Electricians of Reddit

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/therealladysparky on 2024-01-23 14:46:04+00:00.

I'm a 5th year IBEW apprentice, set to top out in June. The jobsite I'm on is less than ideal, and has OSHA called out a few times recently. My local doesn't let apprentices drag, but we have the right to refuse to work if we deem it unsafe. The thing is, refusing to work doesn't go over well if you're the only one doing it.

My contractor does try to do everything safely, but it's the surrounding contractors causing an unsafe environment, as well as the gc letting them get away with it. We're talking we try to open doors for ventilation because all the welding fumes and diesel exhaust are making people sick, and they close them and inform us it's just water vapor. (They have air monitors. It only really covers CO and nothing else, so the air is "clean.") I have lung issues thanks to COVID, so I have been making a scene about it, but at this point nobody cares.

The gc is also from Texas. The job is in a northern state that's seen much winter weather. They don't seem to plan ahead for plowing and salting the parking lot because every morning we're either plowing our own paths with our vehicles to get in, or, in the case of this morning, eating it when we slip on black ice trying to get into the building.

My hall knows all of this. But, unlike all the jw's who've gotten fed up, I can't drag. I want to, but I'd have to see the committee. Or I can get a doctors note, which will probably follow me the rest of my career, and get pulled off for medical reasons. I'm also "not allowed" to ask for a layoff that my contractor probably would Gove anyway because they're from out of Local and I'm the only local apprentice for my contractor.

So, how would you deal with this? Because I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Editing to add: I was given the impression that the committee wouldn't go in my favor.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/Raviolist123 on 2024-01-23 14:33:22+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/EnerGee420 on 2024-01-23 13:51:20+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/Biguccisosa_ on 2024-01-23 13:44:27+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/fuckwitsupreme on 2024-01-23 11:22:34+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/NotFallacyBuffet on 2024-01-23 09:23:41+00:00.

Had a transformer fire across the road which glitched power a few times in a stand-alone emergency department. The ED’s generator came on and won’t go off. (Different building and different utility transformer than my building. But it glitched my building’s power a bunch of times.)

I’ve isolated the problem to a Cummins ATS that is reading normal source voltages incorrectly on L2. Assuming that is why it’s not switching back to normal. I.e., the digital display shows a low voltage on L2, but metering shows that the voltages are just fine.)

The MDP feeding normal power to this ATS has an I-Line Smart Cell. First time I’ve encountered one. Googling brings up the Schneider site that says it’s a network communication device that will log and report power-logger type data.

What I’m asking about are the three little yellow lights over on the right-hand side by the handle that looks like a small breaker handle.

Am I correct in assuming all the above and, also assuming that the handle is the disconnect for this little electronic device and that the yellow light indicates a burned-out fuse? The yellow light is on L2, just like the ATS problem.

(I originally assumed that the Smart Cell was a surge protective device, but now I don’t think so.)

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/Immediate_Question14 on 2024-01-23 08:15:33+00:00.

Started my own company last year and im looking to expand our residential sales. We have My Google business page set up, yelp, nextdoor, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. But haven't had much success drawing leads from these. What do yall do for marketing to get leads?

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/TD_tripod on 2024-01-23 02:49:21+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/devyncole on 2024-01-23 02:40:03+00:00.

I’ve had an electric blanket, heating pad and a phone charger all burnout on a single receptacle. I metered it, 128v. I’ve never had to deal with over-voltage and usually I see ~118 at utilization point in residential. So is that potentially the issue? Opened the panel too and L1-N is 127, L2-N is 127, L1-L2 is 255. I typically have a fair bit of static around our couch due to blankets as well. I’m glad this wasn’t a customer asking cause I’m clueless. Should I contact local utility for overvoltage or is it more likely due to static discharge?

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/someoneshoot46 on 2024-01-23 02:01:28+00:00.

On a 120v band saw motor, between the motor and the start switch is a plug and it caught fire and burnt up. I'm trying to test the switch and motor before i put another plug on and burn it up too. On the motor side I read 1 ohm from hot to neutral and no continuity from hot to ground or neutral to ground. The switch tested fine as well. I work in powder metal so maybe something got into the plug and shorted it.

What do you think?

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/lmaobihhhh on 2024-01-23 01:20:14+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/reeksfamous on 2024-01-23 00:58:50+00:00.

Was thinking about something today on the job, looking at my linesman and I had a moment of pride because I’m a new sparky. I’ve only been doing electrical Full-time for a year now. I’ve been doing it on the side for 4 years (Management Banking).

My linesman looked visibly worn, and while I was proud of myself I also wanted to buy a new pair cause my current pair looked like I been doing this 15 years with this same pliers! Obviously I made mistake as a new guy which added to the ware so that’s why I’d rather get a new pair and be able to keep these looking better cause I’m better now. Which type of sparky are you?

TLDR: you prefer new pliers or would you rather your pliers look aged from a lot of work?

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/Uppi21 on 2024-01-22 20:30:35+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/AirSparky on 2024-01-22 17:05:32+00:00.

