65 - Ghost Voltage
What the heck is a Ghost Voltage? In this episode we consult the experts over at Fluke to understand exactly where these things come from!
May 03, 2017•11 min•Ep. 65
Stuff Electricians Should Know!
Electricians Library
The podcast for Electricians where I give you bite sized bits of useful information, usually in the form of an answer to a question the every electrician should know!
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Episodes
Copper Vs. Aluminum
So in this episode I talk a little bit about the differences between copper and aluminum conductors. Lets face it, people love copper more than aluminum wire, but aluminum does have a few advantages. And copper has a few disadvantages just like aluminum does. When you’re deciding on which material is best for your project, you have to weigh the pros and cons of both. Listen in to todays episode to learn more about the difference between using copper and aluminum conductors.
Apr 26, 2017•9 min
Line Vs. Load
Today I wanted to talk about the difference between the terms line and load. This is a pretty simple concept to understand once you’ve been in the industry for a little bit, but I know that it can be confusing to some of the apprentices out there. If this does confuse you a little bit, then get the free download that I’ve created to help you understand the concept a little more. It’s a simple PDF that i’ve linked to in the show notes that shows exactly which conductors would be considered line a...
Apr 20, 2017•9 min
Service, Feeder, Branch
Do you know the difference between a service conductor, a feeder, and a branch circuit? We'll cover that in todays episode!
Apr 12, 2017•7 min
Conduit Installation Tips
Ok, so this week I wanted to kind of continue on with last week’s theme of conduit. How fitting….. (pun intended) So this week I have 5 tips for all of you apprentices out there as you are learning to run conduit. Now, of course, you are going to be trained by a journeyman that has his or her way of doing things. And that’s great. You need to pay attention to what they are doing and teaching you because they have experience. But, I know that in the trades the doers aren’t always the best teacher...
Apr 05, 2017•12 min
Conduit Q&A
So let’s get on with the show. Today I thought it would be great to go over some Conduit Q&A and this information can be found over at the steel tube institute . I thought this might be important because, as an electrician of course you are dealing with conduit every single day! So why not know just a little bit more about the products you are using and become more of an expert than you already are. You may want to check out Episode 9 as well as I briefly cover what GRC or RMC is. You can li...
Mar 29, 2017•19 min
Service Equipment
So let get right into learning about Service Equipment. First of all, let’s go ahead and see how the NEC defines Service Equipment. We want to know how its defined by the NEC because Too many electrical workers (and inspectors) think service conductors include the secondary conductors of transformers and supply conductors to a remote building. This misunderstanding has led to several improper and unsafe neutral-to-case connections at disconnects and panelboards. To ensure a safe electrical insta...
Mar 22, 2017•9 min
Subfeed Lugs Vs. Feedthru Lugs
OK so we have two different names for some lugs, so let's start by finding out what exactly they are. Where are you going to find these lugs? Well, inside of a panel board of course! Now, if you’re not familiar with the term panelboard, check out episode 35 here where I talk about the difference between a panelboard and a load center. First of all, one of the biggest differences between a sub feed lug and a feed through lug is the location inside the panel. One is on the top with the main and th...
Mar 15, 2017•6 min
How Does A Ballast Work?
Today let’s hit on another basic part of being an electrician….. Dealing with ballasts . Now, it may not be too far in the distant future when you won’t be dealing with ballasts much because of the wave of LED’s that are taking over, but at least for a while you’ll be changing them as they go out because some of your customer either won’t want to or can’t bear the cost of retrofitting everything right now....
Mar 08, 2017•9 min
PVC vs. Plenum Rated Cable
The world of wire is a vast, wide ranging and confusing area for most any of us to be able to get much of a handle on anything other that what we really use every day. But there are a few questions that you can ask when you are trying to decide what jacket needs to be used. For example, do you use polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or plenum rated cable? Here are a few simple questions that you can ask yourself to help you decide which cable will be right for your job.
Mar 02, 2017•8 min
250.4
This Episode is sponsored by Acmetools.com You get reminders every day. Reminders on your phone, reminders in your email, reminders in your texts. Some reminders get kind of annoying, but some reminders are there to keep you safe. If you haven't read article 250.4 in the National Electrical Code lately, then consider this a reminder. According to the US Department of Labor, “Accident statistics compiled by MSHA's Health Safety Analysis Center indicate that approximately 14% of all electrical fat...
Feb 22, 2017•10 min
Generator Installation Safety
This episode is brought to you by Acmetools.com
Feb 15, 2017•8 min
Multi Meter Safety
This episode is brought to you by Acmetools.com
Feb 08, 2017•7 min
7 Enclosure No No's
Today I’d like to cover 7 simple enclosure no no’s. Some of these are simple, some aren’t so well known, and some are an issue that you’ll run across because someone else was just too lazy to do it right the first time, and now you have to come behind them and fix it. If you want to get your copy of the NEC out and follow along that would be wonderful. If not, you can pull it out later and take a look at some of the code references.
Nov 02, 2016•12 min
110.25 - Correctly Locking Out!
You need to know where to properly lock out and tag out and also I cover some changes to the show!
