When An Electrical Job Goes Sideways

[@shshshs2]

This video showed once again that you guys got respect, pride, and integrity when it comes to your work

[@rb8049]

This looks like a test. The challenge is to count the number of code violations.

[@bradwilmot5066]

@@ElectricProAcademy The correct answer is "all of them". :-)

[@TheChipmunk2008]

@@bradwilmot5066 >100

[@brnmcc01]

@@TheChipmunk2008 Over 9000...

[@StudPack]

Great job Joel 👊 What a mess that was!

[@mcarroll598]

I would’ve just ran from that, dang!

[@masonoliver8818]

Seeing this makes me realize I've been spoiled with working on newer and nicer homes. If I walked into a place like this, I'd feel as if I had entered my own nightmares

[@benjamincarpenter4376]

Nice job! I work as a home inspector currently and previously as a contractor doing general remodeling. The kind of crap we see on a daily basis is crazy! And what's crazier is these folks don't think there's anything wrong with it. Night and day difference on that panel. I'm over in VA and I'm looking to enroll with the IBEW sometime soon, electrical has always been my favorite trade but it's just hard to get by with the little amount of pay that apprentices receive.

[@asuarezjd]

My father was an electrical engineer and I was his slave until I was 22, and I learned everything by the book, which is why I always do all the electrical in my house. I just installed a transfer switch, generator, and even the gas lines because I needed to make sure they were perfectly parallel and "pretty" and perfectly coming out of the house where they should, etc. I had to add a disconnect and even replaced my distribution panel while I was at it, to add the arc fault protection code now requires. I knew I had to do it myself because it would make me nervous not knowing what was done. Anyhow, it passed inspection with flying colors. That being said, this man is very meticulous and he truly knows his thing. There is a kid named Benjamin Sahistrom, who is also a KZbinr, and then this guy Joel, and they are the only guys in the entire universe I would trust with my home. I can tell they are picky and obsessed even when no one is looking, a perfectionist! I would never let anyone else work in my home, too bad they are so far from Ohio. I especially like how Joel stresses to tighten and wiggle and loose then tighten again, that is crucial and is scary how no one else in KZbin mentions it. Horrible to think of all the lose stranded connections out there because others do not emphasize that. And, I like how Benjamin reminds people to turn off breakers individually before turning off the main one, and then vice versa then restoring power...these two guys are the MASTERS...they love what they do and they show it, which is why you can tell they are really happy people.

[@Hatim.13]

You were not a slave to your father, but an apprentice, he put in you the best of what he was so you can succeed! The only person who wants to see you better than him is your own father! I ve lost my father unexpectedly (62 year old, no sickness, didn't even cash his 2nd retirement paycheck), and it is the thing that hurt me most in my life! I can't get over it! If your father is still alive, enjoy all the time you can afford with him!

[@Hheretic]

You did all your own electrical & the code changes every 4 years?

[@Hatim.13]

@@Hheretic Code changes every 3 years here in the US, but usually the latest version isn't always adopted by local jurisdictions (for exemple where I am we re still using NEC 2017, meanwhile there is NEC 2023 now, so we re 2 versions late)

[@Hheretic]

@hitmanhatim Ik, I worked in that industry 25+ years... Multiple Sclerosis took me out of the game & the onset of blindness. I miss TF out of it. 😑

[@trtgroupllc904]

Thank you so much for sharing. I totally get your initial "overwhelming" statement. It was somewhat amazing to the see the 200Amp Square D panel in there. Siemens breaker in there... Great job. Thanks for sharing.

[@Gruntled2001]

Dude, I wait for your new videos the way a kid waits for Christmas. I feel for you in this situation. Cleaning up something like this is like trying to pick up a turd by the clean end. Great job cleaning it all up. As far as tightening hot conductors with an uninsulated wrench, we’ve all done it. There are two types of electricians: those who lie that they always work safely, and those who admit that sometimes they don’t. Great job being honest enough to be in the second category 😁

[@EMTDawg]

Wouldn't be worth getting an insulated extension for the wrench?

