdoor unit doesn't run. Its about...
11/07/2025

We had house painters leave our doors open for hours while they painted them. Now my outdoor unit doesn't run. Its about 3 year old Lennox knock off brand. I have already had to replace a capacitor in it. I kept a spare capacitor from another unit and switched it out but it is still dead.

The air handler's fans works so I know it isn't frozen over. What else could be the problem?

Said the chambitas that he was going out to buy the terminals and never came back..
11/07/2025

Said the chambitas that he was going out to buy the terminals and never came back..

Is this J hook correctly installed?I am changing out light switches in my older house I am not an electrician. Is this J...
11/07/2025

Is this J hook correctly installed?
I am changing out light switches in my older house I am not an electrician. Is this J Hook installed correctly? Can the insulation be resting on the brass plate ?

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117 SW 10th St,
Miami, FL
33130

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