Residential Slash Commercial

[Ohm1]

I had to do a job where we had to incoroprate commericial into residential. It was a pain, but I got it done. I couldn't get any good pics, because the area was too dark. Make note that this house has over 20 metal J boxes with much flex and some MC cable. I couldn't get a picture of all the NM wire coming into the basement from the rooms above. We had to put all the NM in flex (Not over 2 feet)--then into a J-box. From there we had to run THHN in conduit, The basement has conduit everywhere: See below for the finishing touch on the panel area:

[Mr T]

Looks nice....but what were you doing in Chicago? sniper_1 sniper_1

Was this code required, or a picky customer?
I bet you charged them a pretty penny for it. sex_1

[Ohm1]

I'm not in Chicago yet. But, I leave for Chicago in two days :D ! Any how, the customer was very picky, and wanted the industrial look. I do not know what the company charged, but I'm sure it's close too 20K :eek: . It took us 120 hours per person- 2 man crew for 90% of the task. The pics aren't even the half of it! We did a lot of work--while taking off 2 years of our life. :(

[mdshunk]

I'm sure it passed inspection, but I'd consider firing you if you did sloppy work like that for me. I see 4 big workmanship issues in those two pictures alone.

[Ohm1]

Thank you MD for the compliment!

Seeing that I was the journeyman in-charge on the site, I take full responsibility for the work that was done, yet, we hired in a temp commercial guy to do the pipe bending. Also, the inspector was there for a cover and service inspection--which passed on the first--and was highly impressed!! You would have to be there to actually see the work in full picture to make any real comments. Yet, your 4 issues you see are welcomed to be posted.

[Jacksnap]

I worked them over with Adobe Photoshop.

[Jacksnap]

Hey, is that white stuff asbestos?

[Ohm1]

Damn you are good Jack! bow_1 Yes that is asbestos, and we complained :mad: about it! I'm sure we took two or more years off our life--with the mask on! :o

That house was a nightmare. Speaking of which the commercial guy kept complaining the entire time--there goes another one year of my life expectance. I guess I can blame myself for putting up with his @#$, because I was told I can fire whomever whenever :( !

Good job and enhancement Jack!

[mdshunk]

Yet, your 4 issues you see are welcomed to be posted.
Tell your boss to save hiring the "special guy" to bend your pipe. You could have done better yourself, I think. I'm one of those perfectionist freaks when it comes to workmanship. Here are the things that I'd never permit any man working for me to do:

[Ohm1]

I agree with the overlap, but the commercial guy didn't have a choosing--and I wasn't going to have him pull it apart. The overlap drove me nuts when I seen it. It was addressed. So I agree with that point. All others, are out of my hand, because I'm not a commercial electrician, nor am I a residential electrician that bends conduit. Yet, Wouldn't mine learning it. The good thing about me, I do not confess I know everything--like some!! This is what puts me above the crowd, I'm honest with self, and others!

[mdshunk]

The good thing about me, I do not confess I know everything--like some!! This is what puts me above the crowd, I'm honest with self, and others!
Well, I do confess to know everything. That's what puts me in charge of the crowd, I'm a prick.

[Ohm1]

They love to fire guys like you around here! :D Unless you do not mine getting paid rock bottom as a J-Man! :rolleyes:

[Speedy Petey]

....because I'm not a commercial electrician, nor am I a residential electrician that bends conduit......
Hey man, sorry to say, resi or commercial; a real electrician knows how to bend pipe. Period.

My fist day one the job was a catering hall. The J-man literally threw a bender at me and said "bend that pipe". By the end of the day I was working alone.
From that day, I started reading bending manuals and refrence books, besides the code book and others.
I have to say, I don't use it every day, but I'm a damn good pipe bender.

I'd grab a bender and some 1/2" emt and practice.
smileyruno

[Chicago Bender]

That is a pretty crappy looking rack of pipe. That looks like a real greenhorn did it. I agree with the stuff MDS pointed out, but I also notice that the bend radius looks weird. Not only are there the noted sled runner bends, the better bends have a strange radius. It almost looks like someone was bending 1/2" with a 3/4" or 1" bender.

[Ohm1]

Speedy-

Our owner has been doing residential for 40 years (mostly old work), and he doesn't know how to bend conduit. I haven't seen one residential j-man or apprentice who knew how to bend conduit in new or old work, but can run PVC in a minute. I have to say this: Old and new construction is different, so if you started off doing old work, then I can see a need for knowing how to bend conduit, but for new homes--it's not needed. And in most cases old homes do not require knowing how to bend conduit. It all depends--on what the customer wants in residential. Yet, commercial is a different ball game.

Yeah, it all depends on what is wanted in residential! I agree to some extent.May be a good idea for residential electricians and helpers--speaking on those who do not know-- to learn how to bend conduit. Yet, to state that we "should" know this, is somewhat Ridiculous.. I know many things a residential j-man "should" know, and this is not one of them. I've worked with J-man that didn't know anything but trim work. Never had their hand in rough-ins--or anything for that matter--accept trim work. Yet, this is their fault, because they aren't willing to step out. Me, I've had my hand in all parts of the trade. Yet, 90 percent + is new work. Yet, this is changing because all I do is old work now. But, I still have a lot to learn, and bending conduit will be my goal--seeing that in old work, we may have a customer as such--wanting the entire basement ran in conduit.<<<<<This is a first!!!!! You do the calculations!

[mdshunk]

After you learn conduit bending, another skill you could buff up on is spelling.

[mdshunk]

You do the calculations!
I've checked and rechecked the numbers. Even got out the old slide rule. The math still shows you're weird.

[Speedy Petey]

I've worked with J-man that didn't know anything but trim work. Never had their hand in rough-ins--or anything for that matter--accept trim work.
Then he is NOT a journeyman. Give me a break, a j-man needs to know most aspects of the trade, not just trim work.

I knew a guy that called himself a 10 year mechanic. He got hired by my last boss, about 6-7 years ago when I was still with him. He asked for 10 year mechanic wages. The schmuck did not know how to wire 3&4-way switching. He asked me code questions all the time. When I said where's your code book, he said his old boss never told him to get one. :eek: I said you have to be kidding me. This guy installed backup generators almost full time for the phone company and did small piddly stuff the rest of the time. When I questioned him on something he always said "Bob (his old boss) always told me what to do". The guy worked by explicit instructions and never learned anything new. He never wanted to.
Years on the job, IMO, does not a journeyman make. Experience does.

I can honestly say I do not know Art. 500 very well as I never use it. I do know some of it from seminars I have taken and small work here and there, but I do know the mechanics of the work.

I truly think conduit bending is a valid requirement of being a journeyman electrician.

[Speedy Petey]

I've checked and rechecked the numbers. Even got out the old slide rule. The math still shows you're weird.
Marc, you're killin'me! :D :D :p