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Home Electricity
Total questions 19600
What might cause GFCI outlet problems?
s for USA, Canada and countries using similar 60Hz mains supplies Answer The device could be faulty and it could also be...
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How do you calculate the total amps used in the house?
for U.S., Canada, and similar 120v/60Hz split single phase power supplies: This is a complex question that requires you to do...
Popularity: 210 • Tools: Recategorize
What is the definition of amperes and watts?
Amperes are the rate at which electricity flows through a wire or piece of machinery. When you open a faucet on a kitchen sink,...
Popularity: 188 • Tools: Recategorize
What can you do if have no 240V outlets and a 240V air conditioner to plug in?
s for USA, Canada and countries using similar 60Hz mains supplies An appliance designed for 240V absolutely must have a...
Popularity: 188 • Tools: Recategorize
What cycles do electric appliances run on in the US and UK?
The UK uses 50 Hz, and the US uses 60 Hz. (US is 120/240V, 60Hz; UK is 230V, 50Hz, though formerly it was 240V.) For more...
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Why was 120V chosen as the standard voltage of homes in the US and not some other voltage?
The voltage level that any AC (Alternating Current) power line must have depends on the distance that the line must travel. Power...
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of the electrical wiring in an old home?
Old electrical wiring There are no advantages. In fact, old wiring like this has insufficient power capacity to handle today's...
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How much electricity does an average 2-story 3-bedroom house use per day per month or per year?
More information is needed to address this question well. What type of appliances are being run? Is it an all electric house? ...
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Will electricity travel through the fastest through plastic paper or yarn?
None of those materials will conduct electricity. They are therefore called insulators. However if a sufficiently high voltage...
Popularity: 163 • Tools: Recategorize
Is it cheaper to leave a light burning for several hours than to turn it off and on several times?
This used to be a valid question with older fluorescent fixtures, but not anymore. A light that is off doesn't use power and it...
Popularity: 161 • Tools: Recategorize
Can a regular electric cord be connected to an electric box so it works with a wall switch?
I would venture to say that almost all electrical codes would prohibit you from doing this, though technically possible. A...
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If a 100A breaker panel has five 15A breakers and four 20A breakers could this overload the panel?
for USA, Canada and countries using similar 60Hz household electricity supplies Asking this type of question usually means you...
Popularity: 159 • Tools: Recategorize
What year did electricity reach suburban homes?
Electricity in suburban homes This varied from country to country and from town to town. Initially, electricity was used mainly...
Popularity: 156 • Tools: Recategorize
Is it possible to overload a panel with too many duplex breakers?
YES. By duplex breaker, you mean 'tandem breaker', a special breaker designed to allow you to get more circuits into a panel...
Popularity: 154 • Tools: Recategorize
Does using a dimmer switch affect the cost of electricity?
All a solid-state dimmer does is fire a triac at the correct point in the phase to control the power output. It does not...
Popularity: 152 • Tools: Recategorize
What is the definition of 'traveler' in relation to residential wiring?
"Travelers" are the two switched wires running between three-way (or four-way) switches to operate lights from multiple...
Popularity: 152 • Tools: Recategorize
How do you connect a number 12 aluminum wire to a number 14 copper wire?
AMP (part of Tyco) manufactures the COPALUM system. It's a form of pigtailing, but the electrician uses a special machine that...
Popularity: 151 • Tools: Recategorize
Can a child get a shock from putting a key or screwdriver into a wall outlet?
If the child was grounded (i.e. with one finger in the "ground" prong of the outlet), he would be even more electrically...
Popularity: 148 • Tools: Recategorize
What does single pole mean on a light switch?
single pole turns a light on and off from one location if you can turn the same light on and off from two or more locales that is...
Popularity: 148 • Tools: Recategorize
If you have just leased a home and cannot find the switch to turn on the pool light how can you trace it?
Pool light Call the company or person that leased you the property and ask them where the switch is to the pool light. If...
Popularity: 147 • Tools: Recategorize
Are exit signs required to have battery backups?
If you don't know the answer to this your a moron and you shouldn't ever do anything electrical related ** Edit: There are no...
Popularity: 145 • Tools: Recategorize
Can a 12V 5-6A device be run with an AC-DC converter rated at 12V 12A?
Absolutely. As long as the converter (or any power source) is rated at the same voltage, with more current than the device...
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Is there a fire hazard in leaving the electric fans on during the day when nobody is home and are ceiling fans or free standing fans more dangerous?
The 'FIRE HAZARD' is the SAME as that of leaving any other appliance unattended. Besides the obvious waste of electricity and the...
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Will there be a significant voltage drop if a 60 FT 8-4 extension cord is used to connect appliances to a 7500W generator?
no but you cant exceed the wattage of the generator if you are close to that amount you will notice a reduction not nescessarily...