[@Gruntled2001]

@@EMTDawg What’s the fun in that? 😁

[@mathman0101]

Amazing work on a very difficult and dangerous job. On the shock incidents take it as an opportunity to see what you could learn from it. In addition to correct LOTO, PPE you could look at just how you can increase your body resistance (it won’t protect you from getting shocked) including good boots that have a thick insulation, even the slim non insulated rubber backed gloves could help to increase your body resistance . Good quality shirts with gloves that go over the sleeve ends, make sure you are dry, your skin is free from cuts and wounds and they are full covered up. The shared neutral is the biggest problem and it’s something that a NCV stick may not pick up that is exactly where your insulated tools and voltmeter with croc clips can help. I always treat all neutrals as live even with power off on circuits the shared neutral with two or more circuits together is such a common problem. Let me all say while the crescent apex shock guards are useful when you are tightening the live main lugs still keep your live rated gloves on. Ideally as you indicated call the power company ahead for them to turn it off. Stay safe brother hope you and the family are well.

[@OLDMANDOM42.Dominic]

Holy... you know what!! WOW! just WOW!! Good job!

[@suzylarry1]

Where I am , there was a General Electric Factory . It had a wire/cable section . Many workers would wrap electrical wire around there body and re-wire there house and or garage. as you found , most spliced wires were around 5 feet , from shoe to shoulder and into pocket...security looks for bulges ...not seen , take home prize

[@englitob]

"You can visibly hear it" reminds me of the line in Ghostbusters! "Shhh, do you smell that?"

[@jovetj]

You could hear it earlier in the video pretty clearly.

[@rustblade5021]

I know what happened here. the slumlord bought the property and got someone to get the electrical "working" as cheap and fast as possible. landlord chooses tenants that desperately need housing and can't afford a home inspection or any legal recourse. this building would be considered unhabitable and i don't see how the landlord could legally rent it out.

[@robb0995]

My heart is breaking for this tenant. I don’t know how much equity they’ve supposedly built up, but I guarantee you, the seller/landlord has absolutely no intention of letting them keep it. These slumlords are going to evict them at the last minute and keep their “equity.”

[@parochial2356]

The underlying issue is that the "tenant" was and apparently is not in a financial position to be a home owner.

[@robb0995]

@@parochial2356 Agreed. And their poverty plus their dreams are being exploited.

[@KameraShy]

Chicago was notorious for that scheme.

[@willbass2869]

Happens....ALL. THE. TIME

[@bigdurk7761]

Yep oldest scam in the book

[@lyndengreaves3961]

Thank-you for doing that job. Alot of electricians would of walked away and let it get condemned

[@helios_ja]

A friend recommended your channel and this is exactly what I needed. My panel was not even grounded.

[@mos8541]

bro u were RIGHT to tighten OBVIOUSLY the was super loose! .. u made them safe over there in siberia

[@Sparky-ww5re]

Guess I'm spoiled wiring new, custom homes 😘 Anyway, surprisingly this house hasn't caught fire yet. Where I lived in Pontiac Michigan several years back a neighbor's home caught fire and caused damage to my home, which I rented. The neighbor stated the home had passed a home inspection, it was a balloon frame 2 story home built 1928, and the investigation showed the fire had started in the attic by a splice made between the knob and tube and romex wiring. So please, DO make sure all splices made inside listed enclosures, don't take shortcuts to save money or rush to finish a project. As always, safety first is our motto.

[@zach1208]

Man what a mess. Props for taking action and potentially saving this tenant! People take electricity for granted, and don't give it the respect it deserves.

[@brianharmeson3144]

I had a small anxiety attack when you were torquing the main lugs when the shaft of the torque wrench was so close to the edge of the panel tub. But you did a great job for the occupants of the home. I lived at 16th and Sherman 30 years ago by the way.

[@BrucePappas]

I would have been tempted to tape some cardboard to insulate the edges of the box. Anything to isolate the box from the handle.

[@GerryWilton76]

@@BrucePappas Exactly.. just wrap the handle in Electrical tape, life is worth more.

[@BrucePappas]

@@GerryWilton76 - agreed!

[@Wyatt1314.]

I've never touched live main lugs, nor have I encountered a locked meter-box on the exterior.

[@toddgreen7033]

What awesome work. What you encountered was beyond horrible and I classify it as terrible. It was so bad that it begs the question if show-prep was involved that would make it that bad. ❤ your work.

[@dawnmitchell8213]

Wow, just WOW! That mess goes way way WAY beyond just not knowing what you’re doing and completely not giving a f*** what so ever about anyone’s safety.

[@hgbugalou]

Wow, I've never seen a modern panel in that state of total disarray.

