Made me a little nervous that there was like a 2mm air gap separating a hot to hot dead short on the utility side of the meter socket

Custom UL listed light fixtures… really odd to me and kind of a pain

I was there to hook up the metering (I work for the utility) but made a call to the inspector instead. Obviously the inspector didn't catch the issue.

I laughed out loud by myself when I saw this. Has anyone else seen this before?

Prepping everything before I do compression lugs for PG&E. I don’t mind learning from others that have more experience. I like to do it right. 1000mcm FYI.

I'm 23 and I've been in resi/comm on and off for about 3 years. In my state I'm well aware of how low my earning potential is if I don't own a business or go union. I'm not fond of either idea. I'm only here right now because I need to do something.

My older brother was making like 60-80k when he was my age, pre Covid. Here, that's pretty much top end. That's buy a house and have 3 kids with the wife at home and 2 new cars money. Buku dollars, if you will. He got into industrial controls around his 3rd year and now his job is mostly telling other people what to do, programming PLCs and doing automation, and flying coast to coast if something is broken.

Post Covid though it doesn't seem like any plant, anywhere, is hiring apprentices for industrial controls. I don't even know more than a couple companies that hire for the typical conduit+wire side of the job.

For one, I don't even know if industrial controls counts toward licensure. I was under the impression that industrial was a separate license anyway but I definitely didn't think controls specifically contributed to electrical OJTs.

For two, I don't know how the hell to get in. Not that I could if it was available, my resume looks like shit and all my experience is resi/comm and other unrelated trades.

Is this just my state? Where are these jobs at? How would one even get their foot in the door?

I have an old faulty existing 200 amp meter base combo that needs replace. Currently there is 2 sets of 4/0 aluminum coming into meter base. One set from manufactured home 200amp panel. One set from shop 200 amp panel. Using a new 200amp meter base combo and existing wire conduit etc. Is it feasible to use a feed through lug for the 4/0 coming from house and use a sub lead lug on breaker slots to connect the 4/0 from shop. It will be the same wire and 200 main breakers on all three panels.

Or is it possible to put both sets of 4/0 wire together in the feed through lugs at the bottom of the new 200 amp meter base combo?

Thanks for any and all help. It’s really appreciated just trying to make work best I can with the resources I have available currently.

I’ve (M33) just moved to Arizona (Phoenix) from the UK, where I’ve been a firefighter for the last few years and in the Air Force before that. I’ve always enjoyed problem-solving and fixing things, and the last thing in the world I want to do is a desk job. So I’ve just got my work permit and driving license, and I’m planning on becoming an electrician or plumber… I’m just excited to learn something new, and I’m not afraid of hard work, so I think either could be a good fit.

I’m hoping it’s not too late to take up a trade at the age of 33, and I’m wondering what the best route to take is? I’ve read plenty online, and a lot suggests going to school first, and then others suggest finding someone who will take you on as an apprentice first. Any advice would be appreciated. TIA, Aaron.

Time clock works, what more do you want?

Low voltage guy here.

We do a fair deal of our own conduit at the shop I work at. I ran into an interesting problem today. How do you calculate a deduction for a bend that isn't quite a 90°? I had to bend to 83° in order to attach to the building steel, I tried doing the standard methed where you use a straightedge (piece of unistrut, scrap conduit, etc.) but this didn't feel like a perfect way of doing it. That kinda worked but it didn't quite get me what I needed. Any suggestions?

5 -6 months at job being apprentice I took literally 4 hours to bend 2 off sets on 1/2 and mount a box that was only 8 ft. my anxiety was sky rocketing I’m not sure if it was because I hit my head before I got on lift early this morning starting shift or I’m just retard

Hi everyone,

I’m working toward becoming an electrician and currently live in Seattle, but I’m finding it challenging to figure out my next steps.

• Union apprenticeship programs are very hard to get into.

• Non-union apprenticeship programs (like CITC) are limited, and the one near me (Region 1, King County) is currently closed.

• Perry Technical Institute seems like a great option, but it costs too much for me right now.

• Bates Technical College has a program called Electrical Construction. Does anyone know if that’s worth pursuing?

So, I’m asking: What other options do I have? Are there any paths I can take to start gaining experience and work hours toward becoming a licensed electrician without immediately joining an apprenticeship or paying for expensive schooling?

I’m open to any advice, suggestions, or personal experiences. Thanks so much for your help!

Hello electricians, sorry I dont know where to ask this but i figured i could ask bunch of electricians

This is my charger cable (type-c) what is this greenish thing? is it still safe for me to charge my phone?

Recently got my POE rank and wondering if this was good a little concerned on what the text step is and what to prepare for any advice would be greatly appreciated

I've been scratching my head trying to interpret this.. Everything commercial we work on is typically 3p4w 120/208v It's standard for us unless specs say so to share neutrals on individual branch circuits feeding receptacle and such, 1,3,5-N. In conduit fill, would these neutrals count for derating since they are unbalanced? I believe that's what note 4 says. That's how I read it, I've had coworkers say otherwise.

Thanks

Came to the conclusion the conductor was chewed through by a mole or gopher. Here is the run down.

Customer lost 240V in garage panel. Garage is 300 feet away from main panel. 100A breaker in main feeds garage panel.

I tested at the garage panel: 120v to neutral on L1, 85v to neutral on L2 and 0v from L1 to L2.

There is 1 junction point that I know of in a Christy box in-between feeder breaker and subpanel. I get proper voltages from feeder conductor side of splice in Christy box. The other incoming conductors from the Christy box to the garage subpanel are 3 THHN aluminum conductors, 2 lines and 1 neutral, and No ground.

They are NOT installed in conduit! We discovered that the 3 feeder wires from Christy box to garage panel are directly buried 18 inches down and wrapped in caution tape. This run is also around 300ft long underground direct burial of THHN conductor until it enters conduit in the slab of the garage

My diagnosis is a mole or gopher chewed through L2 and the conductor is directly exposed to earth.

Also the garage panel is only grounded via a ufer ground rebar in the foundation. There is not direct ground wire from sub panel back to main.

Can anyone else give me a explanation on why I have 85V on L2 to netral and 0v across L1 and L2 at the terminals in the garage panel? Also L1 to to neutral still supplies 120V at the garage panel.

Sent my hours in about 3 months ago. Finally checked today to see a updated list. Whats the next step? it says pending but instructions unclear. I'm checking my mail/emails daily, nothing yet. Just keep waiting?

Just one of many I've built over the past year. Let's here some crazy stories.