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What would cause the current to get above 30A and what items would make the current go so high?
not enough information to give an answer most buildings have at least 100 to 200 amp service what specifically are you talking...
Popularity: 135 • Tools: Recategorize
As a buyer what questions should you ask regarding the electrical wiring of a house over 40 yrs old?
The questions are the same for a house that may be only 40 days or less old. Is the wiring adequate for your needs. Is the wiring...
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Are there people or organizations who offer to help the elderly fix electrical problems?
I would help out the elderly and I know many others that would. The question is whether the 'problems' are actually problems,...
Popularity: 118 • Tools: Recategorize
How do you identify existing wiring in an older building?
If you live in a multi-family dwelling, and you can't figure out this simple of a circuit, hire a licensed electrician. The fire...
Popularity: 118 • Tools: Recategorize
What do bubbles in the sight glass mean?
Bubbles normally means air intrusion into a system. If it is your air conditioner, then you most likely have a cooling coil...
Popularity: 113 • Tools: Recategorize
What are advantages and disadvantages of electricity?
Electricity Electricity is beneficial because it is clean, cheap, safe and a convenient source of energy. An advantageous use...
Popularity: 111 • Tools: Recategorize
What are advantages of static electricity?
Static Electricity Static electricity is usually a 'high voltage' but low power form of electricity. You can experience it by...
Popularity: 110 • Tools: Recategorize
What might cause a loss of all electricity in your garage but not your house without a storm hitting or sudden increase of electricity usage?
you might be plugging something in that could have a fault on it, sometimes plugging in a transformor could trip out your fuse...
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What supplies do you need to run 240V for a hot tub?
This is a pretty dangerous area for the "do it your self home improvement." There are National Electric Code rules for have GFI...
Popularity: 104 • Tools: Recategorize
What is the formula to figure out how many plugs and lights you can put on a circuit?
Gunny, This will depend if you have a 20 amp or 15 amp breaker protecting your circuit. You never load a circuit to greater...
Popularity: 101 • Tools: Recategorize
Can you be a human battery cell while in the swimming pool?
You know what, I don't like your human battery theory. No electricain should scratch his head, call another. The solution to have...
Popularity: 95 • Tools: Recategorize
How can a 240V single-phase split ac work in the US which has a 120V 2-phase system?
NOTE "2-phase" to describe US residential service is depricated nomenclature. US residential service is single phase as the two...
Popularity: 93 • Tools: Recategorize
Does electricity flow on the surface of a wire or through the inside?
It's inside. For DC (Direct Current) in typical conductor material like copper, aluminum, silver, etc., the conductor's charges...
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How do you wire two 3-way switches before the light with only 14-2 if you are unable to pull another hot wire?
Gunny, There are lots of ways to wire 3-ways. Since I can't see your setup I'll just give you the basics. Each switch has a...
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What type of electrical heating is most cost effective for the home?
All electrical heating is 100% efficient. Every nickel you spend is converted into usable heat unlike other sources, they just go...
Popularity: 83 • Tools: Recategorize
How does a watt-hour meter work?
There are a couple of kinds of watt-hour meters: one is an electromechanical type (the one with the spinning wheel), and the...
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How do you use a 'meter' to check the power to individual circuits?
The fact of your asking really says you would need a lot of coaching to keep you out of trouble here. Meters, by nature, aren't...
Popularity: 71 • Tools: Recategorize
Is a toaster energy efficient?
Not sure how to answer this, but a typical toaster is 1500 watts which uses a lot of energy when you are toasting compared to a...
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How do you figure how many Watts Amps or Volts?
Penergy(volts) Iresistance(ohms) To figure Watts........PI x R where E is unknown ...
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Is it possible to be able to plug a 4 prong twist and lock into a 3 prong twist and lock generator?
Yes, but ONLY if the generator is electrically modified and upgraded to accept the 4 prong plug.
Popularity: 70 • Tools: Recategorize
How do you remove the 3 wires from the back of a switch plate when they are tightly packed and will not budge?
do you mean from a switch? plates dont have wires you can cut the wires or if it is stabbed in the back there is a slot you can...
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How do you wire 3-way switches using only 14-2 wire when the setup is Light-Switch 1-Switch 2 Switch 1-Light-Switch 2 and Switch 1-Switch 2-Light?
for USA, Canada and countries using similar 60 Hz mains supplies Illegal, Technically Unsound, and Dangerous All methods...
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What gauge of service wire should you run for a 200A service to a meter box and service panel?
Depends on how you run the wire. Buried, free air, in conduit? For a conduit run using copper, you're looking at #2 gauge. ...
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What are the methods to calculate and improve power factor?
This page has good info and a shareware program for power factor...
Popularity: 66 • Tools: Recategorize
What qualifications are needed to become an electrician?