[@MRELECTRICNY]

I would strongly recommend changing that panel and installing a dehumidifier

[@goodvibes0101]

Where I come from any contact with a live circuit that results in a shock needs to be reported and affected person taken to hospital for monitoring, usually 4hours. As deaths have occurred after the initial contact due to disruption of the heart rhythm. Secondly never be distracted when working on live or as you north Americans say "hot" gear. I am concerned about the lack of concentration talking to a camera eyes off the job at hand. Didn't see any rescue stick or correct arc flash protection especially in a wet and grounded environment. It would be prudent to have standby person with rescue stick arc flash protection just in case. Something to think of if you want to become an old sparkie 😁 Thanks for the content I'm glad you both survived.

[@outlet6989]

My neighbor claims to be a great DIYer. That panel is an excellent example of his work. Wonder if George Washington slept there. 15:43 This would be a fantastic time to call Social Services. Lineman's gloves are necessary for this job. I can't wait to see parts 2, 3, 4, etc. Yes, I did subscribe, and I'm learning a whole lot.

[@cannon440]

Why on earth would you even touch that horrid mess? Whatever you do YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE!

[@remodelassets6523]

Thanks for the tutorial! Nice neat work inside the panel

[@GS-lh2nx]

There are just no words to adequately describe that rat's nest of a panel. I don't know how anyone can do that kind of work and still sleep at night.

[@jovetj]

I can't believe there wasn't already a fire!!

[@darienredsox1878]

Someone I know bought a house like that a number of years ago. The neighbors told them that the guy who lived in it before them was an avid DIYer, however he was a bit intimidated by electrical work. Apparently his solution to get over this intimidation was to get drunk before he performed any electrical work.

[@Kavurcen]

I bought my Minneapolis duplex last year. Place had been a for profit rental for 100 years. I got off easy, all of the branch circuits are a nightmare but at least a pro installed the panels and ran EMT out and the owner or his cronies made spaghetti from there without tampering in the panel itself. I have lived in places like what's shown in this video though. Coming into this with empathy and a clear head is an incredible service to the victim, I mean tenant. Got any clones floating around that like the cold...?

[@lesterwatson8519]

You need to make yourself a set of fused jumpers to clip onto the main lugs when your are working on a panels like this one. This allows you to kick the main breaker and still have power for utility work. Also it is a good idea to add a fused tapped circuit that gets it power from the primary side of the main breaker on older panels that don’t have a means of disconnecting the main power.

[@markmckinley5989]

Glad you went back to clean up your early work now that more experienced.

[@willbass2869]

Lol. Cruel....

[@jovetj]

ROTFL!!

[@TheThanhpham74]

Nice job. I wish they have good electrician in the bay area like you

[@PeteSleigh]

Oh that load center looks like fun. Plenty of work at this address.

[@michaeljavert4635]

I see stuff like that and that person needs a whole house rewire and at no charge. Seeing what is there, it's obvious they don't have money. People with money wouldn't wire their house like that. After all the work is done, try to find resources that could help them and possibly pay, but if not, still not bill them. The person needs a whole makeover for their home so they have a safe space and make sure they never end up homeless. Everyone, regardless of what they can afford is entitled to a safe, secure, healthy home.

[@AdamVladimirKross]

Home DIYer in rural middle of nowhere. We can't really expect to get qualified electricians here without waiting 3 months and paying $500 to change a light switch. So I have been learning to do my own work, slowly and thoroughly checking every small step. My 120 year old house has some interesting wiring but thankfully no knob and tube that I have found yet. Got a new panel but the old panel is a Sub Panel off of the new one. The new panel is clean and perfect; the old panel has and had some issues. I have been making it safe slowly and plan on ripping it out and replacing it with a new clean sub. All that said the wiring in my basement was no where close to as bad as the one in this video.

[@elBusDriverKC]

Won't be too hard to leave this place better than you found it.

[@anthonyelectric6045]

Wow!! You kidding me with that mess!! Can’t believe it didn’t burn.

[@electricianslife1984]

I love the reality of a day in the life of a real electrician 👍🏼

[@JohnThomas-lq5qp]

Think years ago they made a special tandem breaker that fit any where in old Murray style panels. Cost more then a regular tandem breaker do. Some sparkies would use a small hand saw to cut out the rejection piece in regular tandem breakers. Think they might have had a CTL code. Hated the way ge junk panels were sold as a 40 circuit panel but it was just a 20 circuit panel that would accept POS GE tandem breakers on every slot. Nice job & vid.

