Electricians Frustrated with Workflow
14 posts across 2 communities in the last 60 days; 93% from r/electricians.
“Why do we have to deal with this shit? One 12/3 in an emergency light. With 18/2 dimming.”
“So Brady wire sleeve labels seems to be the standard in my very limited experience and niche of Plc panel work but also priced at like 70 bucks Canadian for maybe 100 labels. Just got a cheapo printer and labels from the web (chinese Amazon special) it's going for like 200…”
“Any one got any experience on these? Gimick? Seems like it would solve the issue of cutting in sconce lights after the siding is up and the carpenters just poked the wire out.”
Several electricians are expressing frustration with various aspects of their work, including panel building processes, exam requirements, and apprenticeship experiences. There's a common theme of inefficient tools, confusing procedures, and unexpected workloads.
SOURCES (38)
“Have 1 live old Bx box with Hot and Neutral. Would like to Splice into a new J box > Switchboard > Wall Sconce + Ceiling Fixture. Any advice on what to do? What to avoid? When you splice the old wires into the Romex,…”
“Why do we have to deal with this shit? One 12/3 in an emergency light. With 18/2 dimming. submitted by /u/Single-Ad-191 [link] [comments]”
“This was my first lighting circuit done at college for my level 2 in electrical installation. Junction box behind the rose feeding 2 way switch circuit. submitted by /u/Main-Commission-4042 [link] [comments]”
“So Brady wire sleeve labels seems to be the standard in my very limited experience and niche of Plc panel work but also priced at like 70 bucks Canadian for maybe 100 labels. Just got a cheapo printer and labels from the web (chinese Amazon special) it's going for like 200 labels at 20 bucks... What am I missing here? I know the industry standard wouldn't be the standard for no reason but I cannot for the life of me not think of a reason to not order 100 boxes of the cheap ones? su”
“Does anyone have other ways to do this without daisy chaining the receptacles together? I stagger them so they all fit in the wiremold better. submitted by /u/Slade_ftp [link] [comments]”
“Hey all, I'm replacing 8 Murray panels in a condo complex in Seattle, WA. The permit allows for panel replacement but no altering of branch circuits. The scope from the condo group also only mentions panel replacement. I'm finding that in most of the units, the two kitchen circuits are sharing a neutral, and the bathroom circuit is on a 15A / #14awg. Do I continue just replacing like with like in the new panels while updating to dual/afci/gfci where I can? Do I apply for another permit t”
“For my Fire/Security Electrician degree in trade college. Im pretty proud of it. Drawn by hand (No AI) on computer using Q Electro Tech program. If you work on wiring diagrams what programs do you use? submitted by /u/Tsuki_Man [link] [comments]”
“I’m an electrical contractor, and I’m looking for a good way to lay out receptacles, lighting, switches, circuits, and panel locations when a client or GC sends me a floor plan with no electrical on it. I’d like to make a detailed drawing I can use for quoting and then update as the job progresses. What are you guys using? Ideally something that doesn’t take forever to learn. submitted by /u/ClammmyFace [link] [comments]”
“Any one got any experience on these? Gimick? Seems like it would solve the issue of cutting in sconce lights after the siding is up and the carpenters just poked the wire out. submitted by /u/Commercial_Share1505 [link] [comments]”
“Knob and tube is no big deal. You just need an electrician to replace the panel and run wire. I’ve done this same scope on many of my rentals and flips. Don’t let it scare you.”
“As the title states, curious what solutions you guys turn to when you need to do old work and preserve drywall when adding receptacles and switch boxes? If I’m lucky and it’s a single 15amp circuit I use “baby blues” but the 8cu in fill rating is a bummer ! I will sometimes take a SDS and chisel out enough for a standard cut in to fit depth wise but this is a pain when you need to snake in the romex and have to over size the hole in the concrete but not the drywall. submitted by /u/S”
“Curious. how quickly do you guys make up a 80 circuit commercial panel? What are some tips you guys have learned throughout your experience to become more efficient? submitted by /u/Technical-Primary302 [link] [comments]”
“Lets see your Residential Panels/ Fuseboards / Consumer units wherever youre from. This is a standard UK one that took me just under a day to complete, the 2 boxes above are wiring centres for outdoor lighting + Heating. submitted by /u/mk5g [link] [comments]”
“Just had a job in a tight space that really would have benefitted from a side knockout. I ended up having to flex out of the inverter, which I hate doing. Also the round design looks like shit lol. submitted by /u/inspod [link] [comments]”
“Just curious about the best screws anyone has found to hang conduit, mount boxes, etc. All my coworkers and most other electricians I've worked with use 1-inch #12 hex-head silver lag screws for most things. While I like the look of these, in practice they frustrate the crap out of me. They almost never bite, and when I'm in a tough spot sweating my ass off in an attic, I just want the damn screw to go in. On top of that, they almost always slip out of the hex bit, even with my magnetic”
“for my first two ish months I’ve been pulling wire, putting in underground other rough in stuff, but were close to the end of our job and they have me putting in all of the outlet covers. Every 5 or so I get this gap that I’ve been trying to fix and I can’t figure it out submitted by /u/GraaabyGraaaby [link] [comments]”
“I usually install Juno wafers, and if there’s existing cans I just rip them out and add wafers. Client really does not want to damage Sheetrock tho and also wants all the lights to match. This feels like a very normal issue but I can’t find any brand with matching wafer/trim combo submitted by /u/Alert_Cartographer62 [link] [comments]”