Electrical work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all temperatures and weather conditions. To prepare, the following...
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What is the meaning of load factor?
"Load Factor" is an indicator of how steady an electrical load is over time. If your electric billing rate includes both an...
Popularity: 64 • Tools: Recategorize
How many outlets can you put on a wire with a 15A breaker if it already has an outdoor security light fitted to it through a switch?
Most (if not all) city codes require outlets be wired with 12 gauge wire and a 20 amp breaker. Lights can be wired with 14 gauge...
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If a light switch were wired wrong would it just not work?
Depending on how it is wrongly wired, it might appear to work or appear not to work. There is a severe risk of electrocution...
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Why would a 600 W light dimmer on a total of about 500 W of bulbs make a hissing sound when dimmed?
I just installed a dimmer switch and am having the same problem. It looks like the hissing is caused by the chopping of the...
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If a chandelier has 5 bulbs how can it be re-wired to switch on separately 3-2 bulbs?
How did you want to switch on the bulbs? If there isn't a seperate circuit already running from the switch, through the wall,...
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Why would one light switch show only 60V while all other switches in the circuit are showing 120V?
Good question, I have 3 in a circut, 2 at 120V, and one at 14V. Already replaced the outlet thinking that was bad, same...
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With 15 HP electricity power how much of a capacitor bank can be used?
This question makes no sense. Please clarify and check your terminology.
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How can you correct the voltage drop that occurs whenever you turn the refrigerator or electric range on?
(1) Re-wire the fridge circuit and/or the range circuit with larger gauge wire. (2) The range should be on its own circuit...
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Can you use an extension cord to convert an oven socket outlet to a dryer outlet by using an extension cord with a 50A male plug and a 30A female socket?
for USA, Canada and countries using similar 60Hz household electricity supplies Asking this type of question usually means you...
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How can you run a 240V supply into your home when the circuit breaker is 120V?
s for USA, Canada and countries using similar 60Hz mains supplies A service drop to a home is done with wire that is called...
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What resistance is required to run a 6V 75A light with a 12V 2.5A battery?
You can't run a 6V 75A (450W) light off a 12V 2.5A (30W) battery for any significant length of time. That battery is grossly...
Popularity: 60 • Tools: Recategorize
How can you tell what the amp service is in your house?
I would have to say that the amperage label on the main breaker would designate the amount of amps coming into the house ...
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Is it cause for concern if one wall in a room by a light switch is always warm to the touch?
Yes, unless the light switch is a dimmer switch.
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What is load-shedding?
load shedding, normally used in industrial, large commercial, and utility operations, is monitoring electric usage continuously...
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How do you ground a pool?
Alice, Grounding a pool is serious business, there are many risks if this is not done right. Grounding also varies depending...
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How would you connect the wires to a 60A panel installed in a detached garage from a 200A panel in the house?
Assuming garage is detached less than 80 ft away. You need a 60 AMP double pole breaker for the 200 AMP house panel, and need to...
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What is involved in replacing 40-year-old overhead electric wires from a house leading to a detached garage?
There may be local permit requirements or may not since you are "replacing" not upgrading or remodeling. Since they are overhead...
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How do you determine the correct wattage or lumens needed to properly light a given size room?
Try contacting a specialized electrical lighting contractor or lighting fixture store. They should have the formulas to determine...
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What could be wrong if you turn on a circuit breaker after working on the circuit and the breaker does not trip but there is no power to the circuit?
Maybe either the hot or the neutral is still disconnected from the circuit? Or, maybe, within a socket outlet you want to use...
Popularity: 56 • Tools: Recategorize
Do two 60-watt bulbs deliver the same light as one 120-watt bulb?
The higher the rated wattage of the bulb, the greater the luminous efficacy, which means you get more lumens per watt using a...
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How much will your electric bill increase if you buy an electric dryer for an average of 5 loads per week?
About $10. Do the math. Amps x Volts = Watts. A typical dryer is 30 amps @ 240 volts. That's 7200 Watts. Average...
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Do you need a neutral when running a BLK Red and ground from a panel directly to a 240V 4800W 20A heater outlet?
No. The black is 220, the red is 220, and the ground serves as the neutral. Answer the last answer "no" is correct but the...
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What is a drip wire and could the lack of one cause water to get into the circuit breaker box?
This is an excellent question and yes it could. There is a "drip wire", there is a "drip loop". The drip wire is in the triplex...
Popularity: 55 • Tools: Recategorize
Can a 3-prong 60A 240V circuit for a dryer be converted to regular grounded outlets like 3 duplexes?
Well, yes, and no. You CAN'T just disconnect the wires from the 60 amp outlet and connect them to three 20 amp outlets. It...