[@ricb1261]

Great clean up job

[@robmacusa]

Excellent video.Excellent work. Kudos from CA. Thank you for your dedication!!

[@thedillpickle100]

I know you did your best for the homeowner's sake. Bless you. On the other hand... HELL NO!!! If that were my house mom & kiddies would be going to parents house for a 2 week visit. I know a hundred year old house will have problems, like needing a sump because the basement leaks when it rains, etc. But that was ridiculous. Kill the power and use one of those battery powered generators for tools and lights while you're working. Shut off the water main too. I wouldn't have looked too long or hard to see what could be reused. I feel so bad for people forced to live like that. I've been forced to live in my vehicle when I was single but I couldn't do that.

[@jaybird4095]

That was some scare electrical. As I recall you stating at the beginning the home is a the rent to own. I hope the new owner is getting the place really really cheap. If the basement looks like that, I can only image what is inside the walls.

[@travalicious128]

I ripped out all the wires in a panel, which wasn't this messy, in about 20 minutes today being a year in...not too shabby. Also pulled both existing 4 awg and 8 awg neutral out. Also, fed the new conductors, same size, in from the main :)

[@gream01]

Good video Have you heard of APEX Eshok-Guard Socket Isolators? They have them in 1/2in, 3/8in, 1/4in, and hex driver. $8-$15 each and would have been useful for that 3/8in torque wrench.

[@gream01]

@@ElectricProAcademy You're Welcome. i have a set and for rare usage they almost replace a full set of insulated screwdrivers and sockets. another plus is they are rated for impact drivers. Edit Thinking about it you may consider showing them once or twice, as even just the hex driver would allow other tradesmen to do basic work much safer for only a few $

[@mathman0101]

Joel I have these as well and highly recommend them. I have to say the most important tool is the Brain always keep thinking when around electricity checking to ensure you know exactly what your are doing at anyone time. A cautious but confident approach is key to getting work done safely.

[@jovetj]

@@mathman0101 Your brain should have a little voice in your head telling you "always work as safely as possible!" because your family wants you to come home tonight.

[@johnboogman8825]

"IN THE TRADE" I NEVER HEARD OF A 1900 BOX - ALWAYS BEEN A 4" SQ. BOX WHERE I CAME FROM. LEARNED SOMETHING ON THE PVC STRETCH/SHRINK THING ; I CAME FROM A MILD CLIMATE WHERE IT WAS NOT A CONCERN, OR AT LEAST WE WERE NOT AWARE OF IT BACK IN THE 80S

[@Truckguy1970]

Wow! what a mess! Flyaway splices galore! There was one place I did work in that had THHN wire stapled to the baseboard and hooked to receptacles that were taped around the terminals and also screwed to the base board. Another place I did work in was wired with that old flat twin TV antennae cable! These people were serious hacks, they put in an old used oil furnace and used a 5 gallon diesel can for their fuel tank and they had coffee cans bolted together end to end to make some of their ductwork lmao!

[@jeffreymurdock8366]

Should have wrapped the area of the torque wrench that could have contacted the edge of the box with electric tape to prevent accidental short without affecting the torque scale. I've had to do that before. I've even done it with other tools.

[@rupe53]

It's obvious to me this landlord has a buddy in the home repair business... and the guy probably works cheap. Last time I saw wiring like this was in the island country of Jamaica... and a little off the beaten path in a village where people steal power from the utility company by climbing a pole and using automotive jumper cables. (not kidding here folks) BTW, this could have been worse. That Homeline panel could have been fed from a 60 amp fuse box using the old cloth covered Romex.

[@engrpiman]

Debating if the plumbing / water issues should have been address at the same time. Also what's with the PEX line? Was the house replumbed or is it also a mix if new / old hack work.

[@johnc6343]

@11:15 🤣Joel. you were so close to that lug that the hair on my nuts fell off.

[@Gruntled2001]

🙈😁

[@AnotherOCD]

Second that ... So nervous watching this

[@jovetj]

@@ElectricProAcademy Did you show your wife this video?

[@Chevytech1977]

What a friggin nightmare!! Wow! Panel looks amazing now! Now why wouldn't you put drop loops in your panel before you terminated the wires into the breaker for future repair!?

[@greggpurviance7252]

the panel and basement was deadly. Is a difference between code violations, safety issues, and deadly. The basement was deadly

[@chrish3830]

who on earth thought that rats nest of of wiring was ever remotely ok lol!!!

