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I Built a Shed (2020)

eduardosasso.co

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Re: I Built a Shed (2020)

#221

Post by jefftk »

pengwing wrote: post #214
jefftk wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not particularly noise sensitive, so the amount of sound separation you get just by being in a separate room is usually enough for me. The shed has excellent noise separation, however, which occasionally has been useful in letting friends work there for a while.

How do you handle something highly noise sensitive like baby crying in another room while being on a Zoom call?

I have a headset mic which does a very good job of picking up just me: https://www.jefftk.com/p/wired-headsets-for-video-calls

As long as my door is closed and the kid is not immediately outside it, they're basically inaudible.

Re: I Built a Shed (2020)

#222

Post by nwallin »

pjc50 wrote: post #113
ohazi wrote: post #33

Not that anything about this shed is built to code, but this takes the cake: > PRO TIP Use screws for everything; if you mess up, remove the screws and redo it; with nails, it’s a lot harder to do that. You absolutely should not do this for framing, and most building codes specify the type and size of nails that you must use when fastening load-bearing structural components. Screws are convenient, sure, but they are…

> Not that anything about this shed is built to code This is why we can't have nice, or at least affordable but slightly less than perfect, things. I would also note that, while I'm sure everyone's right about the rules in Santa Cruz, this is jurisdiction specific. In the UK, if your shed is less than 15m^2 and is not used as living accomodation, no building regulations apply, and you can build it with screws, nails,…

> not used as living accomodation,

How is this defined? The purpose of this structure is to be used as an office; they'll presumably spend on the order of 40 hours a week in there. Is it only considered a living accommodation if you sleep in it?

I would expect electrical regs to apply regardless of how the structure is used. And regardless of whether the regulations apply, I would implore anyone reading this to do the electrical safely, not because the law tells you you have to, but because of the "it might kill someone" part.

Re: I Built a Shed (2020)

#223

Post by ShakataGaNai »

ohazi wrote: post #33

Not that anything about this shed is built to code, but this takes the cake: > PRO TIP Use screws for everything; if you mess up, remove the screws and redo it; with nails, it’s a lot harder to do that. You absolutely should not do this for framing, and most building codes specify the type and size of nails that you must use when fastening load-bearing structural components. Screws are convenient, sure, but they are…

Thank you for explaining the screw/nail/framing thing. I knew nails were used for framing but always thought "screws are better, why not use screws for everything?". TIL.

Re: I Built a Shed (2020)

#224

Post by amluto »

hamburglar wrote: post #143
saxonww wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good news: he ran a 100ft cat6 cable so that he could plug in a wireless access point. His ethernet card should be fine.

… but isn’t there still a risk to whatever devices are on both ends of that cat6? ie the access point and the head-end router or switch?

Forget the devices -- the risk is to people. If the insulation fails on the power cable and your network cable is insufficiently insulated, then your network cable could end up live. People generally avoid playing with hot power conductors, but no one takes any care to avoid touching network cables or, for that matter, the devices plugged in to network cables.

Re: I Built a Shed (2020)

#225

Post by labster »

jefftk wrote: post #149
wbl wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The punishment for building code violations is death. The building code enforcement is a lot more lenient in comparison.

That's a pretty big overstatement. For example, using insufficient insulation is a code violation, but it is not going to kill you.

Unless there’s an electrical outage during a big snowstorm or heat wave, and then lack of insulation can kill you. Maybe. Or the old people you sell your house to later.

But sometimes you are correct. Like in writing where it’s best to know the rules of grammar before you start breaking them, it’s best to know why the building codes exist before you break them as a DIYer.

Re: I Built a Shed (2020)

#226

Post by ethbr0 »

hinkley wrote: post #130
lazide wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keep in mind, while yes this is a huge code issue mixing low voltage and high voltage - ‘it depends’ in a lot of jurisdictions on other elements. Following is for other folks running across this, in case it helps them. At least in California, I’m pretty sure it’s code compliant to use rated non-metallic conduit for outside high voltage runs for instance. That conduit is made of PVC. It’s the grey plastic electrical c…

Ah yes, I know about the grey PVC but spaced on it. Typically this is for external runs bolted to the side of a building though. Or at least, that’s almost all I ever see it used for. Can you use it for open air horizontal runs? Say between two buildings? Data you want shielded, for the reasons I stated. Stringing Ethernet between buildings often ends in tears.

UF-B. For a minute Lowes had their 100' mispriced by -$100 online. $80 wasn't bad for 100' of 10/3.

Re: I Built a Shed (2020)

#227

Post by 29athrowaway »

Some considerations...

Not all insulations are the same. You have to research which type is best given your temperature, humidity, etc. Some require special handling and care... For example, you don't want to breathe fiberglass, or to contaminate your workspace with it.

Good air quality in a work area is a must. You want air free of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. Opening the window when it's raining is not a viable option. You need some form of ventilation and air filtering. Maybe also air conditioning and heating.

You also don't want to build a structure that is against zoning limitations or that brings you tax liabilities.

Re: I Built a Shed (2020)

#228

Post by Taywee »

caslon wrote: post #199
DoreenMichele wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is why we can't have nice, or at least affordable but slightly less than perfect, things. I really enjoyed reading the article just as someone who likes writing and reading. It was very engaging and I enjoyed the process he went through from having an idea to finally committing to it and I especially liked him commenting on things like choosing materials that fit in his car. I also really am enjoying the comment…

(For anyone who thinks DoreenMichele was being hyperbolic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_massacre )

I don't think anybody thought they were being hyperbolic, but I also don't think that particular event from a century ago has much of anything to do with modern building codes and regulations. I am having a really hard time seeing at all how it's relevant to this topic.

Re: I Built a Shed (2020)

#229

Post by labster »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #220
PragmaticPulp wrote: post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So this is a real issue and I'm reminded of the fact that after racist White people burned down "Black Wall Street" they then began interfering with the rebuilding by trying to pass more stringent fire safety codes This 100% has nothing to do with it. Screws aren’t even the easy, cheap, or fast option for construction. Everyone defaults to nails anyway because they’re the cheap, fast, easy, and correct option for f…

Trivial for someone in the know can mean (something like) "If you have a PhD and a decade of experience, it's obvious." People not in the know who look things up online have the problem that they often cannot properly judge the quality of the information they are seeing. I'm confident that some of the people on HN saying "Oh. God. Don't do that." actually know whereof they speak. But reading the article in no way tri…

I don’t think there are OTC drugs that are effective against covid. So far we have a couple new drugs, a dewormer that only seems to be effective in countries with high rates of parasites, and an antidepressant that pulmonologists feel really weird about prescribing off-label. Did I miss any?

Re: I Built a Shed (2020)

#230

Post by sgtnoodle »

stickfigure wrote: post #183
jacquesm wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Putting signalling and power wires in the same conduit is about as bad as it gets. The proper way to do this is to dig a trench and use armored cable suitable for burial without further protection and to use a plastic uninterrupted tube for the cat6 (which you can blow through). That said, there isn't a lot of difference between a DIY person and a low grade contractor, and a competent DIY'er is probably better than m…

It's short. Put a normal extension cord in the "conduit", with plugs on each end. At least here in California, electrical code ends at the receptacle. You can do practically anything you want on the other side, as long as it plugs in.

I'm pretty sure it's against code in CA to install an extension cord permanently inside a structure or conduit like that.

When I put all the cables in the wall for my TV, I ran Romex from the bottom junction box to the top junction box, despite the bottom junction box having a male electrical plug. An extension cord plugs into that from another outlet. (Ideally I would have just hardwired the upper outlet, but that would have been another can of worms.)

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