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How do you get 120V from a single circuit breaker box that has a 240V line coming into the box that has one black one white and one bare line?
The Answers given below are ONLY for USA, Canada and countries using similar 120/240 Volt, 60 Hz mains power supply systems. ...
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What do you need to become a general contractor?
It depends on the state. Usually you have to take some courses to get your license. It costs a few hundred dollars.
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Why would you be getting electricity to just part of your house if all the breakers are on?
only one phase is being supplied problem might be outside with the meter try pushing in on the meter if a contact is made than...
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Does a dimmer switch rheostat consume the electricity that the light fixture is not receiving?
Yes it does. Answer A reostat works by increasing the electrical resistance in the circuit. When we increase the resistance...
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Can you take a 240v 20a garage outlet number 12 with 4 wires and split it into two 120v circuits while still keeping the 240v outlet?
for USA, Canada and countries using similar 60Hz mains supplies I'm not sure if the National Electrical Code is okay with it,...
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How does 277 and 440 3 phase work and how is it different from 120 and 220 single phase?
First, it's 277/480 and 120/240. But you're trying to relate what I call in the trade 'high voltage' 3 phase and 'low voltage'...
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Why would an outlet suddenly only be giving 40V?
More information is required, is it just one outlet / building? If it is then the most likely explanation would be an...
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What is the US equivalent of European 4x2.5 sq mm HO7RN-F and could US 10 2 be substituted for the European cable to hardwire a 240V 27A appliance?
If you want an American plug to power a 30A 220V device look at a dryer outlet. It will have an extra neutral conductor, but it...
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Can you plug a 240V amplifier into a 120V outlet?
NO! Answer only if u want to burn up your house. Answer There are a number of step-up transformers available that...
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Is there an inexpensive and safe way to convert 2-prong outlets to 3-prong without rewiring your house?
Install GFCI Receptacles You can convert your 2-wire ungrounding outlets to 3-wire grounding outlets by installing a GFCI...
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How do you add another electrical panel to a service?
Contact a qualified electrician.
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How can a light fixture be controlled by two 3-way switches using only 2-wire cables with ground?
CAN'T. Must have 3-wire w/ground. Answer [First off, I want to admit that the wording of this answer is skewed. However, if...
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Where can you purchase 24V 200W pool lights?
http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/page/001/CTGY/PoolHalogen Along with many other online suppliers. You may want to check with...
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If you have a 200A Meter Main Combo do you need a main 200A breaker in the panel?
When I went to a 100 amp service I could not find a 100 amp. breaker in stock. I used a 60 amp. breaker and have never blown...
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What is the difference between an electrical engineer and an electrician?
Electrical Engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment such as electric motors,...
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What is the most probable junction in transistor maintenance circuits and is it base or base and collector or emitter and collector?
Huh? Most probable junction in transister is base emiter
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What happens if you throw a switched-on hair drier into water?
There are a couple things that could happen, worst of all would be harming yourself. If the dryer was plugged into a working...
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Is there a way to reattach the light pull chain which has been pulled off for a ceiling fan?
The chain probably connects to a small switch inside the fan body. If you open the fan up, you can see if there's enough chain...
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If you had a multimeter and plugged it into a 120V wall outlet what electrical current would it read?
You probably would have an unstable display of between 110v and 180v. Answer AC Answer If the meter was set for "current"...
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Can you convert a 120v 50hz electric shaver to operate on 60hz?
You can, but you have to use one of the European converters that you can buy from Walmart, etc. There would be no way to...
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How can you make a 240V 60hz electric generator work at 240V 50hz?
The frequency of the generated voltage depends on the speed of your engine. I assume it's a gasoline engine. It's probably...
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What would a 60 watt Reveal light bulb hum in a ceiling fixture but a regular 60 watt soft light bulb does not?
Dimmers can cause ceitain light bulbs to be noisy due to the way the triac based dimmer chops up the ac sine wave. Different...
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What happens when a phase gets disconnected in a 3 phase four wire and 3 phase three wire system?
Can u imagine a merrygoround with so many kids on it that three kids can hardly turn it? now imagine that same merrygoround with...
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Why do 2-way light switches have no ground terminal?
The circuit is grounded within the recepticle box. There is no need to ground the actual switch.
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How can you install a 240V receptacle from the bare wires for an electric range?
Bare wires!?!?!?! For 240V you need 3 wires plus ground. Red and Black are hot, white is neutral. Don't mess with 240V if you...
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Your neighbor's lights dim as do your own when your AC compressor cycles on what would cause this?
Your power supply will fluctuate small amounts without you even noticing. But when the lights start dimming then you could be...
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Why are there two switches on the breakers each marked with an amperage if there are only two wires connected?
Those should both be hot (black) wires to two separate circuits. Electricity flows into the breaker from the bar that they snap...
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