He said I was using the wrong color for 12-gauge solid and showed me how to pre-twist ends like he's been doing since the 70s. Anyone else have an old timer call you out on something you thought was fine?
Was swapping out an old outlet at a house built in the 70s. Pulled the cover off and there it was - a rusty flathead just sitting in there, probably from 1985. Gave me a solid laugh before I tossed it in my scrap pile. Anybody else find random tools in weird spots on the job?
I was swapping out an old outlet in a 1970s house and the breaker just lit up when I flipped it back on, no signs of damage before that. The wire looked fine but the bus bar had some black marks I didn't notice at first. Was this just old equipment failing or did I miss something obvious in my check?
Last month I posted asking about tapping off an existing subpanel for a new shed run. This old timer in the comments told me I was reading the code wrong and my wire sizing was off for the voltage drop over 180 feet. I brushed him off at first lol but then I actually measured the run and checked 310.15(B)(3)(a). He was dead right. I would've undersized the conductors by two gauges and probably had a fire hazard within a year. Has anyone else gotten a reality check from a forum comment that saved their bacon?
I spent 3 years jamming the same purple wire nuts onto every switch I installed, until last month a senior guy saw me doing it and laughed. He said those are meant for aluminum wire, not copper. Have you ever used the wrong connector for years without knowing it?
I switched to a veto pro pac and can actually fit a whole day's worth of tools without it sagging. Has anyone else ditched the cheap bags and seen a real difference on site?
I was doing a panel swap at a house in Denver and my helper asked why I was nicking the copper so bad. I been using my lineman's pliers to strip 12 gauge for a decade and always had tiny cuts in the wire. He handed me his Klein auto strippers and I couldnt believe how clean it came out. Took me like 20 seconds to get used to the action but now I feel dumb for fighting with my old method all these years. The stripped wire looked brand new and went into the breaker way smoother. Has anyone else dealt with realizing your basic technique was trash after watching someone younger show you a better way?
He told me to just wrap electrical tape around the nut and squeeze it tight before twisting it on. I tried it on a junction box last Tuesday and the nut spun right off when I tugged the wires an hour later. Anyone else ever have a relative give you a shortcut that ended up causing more work?
Had a customer in Denver insist on them for a whole kitchen remodel, and after spending 45 minutes trying to get a dimmer switch to sit flush without the screws, I switched back to regular plates on every job after that, anyone else run into alignment issues with those things?
I just realized that's basically 38 miles of running wire through conduit in the last 5 years and it kinda blew my mind, has anyone else ever tracked how much wire they've pulled over a career?
I had a day last Tuesday that made me question everything. Went to replace a three-way switch in a house near Denver, simple 15 minute job turned into 3 hours because the previous guy used the common terminal as a traveler. Then my voltage tester died halfway through, and I dropped a screw into the carpet. Has anyone else ever run into a switch that was wired so wrong it didn't even make sense?
Had a rough patch last month where I was lucky to get 1 panel change done in a day. Between bad weather and crappy wire management from the 70s it was brutal. Yesterday hit three houses in a row, all neat old work, and I was back home by 5. Anyone else find their pace just suddenly clicks after a slump?
I was at the supply house and needed a new multimeter after my old one got crushed on a job site. The cheap one had all the same features on paper but the Fluke felt solid in my hand. I went with the Fluke because I figured it's a tool I use every day and I didn't wanna deal with false readings. Been using it for a week now and it's spot on, no regrets. Any of you guys had a cheap meter screw you over on a job?
Guy who trained me 20 years ago swore by the old purple twisters for aluminum. Finally had a house fire call last spring where one of those melted right off. Switched to the Al/Cu rated connectors and haven't had a callback since. Anyone else ditch the old methods after seeing one go up?
Stuck it in a live panel to check something and my multimeter lit up like a Christmas tree through the handle, glad I had my rubber boots on so has anybody else found a decent budget brand that actually holds up to UL standards?
Remember when we used to just cut holes everywhere and patch later? I was doing a rewire in a 1920s house in Portland last month and caught myself about to grab the saw. Now I spend 20 minutes with a flex bit and a glow rod before I even think about cutting drywall. Saves maybe 2 hours of patch work and the homeowner doesn't hate you. Anybody else switched to running fish sticks through the attic instead of opening up walls?
Was working on a service upgrade in a 1950s house in Portland last month. The panel was a mess, but the real pain was the old work boxes. I used wagos on the 12 gauge romex in a 4x4 box that was already packed tight. Barely got the device in without crushing the connectors. Then I had to go back two days later because a neutral came loose. Now I only use wire nuts with a solid twist on anything 12 gauge or bigger. Saves me callbacks and keeps the box from looking like a tangled mess. Anyone else ditch wagos for heavier wire in tight spots?
I was picking up some 12/2 romex yesterday at Platt in Portland and this older sparky was telling his apprentice that ground rods basically do nothing, they're just there to pass inspection. It got me thinking about all the houses I've worked on where I saw corroded or loose ground connections that nobody bothered to fix. How many of you actually test your ground rod resistance with a meter, or do you just drive it and call it done?
I was swapping out a 200 amp panel in a basement in Arlington, and this homeowner had scribbled a note on the cover saying 'power off.' Usually I double check everything myself, but I was running late and stupidly trusted it. Opened it up and saw 277 volts still humming on the main lugs - my meter pegged right as I pulled my hand back. Scariest 10 seconds of my career so far. Anyone else ever trust a homeowner's note and regret it?
Spent 8 hours yesterday pulling them all out and using the screws instead. Anyone else just refuse to use backstabs anymore?
I was wiring a detached garage in a 1970s house here in Spokane, and the owner wanted a 50-amp subpanel for future EV charging. I had to choose between pulling 10/2 NM-B for a 240V-only feed or 10/3 to get a separate neutral. I went with the 10/3, which cost about $0.80 more per foot, because it lets them run 120V circuits out there without a separate ground rod system. Has anyone else found a specific case where the extra conductor was absolutely worth it?
He pointed out I was using terms like 'kitchen lights' instead of the actual circuit numbers and load descriptions. I thought it was just a quick note for the next guy, but he said it could cause a real safety issue during an emergency. Now I spend the extra ten minutes per panel writing out exactly what's on the prints. Anyone else get called out for something that seemed minor but actually mattered?