Oct 26, 2016•6 min
Open Neutrals and Pools
So I read a heartbreaking story about an accident that could have been easily prevented by some simple maintenance. I wanted to share it with you to demonstrate the importance of having proper pathways for current to flow, and how dangerous it can be if you don’t.
Oct 20, 2016•6 min
110.14(B) Splices
So my buddy Will sent me a picture the other day that I reposted on Instagram. I’ve also put it in the show notes for this episode. But if you look closely, you can see an extremely dangerous situation inside of the fused disconnect. You can see in the bottom of the box, 3 split bolts that are exposed. Not a single bit of tape or insulating material on them. If you follow the conductors over, you can see that they go right into a breaker. He was smart enough to check them with his meter before h...
Oct 18, 2016•6 min
Should you use a breaker as a switch?
So today’s question is this: Can you use a circuit breaker as a switch? I bring this up because I heard a story today of a local woman using a breaker in her panel to turn her TV on and off to prevent the kids from watching it when they shouldn’t be. Needless to say, the breaker won’t turn on anymore and she can’t turn her tv on because it was an old, hard to find breaker. So, let’s go to the code.
Oct 13, 2016•5 min
What is Backfeeding?
What is backfeeding? The simplest explanation for backfeed is when power flows in the opposite direction from its usual flow or when voltage is present on a conductor or associated equipment after it has been disconnected from its normal source.
Oct 06, 2016•5 min
Different Types of Grounding Electrodes
In this episode I'll quickly cover several different types of grounding electrodes.
Oct 04, 2016•7 min
MCM Vs. KCMil
Todays question was sent in by Mike D. As I have been scouring the googles, trying to find topics of interest that would help out, I keep running into a fairly common question. It's easy to forget that what may seem common to one person, isn't so common to the next. Especially to the apprentices that are just coming into the industry. So I thought this appropriate as a refresher to some, and as fairly new information to others. The question: "What is the difference between MCM and KCMIL? Is it a...
Sep 29, 2016•3 min
Beware the Bypass Meter
Today’s episode is just a heads up, or a safety warning to all of you who might work alongside the utility company at some point in time. On occasion, the utility company might require you to install what is called a bypass meter socket. In our area they require them to be installed on commercial or industrial buildings, and oddly enough, detached garages or shops if you aren’t running power to them from your house. What is a bypass meter socket you might ask? Well, let me tell you. There are a ...
Sep 27, 2016•7 min
Lumens Vs Watts
Here's today's question. What is the difference between lumens and watts? In the world of lightbulbs, especially with incandescents, you were probably at one time, and maybe you still are, used to choosing your lightbulb by the wattage listed on the package. The wattage gave you a decent indication of how bright the bulb was going to be. In a nut shell, the more watts, the brighter the bulb. Now that LED’s are coming on strong, things have changed. An LED that uses 60 watts is no where close to ...
Sep 22, 2016•7 min
Non-Grounding Type Receptacle Change Out
I had the opportunity of speaking with an electrician who discovered what the NEC requirements were to change out a residence full of two wire non grounding type receptacles, to three wire, grounding type.
Sep 20, 2016•6 min
How is the NEC laid out?
This episode is an excerpt from a course I'm creating on understanding the NEC. This is just a quick overview of how the NEC is laid out for those that are unfamiliar with it. At first glance the NEC is a very intimidating piece of literature. And when you start reading it, it get’s even more scary because it reads like something only a legal expert would understand. That’s how it seems anyways. But once you get digging into it, you’ll find that it is organized in a very useful manner that flows...
Sep 15, 2016•6 min
Wet Vs. Damp Location
When trying to help someone decide what fixtures to use, we came across the designation "damp location" on the fixture spec sheet. I thought this would be a great subject to touch on today.
Sep 14, 2016•6 min
Fully Rated vs. Series Rated
So I was talking with a project manager the other day and he was having trouble getting some submittals approved for a hotel. One of the issues that came up was that the gear company wanted to know if the gear could be series rated to save some money or if it had to be fully rated. The project manager had no idea what they were talking about and I was a little confused as to why he at least didn’t know at a basic level what the difference was. So I thought I’d share with you today what the diffe...
Sep 08, 2016•8 min
Article 300.20
So why would this need to be put in the NEC? Let’s just get into a little electrical theory for a minute. When alternating current (ac) flows through a conductor, a magnetic field is created around that conductor which is constantly expanding and contracting with the amplitude of the current. You know that the amplitude in the US is at a frequency of 60 cycles per second or 60 Hz. Now, since Alternating Current reverses polarity 120 times per second, it stands to reason that the magnetic field a...
Sep 06, 2016•7 min
Which is right? Loadcenter or Panelboard?
In todays episode we answer a question from Mike. He asks: "I had a commercial job where the plans state 200 amp 3 phase 120/208-4wire exterior surface mount panel with 200 amp main breaker. I was told by 2 electrical companies that i needed a panel board (which was $750) and by 1 electrical comapny i can use a basic loadcenter ($280) which is correct?"
Sep 01, 2016•6 min
Wire Pulling Reminders
Today I just wanted to bring you a couple of items to remember when doing a wire pull. There are four major things to remember: 1-Pull Evaluation 2- Conduit Proofing 3- Conduit entry and Exit 4- Lube
Aug 30, 2016•4 min
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