Stuff Electricians Should Know!

Have you wondered if there are specific rules when it comes to paralleling conductors? In this episode we'll cover just a few... If you haven't learned about Codey, our new virtual, electrical assistant then go here and check him out!: www.electricianslibrary.com/codey --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

Do you struggle to keep your jobs organized? In this episode I'll cover 6 things that you can do to get better at it. If you haven't learned about Codey, our new virtual, electrical assistant then go here and check him out!: www.electricianslibrary.com/codey     --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

Are you up on your hazrdous locations? if not, now is a great time to brush up and make sure you don't walk into an explosive situation. If you haven't learned about Codey, our new virtual, electrical assistant then go here and check him out!: www.electricianslibrary.com/codey --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

Let’s start with defining what a single phase transformer is. A single phase transformer transforms a higher voltage to a lower voltage and can also transform a lower voltage to a higher voltage. When they are labeled “single phase” it is the same principle as single phase power, you know, the power most people use every day for their lights, TV, etc. So, yes, you are thinking correctly as you hear the phrase single phase transformer. Make sure to check out Codey, the new Virtual Electrical Assistant! www.electricianslibrary.com/codey --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

As you all know, an electric motor is simply a piece of equipment that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. You hook your electrical power up to the leads of the motor and then it is typically converted through the generation of a magnetic field by means of a current flowing into one or more coils.   Now after scouring the web, I found that there are way more different types of electric motors than I thought, and this may be an eye opener for you as well. So I’m going to list them off for you right now and then we’ll see how many of them we get to in this episode. Check out Codey, the new Virtual Electrical Assistant! www.electricianslibrary.com/codey --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

Today I give my thoughts on why you lose to a low bidder. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

Head over to Electricianslibrary.com/shirt to get your free shirt now! I'll pay for the shirt if you'll pay to have it shipped to you.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

What do you know about all of the different types of controls?    --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

What is distribution Equipment and where are you going to use it? We'll cover that in this episode! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

  Make sure to check out the Conduit Bending 101 course here! In todays episode I get a little deep and introduce you to The Electrician Manifesto. I'm looking for you feedback but also express deep appreciation for you and want you to know how I view you. Not just as an electrician, but as The Electrician.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

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! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

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 and load and where they are located on the equipment shown on the diagram. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

Do you know the difference between a service conductor, a feeder, and a branch circuit? We'll cover that in todays episode! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

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 teachers. So that’s why I thought I’d pass along these few tips. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

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 listen to that >>>>> HERE.  So I think that I’m going to go over 5 of these questions and answers and see where that gets us. 1 - Can EMT, IMC, RMC be direct buried? 2 - Can steel raceways be installed as a watertight system? 3- Can RMC, IMC and EMT be installed in concrete? 4- What is the fire rating of steel conduit/EMT? 5- Can EMT be used over 600 volts?   --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

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 installation, know where the service begins and ends. I’m going to have a cheat sheet that you can download in the show notes so make sure and grab that. And if you want a quick overview of how the NEC is laid out check out Episode 39. I’ve linked to it in the show notes as well. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

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 the other one is on the bottom. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support