[@jovetj]

Someone who doesn't value human life; the same as someone driving 120 MPH down the highway or using spoiled food in a restaurant.

[@davidwayneprins]

you said in the opening this was a rent to own. Does Indy City Hall not have an office that oversees and inspects rental properties within the city limits? Trying to understand how such an electrical hack job was allowed to exist without the place getting condemned.

[@rupe53]

In most places, there are no inspections between permitted repairs. This property looks like 40 years of repairs without permits so no reason for inspectors to even set foot in the place. (and the landlord wouldn't want to be shut down)

[@rupe53]

@@ElectricProAcademy .... you'd be amazed at what inspectors will notice while checking out another job. Years ago I added a slop sink in the basement next to the shop shower and while checking on the new water line he made notes. Next time I got my tax bill I see they added a half bath. (half bath = two fixtures)

[@davidwayneprins]

Then the area where I live is the oddity. Rental properties here must be inspected every three years.

[@louislabouskie8488]

Im not electrician, but I would think, total tear out! Bring up to code new box, new wiring to first floor, etc .

[@brucelytle1144]

Looks like a typical panel in this area! I won't work on 'em! My house was built in 1956, with 2 wire romex, no grounds. An additional panel installed by previous owner (foreman of the local power company wiremen). I'm replacing it all with THHN in conduit.

[@electricianslife1984]

The end is the best

[@davidkahler9390]

Wow, the looseness of those main lugs 😲😲

[@AndrewTa530]

bro you are all laying up in that hot panel with no PPE. killing me.

[@geneard639]

Uh...I just about jumped out of my seat when I saw that deadly spiders web of electrical nightmares! I tried counting the junctions around the electrical box and..... I couldn't. And standing water to boot? How is that place not a pile of ash with a bunch of dead bodies lying around?

[@lyfandeth]

My mentor taught me, even when there's no reason for a code, there IS a reason for it. Usually a couple of fires, injuries, or deaths.

[@greggpurviance7252]

There is usually a reason, sometimes not worth it.

[@raygunsforronnie847]

@@greggpurviance7252 Codes and regulations are written in the blood of previous victims.

[@TheChipmunk2008]

in the uk we call that an EICR, electrical installation condition report, usually i see our diffeences, but this is so familiar.

[@TheChipmunk2008]

addition, fixing stuff as you go is not something most sparks do,,,, we do but it;s rare

[@patsyhandy9626]

How did you come across this job? Did the owner call you? That is a horrible wiring job I have ever seen. Would the current "rent to own" be responsible for the cost of this job?

[@davemounce2665]

Unfortunately this is all to common. I do this in Colorado. Stay safe.

[@j2o3sh]

The hot gloves …. with the torque wrench … not safe at all lol. I was waiting for the wrench to touch the tub frame or a slip. The utility being called to disconnect was what should have happened. Glad no one got hurt. Maybe doing something nuts like that perhaps to make it better but not right… wrap some super 88 (tape) around the entire handle of the wrench as well. Just a question … was the line gloves tested before use?

[@jfgagne17]

This is great stuff learned a lot. My take away with this video is... always hire an electrician!!!

[@rogerdirks947]

As for the double tapped breakers, some breakers are made and rated for that task. I think those are in the SquareD QO line, though.

[@brnmcc01]

The Square D HOM breakers are also UL listed for double tapped, with the condition that both conductors are the same gauge, and solid copper. No combining Al/CU or 14 and 12ga on same terminal etc. If you look very closely at the tiny sticker on one, if it's still legible, you can see the single tap for Al wire, and a little symbol for 2 copper conductors.

[@williameisenberg1999]

Amazing with all those open connections ,Their wasn’t an arc and fire … Interesting that the panel looks fairly new…

[@WApnj]

I admit to doing stuff like that while rehabbing a place but to leave it that way is criminal. Have never seen a situation that bad.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

It was awful and really sucked the life out of me that day. :-(

[@TexasBig]

****Our family had a house under a verbal agreement like this taken from under us. The house wasn't worth a lot to most people but it was going to be, "OURS". We raised our baby girl up in the old house, till she turned seventeen and ten days after her birthday going home after school and picking mom up at work we were heading back. But it was raining, while on the highway a truck hydroplaning crossed the median and hit us head on. Her mother was pinned by the foot, our baby girl, "Virginia 'Gracie' Comer died sitting behind her. The house was with an older couple, after the husband died we paid the widow, after she died shortly after the kids, we're assuming they didn't know, and sold it to some investor. We stop putting money into it and the rent increased but we managed to stay and continued to look for another place. We had visited the college she planned for her major in art, and seeking Professorship, then return to our town and teach her passion. It all changed. We buried pets on the land, had a family tree in the backyard, all the times of outside tent and campfire and swimming pool times were all there. Please, if you truly want to keep that place, get it in writing. Otherwise, you may find out it was never meant to be.

