atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information ibew - elecrical license required

Sorry double post....

[This message has been edited by JOHNYREB (edited October 19, 2004).]

I'm sure we all will be required at some point to get a license. I currently work for someone else, but I have seriously considered going down and getting a business license for doing telephone work just in the event that they do start requiring a low voltage license, I would be "gradfathered" in. It might save a whole lot of expense and hassle down the road. A $20 dollar a year business license seems like cheap insurance.

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What happened to the folks that tried Preperation A thru G?

[This message has been edited by JOHNYREB (edited October 19, 2004).]

In the area I live/work in (big IBEW area). electricians think they can do it all, but can't back the talk up with any action. I was IBEW for last 5 yrs, ( non-union previous 9). Unions protect lazy workers and give customers alot of attitude. lol. For the most part, electricians in the union don't care for comm guys in same union. ( at least here). Thanks for letting me vent.

So, Scott, maybe you can answer a couple of questions I have had for years about electrical work in the Chicago area.

Why in the world, except to protect union interests, is metallic conduit still required for electrical wiring there, even in new houses?

My second, and less important question is why electrical outlets in Chigago are installed horizontally instead of vertically? Somebody has to realize that this ridiculous since switches are installed properly (vertically). Electricians will install outlets horizontally in the same countertop area where switches are installed properly. What's up with this?

My guess is that the local union just has their way of doing things and they make sure nobody else can change them. I have to wonder though, are the local Home Depot stores prohibited from selling Romex cable and plastic boxes? It's obvious that they can't be installed legally in Chigago.

Thanks for resurrecting this topic. Unions, Licenses and permits are a huge pet-peeve to me, but I bite the bullet because if I don't, the local will make sure that I take a bullet instead.

what local are you hearing this out of? i work in 2222 our of boston and have heard nothing about any proposals in our area.. my only gripe with non company installers / electricians is when they use substandard junk wire and jacks for their inside jack runs.. but its people saving a buck or 2 that keeps me in overtime..

Actually EV, I do most of my work in the St. louis area, as I am across the river from there and work for an NEC vendor there. But to me it sounds like the union throwing their weight around up there. I always thought it was a trademark of IBEW electricians to install receptacles with the ground up, until I actually found out it really is code, lol.

I always thought it was a trademark of IBEW electricians to install receptacles with the ground up, until I actually found out it really is code, lol.

:rofl: Who told you it was code? One of those IBEW thugs? There is NOTHING in any code that specifies which way a receptacle should be orientated, at least not the NEC. Install them sideways or at a 45 degree angle if you want!

-Hal

I shouldn't have stated " code", but certain places, i.e. hospitals and schools, they spec that receptacles be installed with ground pointing up. And if you look at the front of a receptacle, it actually does say top. But I'm a telecom guy (15 yrs), and it makes no difference to me HOW they are put in as long as my power cord still plugs into it.

certain places, i.e. hospitals and schools, they spec that receptacles be installed with ground pointing up.

That's a little different isn't it. Some guys prefer to put them on the top too but nothing makes them do it that way. If the customer wants them on top that's their prerogative not code.

And if you look at the front of a receptacle, it actually does say top.

Never saw a receptacle that had "top" marked on it. Decora style switches have "top" on the yoke, but that's because the single poles don't have "on and off" on the lever like the toggles do so you need to know which end is up.

I do notice that they do use the same metal yoke on all their devices so maybe you saw Decora receptacles. If so it's irrelevant.

-Hal

And then come in a try to plug in a Valcom amplified speaker transformer, or any Alarm transformer when the Ground is placed on the top. What a bunch of boobs!!