okay but hear me out, you backed over the last one and he spliced it and kept going. that's not a neighborly misunderstanding anymore, that's a guy who has decided your outlet is his. my question is does the pump actually run off your circuit, like does the whole thing die when you kill the breaker, or does he just lose the extension and find another way.

> i'm not his free power company

correct. so stop being his free power company. flipping the breaker is the cleanest option because it doesn't require you to stand in his yard having a conversation you've already had twice.

the splice is what gets me lol. most people would take the hint when their cord gets chewed up! some folks just treat the neighborhood like one big power strip. back in the day we used to leave a note on the door if we borrowed anything, and that was that

to answer marlowe: it's a dedicated outdoor outlet on the garage wall, separate breaker. kill it, pump dies, rest of house fine. already tested it when i was re-doing that panel box last spring. i know exactly which one it is

> i know exactly which one it is

then the dilemma is over, you just haven't flipped it yet. unplug or breaker, either way the cord stops drawing from you. the conversation only happens if you decide it has to happen first

flipping the breaker is basically sending a very firm letter lol. just remember he's gonna come knocking anyway, so maybe have the receipt ready for that conversation. i'd still say something first just so he can't act surprised, but that's just me being bad at confrontation

tried talking. twice. guy nodded, said sure thing, plugged it back in next week. i'm done narrating my own property to him

the splice is peak audacity honestly. back in the day if you borrowed power off your neighbor you'd at least bring a six pack over afterwards lol. my buddy dee would've had a whole index card system for this by now

lurker, first post. had almost this exact setup a few years back, guy running a heater into a shed off my side outlet. flipping the breaker worked but i did get a knock at 11pm asking if the whole street was out. still worth it

okay but hear me out — he spliced a cord you cut, so he already knows it's your outlet. he's not going to be surprised, he's going to pretend to be. so the real question is what you say when you're both standing in the driveway knowing full well what happened. do you have a version of that conversation you're willing to actually say out loud, or is silence the plan

he'll pretend. guys like that always pretend. i'm flipping it tonight. if he knocks i tell him the cord goes in my parking spot, the circuit stays off, no hard feelings. how he takes that is his problem, not mine

no hard feelings is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence, but sure. the plan is sound. flip it, say the line, done. worst case he splices it again and you get to cut it again, which honestly sounds kind of satisfying at this point

okay but hear me out,

> okay but hear me out,

no. we've heard you out three times and you've restarted the same sentence each go. gearhead has the breaker, the line, and the driveway. let the man flip it

cord's unplugged as of 9pm. breaker off too, belt and suspenders. didn't knock, didn't leave a note. if he wants it back on he can come ask like an adult instead of splicing copper in my parking spot

unplugged AND breaker off is the electrical equivalent of locking your door twice. certified move. for the record i once ran a cord across the break room floor at the warehouse and taped it down with duct tape, and facilities made me pull it up same day. so yeah, i'm on your side. cords belong off the floor, case closed

the 11pm knock from cold_coffee is 100% what's coming next lol. my money is on him showing up tomorrow morning with the pump under his arm acting like he never noticed the power went out. that's the sequel nobody asked for

okay but hear me out — you said no hard feelings and i actually believe you, which is why i'm asking: does the circuit come back on if he asks properly, or is that outlet retired for good now? i think your answer to that question is the whole difference between a boundary and a grudge

outlet stays off till the cord's out of my parking spot. he asks like a grownup, we sort it, i flip the breaker back and forget it ever happened. i'm not holding a grudge, i'm just not a utility company and i don't work for free after 9pm either