[@Byron88]

I'm surprised every video I've seen so far none of the service panels you work on have service covers, in Canada all main panels have a cover that covers all main incoming unfused lugs so you cannot touch them on accident and no knockouts in the panel can be used for branch circuits that would be behind the service cover.

[@newield76]

Wow I need a shower and antibiotics after that. What a great job guys.

[@alexispieltin9379]

Compared to European standards, US panels and installations seems absolute danger even when new. But here we have the perfect example of the worst! Of course you can encounter such problematic installations everywhere, some even worse than that. I've completely replaced an installation in a shop in Lyon, and most was dating from 1909, so you can guess old gutta percha wire insulation was crumbling, and fuses were porcelain holders on a wood panel. Our codes are also really different, as for wires neutral and ground are mandatory separated and insulated, color coded and so on, and our domestic circuit breakers also disconnect neutral, no live parts should be touched bare handed in any of our control panels (even industrial ones, wich means a lot of plastic panels and insulation shields). Anyway, it's always possible to get a "return" on old and problematic installations, so working with a security voltage tester is also a necessity when intervening on circuits. Most domestic electric supplies are made with a single phase 230V supply, others with a three phases with neutral 400V wiring, so you also always have to double-check your safety. And missing stairs plus a moisty environment are absolute no for our basic safety rules, but I guess this essential and good job was the minimum you could do for in this case.

[@pgood7266]

In Europe they use a more dangerous voltage so they have to have very high standards

[@stefan52010]

In EU industrial din rail components are used for switchboard of houses.. This has as advantage for example a earth leak protection can be used for up to 4 groups ( NL)

[@jovetj]

Another example of European smugness that a heartbeat later will waff and complain about the U.S. imposing itself or its standards on the rest of the world.

[@ronaldkovacs7080]

Yet it is still unknown what lurks behind the finished walls, the attic and device boxes in that house!

[@natepeterson7145]

Holy crap that's the worst suicidal breaker box I've ever seen.

[@joshuawhite9725]

The only difference between those Siemens Breakers and the homeline breakers, there's a small recess under the bar slot on homeline but not the siemens.. the distribution panels in RVs are designed to take both

[@brnmcc01]

GE THQ series breakers also fit. Not sure which way they're UL listed, I think you can put Square D in some panels, but not the other way around. Double check the UL listings/panelboard specs before getting different brands. I have seen Sq D HOM breakers in older GE panels that have been in service for quite some time, and seem to fit perfect, but that doesn't mean it was right. Seen a lot of things that were obviously totally wrong and unsafe, and didn't cause a problem for 50+ years. For example one house I replaced the furnace in, not only had spliced wires with no cover on the junction box, but the wire was that old tar impregnated cloth type of romex, and the wire nuts were also obviously antique design, so the wire was probably from the late 1950's and the illegal unprotected splices made in the early 1960's. Quite unsafe, but the connections were solidly made, and in an dry crawlspace away from people so nothing happened.

[@joshuawhite9725]

@@ElectricProAcademy this remodel I'm on, the main service was from the 50s. All the tar wrap was gone. Bare main service conductors a mm apart.

[@Hatim.13]

You can wrap that ratchet wrench with electrical tape to avoid arcing...I do the same with allenkeys

[@robertberg83]

Good video, good work… until the end! I get working on live equipment, sometimes it has to be done. But for the love of God do not look back at the camera while you have a torque wrench on the lugs. As electricians we take risks, but we have to stay dialed in when we take those risks.