I work maintenance and haven’t worked with apprentices for about 5 years now, so I’m probably a little out of touch.

I’m working with a guy who is starting as a first year apprentice in school. He reports all his hours to the school instead of our company, who then reports them to the state. What is the point of having schools report hours now instead of the company apprentices work for?

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/Bigdbyyy on 2024-01-22 16:57:52+00:00.

Hello, I’m a second year apprentice currently in Local 343, I was looking to transfer to 292 but I’d like to know about the workflow, last I heard there was about 80 apprentices on the book. Is it like this every winter? How fast does the book clear? I’m not looking for accurate numbers obviously just an estimate, thank you

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/zercher22 on 2024-01-23 07:49:20+00:00.

I'm an electrical and instrumentation maintenance technician, and with my job we tend to get some down time when all planned maintenance is finished and no reactive jobs have come in, which can work out to a fair few hours spare over the month.

I want to utilise this time to learn/do more electrical/electronics related work and earn a bit of extra cash, even if it's not much.

Anyone here in a similar boat and do the same, or has a side hustle outside of work?

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/Drstevil1 on 2024-01-23 06:01:13+00:00.

I am a qualified electrician but not a license holder, i was put on the spot and required to sign a compliance certificate for a job i did and forged a friends license number but put my details on the rest of the form. Will this come back to haunt me? It was only a minor task and nothing will go wrong but im scared im going to screw over my mate if someone checks the credentials.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/rgnrlthbrk on 2024-01-23 05:53:37+00:00.

Original Title: Help! Can someone confirm that its purpose is for shielding when cable pulling? Does the outer core greatly affect the internal resistance? Our general contractor seems to blame us for the low insulation resistance of the cables (The standard insulation resistance of the client is 100 M ohms).

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/ProperCheesecake2770 on 2024-01-23 05:02:20+00:00.

Scared to take exam for WeCa Electrican Apprenticeship?

Been a cable tech for 2 years now, I have 10 years of general labor/Warehouse experience and some electrican work I did with a family member. Also have been a pool tech, carpet cleaner, and restoration. I want to become an official electrican. But after getting my high school transcript though I graduated I didn't do to well in math or English. I'm afraid to take the exam . Do anyone know how hard the exam is for electrican? I know they said it had algebra etc I graduated over 15 years ago so I haven't been in school I for awhile.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/Successful_Tutor_493 on 2024-01-23 04:35:59+00:00.

Original Title: I’m ready to take on a new endeavor in my life and become an electrician (22yo m) but I’m wondering if it’s worth it. So to the experienced electricians, is that something you’d recommend nowadays? What’s your pros and cons to your career, genuinely asking.

Would appreciate the advice

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/EddyDrives on 2024-01-23 02:48:54+00:00.

Hi guys, those working on residential, what tools did you employer provided and what did you buy?

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/Background-Metal-601 on 2024-01-23 03:39:53+00:00.

Let me say from the outset that I am 3rd year apprentice but I've mostly done commercial up till now. The shop im wiring is my dad's, he's pulling the permits as a homeowner and everything is getting inspected. Just have a few questions for the resi guys about best practice and such. Call out any errors or advise as needed if you got a minute!

First as I understand it lighting in a detached garage can be on a regular 20 amp non afci breaker. I should mention that it is getting sheetrocked so it is a detached but finished garage does this change anything?

Current plan is 2 circuits for the plugs, 4-5 plugs on each. Thinking I'll do gfi breaker's with the pigtails so they work on the sub panel. For the sub panel Ill pull 2-2-2-4 urd aluminum for 100amps about 60 feet. Driving 2 separate ground rods since it's a separate structure.

There is also an attic fan. How do you guys typically wire these? Dedicated seems overkill and as far as I can tell shouldn't be necessary? I'm thinking I'll run a hot from the lighting circuit to it so it won't be with the gfis.

Also want to have a welder plug About 70 ft of wire from the panel. Haven't bought the welder yet but I'm assuming 6/3 on a 50 amp should cover most any mig welder we'd be in the market for. Voltage drop from sub panel is <2%.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/corruptx4 on 2024-01-23 02:58:38+00:00.

Those who attended trade school how did you decide which one to pick? I see some classes being offered at my community college and also some technical institutes offering degrees. Is there some certification I should look for when picking a school?

I tried applying to a union several months ago and I haven’t heard back from them. I heard you need connections to get in so im not counting on that.

Im from California Santa Clara county if that matters.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/Suwannee_Gator on 2024-01-23 02:06:31+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/electricians by /u/BlueScreenIRL on 2024-01-23 01:06:57+00:00.

Usually I just pick up assorted kits from Amazon. Recently I picked up a kit of butt connectors from Amazon and they turned out to be garbage.

They don't pass the pull test. I've bought other generic kits from Amazon that were fine so I'm not sure what exactly what was wrong with these ones. I think maybe the metal is just too soft or something to form a solid crimp. I am not really sure what the root cause is but I am certain these are not reliable.

Never thought much about the brand for something like this but this was pretty frustrating. What are you guys using? Where do you get it?