“Hey guys what’s the best place to find this style of faux beam lights. I was even gonna build it but then I don’t want to have to junction box like 6 lights and then down whip going up the JB if there’s something that’s already ready made that looks like this that’d be awesome thank you! submitted by /u/Fragrancelover02 [link] [comments]”
“Electricians of reddit, What kind of knife do you use at work? I use this Jokari because it's good at stripping cables and serves me multiple purposes. But the problem with it is that the plastic housing is too weak and brakes easily. So I'm wondering if it is possible to find one with a wood or metal handle without the sliding mechanism because I don't use that often. But it has to be that exact blade and hook shape or something similar because it's a really good, versatile desi”
“My journeyman told me they need a lot of extra wire incase they want the breakers moved around. Anything I could do to improve it? My journeyman said it looks good. P.S. - Also did not have any zip ties on site. submitted by /u/Tisfreak [link] [comments]”
“Dumb question, what’s y’all’s approach for running a panel/disconnect back to back when you don’t have the depth for 2 PVC M/a’s? I’ve gone about it a few ways, but just wondering what other options are out there. submitted by /u/russman2013 [link] [comments]”
“You... Can. But you'll have to wire each leg to the ground rather than to a Neutral. Each of those slots carries 120 volts, combine them and you get 240 volts. But in order to use that power you'd have to run it to the ground. It is not safe to do so. People have done it with hand made cables, but that is not something I'd ever try”
“For those of you who might like a bit of electrical eye candy. Also my “inspiration” for wanting to do better gear work related to my last post. This was work done by one guy at the company i work for, he did a whole emergency room for a stadium with about 8 more switchgears. It took him maybe 2-3 weeks to finish the room. I think he does great work, he’s been in the game for long time. Edit: Photo is of a terminated transfer switch* Not done by me* submitted by /u/Buk0w3 [link]  ”
“Can anyone explain to me how you’re supposed to size a pull box without knowing conduit sizes and only given the amount of conductors and size? submitted by /u/gsparky999 [link] [comments]”
“I've been a commercial tinner for 4 years, intermixed with the odd residential jobs here and there. When i learned to wire thermostats, I was taught blue is common and thats industry standard. I was wiring a heater for a garage and the owner of the last company accusingly asked me how i was wiring it and I told him. When he heard I used blue he berated me for not making black common. His own install manager said the installers at this company make blue room Because some of the change outs we”
“Anybody else have a hard time with Encore brand URD? It's so soft and malleable that it becomes impossible to push/pull through an underground. It just untwists and causes massive friction to the sides of the pipe. Conversely, Southwire is a MILES easier. These runs never get over 200 feet, so we don't have a tugger, we just pull it in with pull-line and hands. I had to do run around shit for this job so I only helped pull in a single run. It was the longest, nearly 200 feet, but it was”
“New builder is insisting on using this Deako switching system. Anything I should be aware of that isn’t obvious? submitted by /u/ElectricTurtlez [link] [comments]”
“I am an electrician so plz do not delete this post. I have no clue about anything security. We are doing demo to a building and half of it is still occupied. There are so many random ass occupancy sensors above doors and I really just want to cut them out the way. I don’t think the alarm with go off because it’s disabled obviously for the moment. Can I just cut them or can I like tape them up? submitted by /u/Mymindisanenigma__ [link] [comments]”
“What do y'all like to use to strip big wire? Im currently working in a new-build hospital pulling lots of wire, from #12 to 300's. Utility knife works well when you have plenty of fresh blades, but I was just wondering if the more experienced brothers had any recommendations. Looking to make a purchase soon! submitted by /u/Kratom_King13 [link] [comments]”
“Pulling new circuits from two new panels we are installing during a remodel, but following a week of demo and LOTO, boss told me to clean this up. submitted by /u/Surf_Cath_6 [link] [comments]”
“I’ve got a job coming up quick to install a control 4 lighting system. There’s another company handling all the programming and control pad stuff. Wondering about the relative merits of sourcing the branded control panel vs just getting a tub and some DIN rails to build my own. Looks like the control 4 branded ones top out at 5 modules and while I like the neatness and quick install of their pre-built terminal blocks I don’t think 5 modules is enough and it feels like I could still fit a couple”
“Hello, I got my Tdlr over 8 years ago and have been doing on and off electrician apprentice work for different contractors in between my main job. If I didnt record my hours worked from my previous employers how do I know how close I am to being qualified to take the electrician exam so I know how long more I need. This is in Texas. submitted by /u/Aromatic-Hour-5620 [link] [comments]”
“Hey. I want to know what wire stripper is best and quik for making up panels. We usuall use knife mostly and side cutters. Knife is slow if you dont have years under your belt and side cutter pulls the bend out the wire ir cause your hand to crumple(no longer staight and pretty) the wire. Any suggestions. submitted by /u/Alex_Isrealite [link] [comments]”
“Hello everyone I was lucky enough to land an apprenticeship with a company called Milltron Electric inc. They specialize in building sawmill. Was very glad to learn that they work with PLC's and MCC's because that in particular is what I wanted to learn! My first day went pretty well, or so I thought. My foreman let me know that milltron doesn't work like other apprenticeships, in that, they get you doing all sorts of different work on day one, where as other apprenticeships you most”