[@robertberg83]

@@ElectricProAcademy good man 😂😂

[@jovetj]

@@ElectricProAcademy I just wish you had shut off the main before _loosening_ any of those lugs! Eeeeeeek

[@SirBrass]

When we lived in CA, we had a neutral that was loose but still in sufficient contact to not cause issues, so we weren't aware.... Until the neutral on the pole went bad. Trying to get SDG&E to come out and fix it was a nightmare. Took a week to get a guy out, only for him to just put a monitor on the meter and come back 7 days later. We had nearly $1k worth of electronics destroyed or damages (including needing our stove replaced because the issue busted the computer). Bad neutral at the pole amplified the loose neutral in the box, caused arcing and all the associated bad things. Had a cat calming wall plug (like those plug in scent dispensers) literally blow out of the socket. The most epic was the UPS protecting the TV and home theatre system literally caught on fire. Saw an orange flash during an event and smoke started escaping. I immediately yanked it out from the wall and disconnected everything before literally chucking it out by the cord outside onto the concrete patio. Never was able to get SDG&E to reimburse us, despite them acknowledging they had a faulty neutral at the transformer on the pole. Landlord did get an electrician out there while SDG&E was dragging their feet and remediated the loose neutral in the box, but that didn't completely solve the issue till SDG&E fixed the issue on the pole. Absolute nightmare.

[@SirBrass]

@@ElectricProAcademy oh we were pissed. Had a home theater receiver prematurely have its power supply module go bad a few years later I suspect from being constantly shut down and turned on from voltage irregularities due to the bad neutral. Had my Xbox 360 power supply brick (which was separate from the console) die (not blow up) thanks to that bad neutral. Rear speaker IR receiver (so we didn't have to run speaker wire across the room) also died because of that event. And other stuff. I'm just glad my work computer weathered it without issues. But we had no idea we had a bad neutral till the electrician told us. But it was freaky with the lights flickering and stuff blowing up in a outlet socket, etc. We were legitimately afraid of an electrical house fire.

[@jovetj]

@@SirBrass That's when you say "This ain't right!" and shut it ALL off and call a qualified electrician.

[@jeffhuntsman9367]

I'm from Kokomo, Indiana..Indianapolis is definitely a happening place... Keep up the good work..In places where the work is that shitty. I just say I gotta rewire your house. LoL. I can't bring myself to trust anything else when I see it that bad at the main.

[@macmorgan6685]

I’ve been watching your great videos now for a couple of months and now a couple of questions: 1) what do you do for stripped load center cover threaded holes? 2) if an older 2 prong wall receptacle has the ground wire wound around the screw of the wire clamp, is the box and circuit considered grounded? Thanks

[@jimmystacoshack4847]

you guys are good Samaritans, because this surely must be pro bono work.

[@markgriz]

Why not wrap your torque wrench in electrical tape to reduce the possibility of an accidental arc when torquing the mains conductors?

[@traveler189]

Hard to tell but looks like square d breakers… only breaker rated for landing two wires on…unless something’s changed.

[@chrislewis2262]

If I have seen that mess I would have gutted everything and started over and I'm not a certified electrician but I'm certified electronics and stuff like that. I've worked with three phase 208 and installed new circuits in the panel box but my OCD would have had a stroke seeing that. Also if I'm working with a 220 line that has a black and a white wire to identify the white wire as being hot I use a piece of black shrink tubing cuz tape over time will lose its stickiness depending and where the box is located. I've never had any issue with using a piece of heat shrink tubing but I'm not sure if a lot of places would allow that as a acceptable identification marker but I've never had any problems with a piece of shrink tubing coming loose and falling off. Let me know if that's actually legit usable or not like I said it all depends on locations States and stuff like that all have different rulings it would be at least nice to know if it's allowed to be used as a identification marker.

[@jovetj]

22:00 Oh, God, don't loosen with the power on! **looks away**

[@JaegerDives]

A whole lot of "it'll be fine" going on prior to your arrival!

[@OrieCipollaro]

Near impossible to bid on a job like this. Every time you open a wall your gonna find more and more issues! This house is fubar!

[@toddjasper1]

Just use a day rate per person 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@OrieCipollaro]

@@toddjasper1 hard to find customers to agree to that. We had a guy 4 hours trouble shooting an Arc fault breaker they sent me and another senior guy on in 6 hours each so 18 hours at $135.00 for a fuck’n loose lightbulb on a chandelier! They paid but were not pleased!

[@jovetj]

I had the distinct impression it was a freebie or discount.

[@rogerwhiting9310]

You said that neutrals "cant be shared between circuits." Isnt it common to run more than one circuit on a neutral? If not why would they make 10-3, 12-3, etc wire? Those 3 wire cables feed 2 different circuits everytime...and share one neutral.

[@rogerwhiting9310]

@Robert Swaine I see what you are saying. I still see shared neutrals all the time.

[@rogerwhiting9310]

@Robert Swaine maybe you should read the NEC. Read 215.4 and 225.7. It is specifically accepted.

[@ferencszabo3504]

wow, that basement is every electricians nightmare

[@johnnybee1776]

This has to be a electricians worst nightmare

[@jovetj]

@@ElectricProAcademy (That isn't what clinical depression means. Depression lasts weeks or months and doesn't' typically go away on its own.)

[@1forthefacts254]

I thought you did pretty well given the and I that water was allot to deal with.

[@jonjohnson3027]

Re: loose connections, that's even more of a problem with aluminum wire than with copper. What happens with aluminum wire is that resistance causes the connection to heat up. When it heats up, the metal expands and aluminum, being more malleable than copper, will flow and distort within the confines of the terminal lug. As it cools when the load is removed, it becomes even looser than before. Since it's looser than before, the resistance is higher, so it heats up more, and distorts more, and gets looser and looser with every heat/cool cycle. Copper is more forgiving, because it can be distorted a little more during the heat/cool cycles and still "spring back" into shape. Of course, with enough pressure, copper will permanently distort, but it's not nearly as problematic as aluminum. Further, aluminum oxidizes more readily than copper, and while copper oxides tend to stabilize, aluminum oxide tends to be cancerous. Starting with the proper torque (and antioxidant where required) is ESSENTIAL.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

This is good stuff, @Jon Johnson! How many years in the trade?

[@jonjohnson3027]

@@ElectricProAcademy I'm not in the trade. There was a time in my life when I wanted to be in the trade, but either the opportunity wasn't there or I didn't force the opportunity. Nevertheless, I've studied electrical wiring quite a bit and have several friends in the trade. I really enjoy seeing good workmanship and try to do the same myself.

[@acrinsd]

Interesting that you can run a 220v A/C condenser on 10/2. That was in a house in San Diego county when we moved in, and we had a city inspector out for a different electrical inspection. He noticed the 10/2 for the A/C and said it needed to be changed to 10/3. I never looked at it, but the condenser instructed that the neutral and ground be combined and the black and red be used for hot. I've spoken with building inspectors since, and they have told me the same thing.

[@jovetj]

Because mixing neutral and ground is always a good thing.

[@acrinsd]

@@jovetj It was also a 50 year old panel that used one bus for ground and neutral, but the condenser was only 20 years old when we moved in.

[@6ohTreez]

In my experience, a lot of new condensers don't require neutral connections, at the disconnect, or at the unit. We tend to run 12/2, 10/2, 8/3 and just cap the neutral Depending on what the nameplate is on the condenser

[@jovetj]

@@6ohTreez In my limits experience, I've never seen one that does. The power basically just runs the compressor. The control circuitry is powered separately by the low voltage supply in the furnace/heat exchanger.

[@BearStar1]

What in the Sam Hill is up with ALL of those illegal Splices outside of the main panel not being in Junction Boxes ?? Never in my 55 years as a Licensed Journeyman Electrician have I ever seen such a mess like that !

[@jovetj]

Did you find your jaw? I did... eventually.

[@stefantrethan]

Nice change before/after, not everyone would've taken on that mess under these conditions. Please invest a little of the effort you put into helping out your customer to mitigate your own risk. You never cut corners when it comes to the quality of work you leave behind, so why do that on how you get there? A socket isolator costs but $15 and seriously cuts down on the pucker factor.

[@mikekennedy3173]

Great video. Just curious if you have ever used Wago or Ideal connectors instead wire nuts??

[@ElectricProAcademy]

A common discussion on the channel, @mikekennedy3173! Jefferson Electric is just starting to transition to Ideal's In-sure wire connectors. While we feel like they provide a major labor savings, we do find that wire nuts are 1) a little more thorough of an electrical connection, 2) a bit cheaper if buying in bulk as a business, & 3) a little smaller for box fill. We anticipate both will continue to be used for a long time, and the strengths of each just come down to the application.

[@greggpurviance7252]

@@ElectricProAcademy as an older electrician I lean toward properly installed wire nuts, agree with your evaluation. Have used the leaver type connectors in certain applications, but my first experience with Wago was not encouraging - when I put the device back in the tight box it quit working, took it out and worked. etc. Finally got it to work

[@jordanclayton7913]

@@ElectricProAcademy Most electricians who complain about Wago or In-sure connectors aren't using them to their UL listing specs and/or just parroting what all the other parrots have been parroting! It's rare to find someone these days who can separate from the pack and think for themselves.