Message from @John O -
Discord ID: 359466531404513280
@Deleted User @Lebens just curious, do you guys use a wall fish kit to fish wires down a wall? Like glowrods, or the wire fish kit, I don't know what they are called, or something like the python kits with the magnets? Or do you just drop the wire and manually fish it out?
I use glow rods, magnets and fishing drill bits
If I'm in an attic trying to fish down a wall I will measure out and find my location up top. I will drill two or three 1in sized holes with a paddle bit. I'll stick my flashlight over one of the holes that way I can use the other two to look down and fish wires. If you're in an attic you can you can just stick the wire down the wall it's easiest. You don't have to get the fish tape reel or glow rods out of the truck to do the job. A fish tape can be used in walls or in conduit to pull wire through metal tubing. I was trained commercial so I have used a fish tape to fish just about everything. You have to be careful with them around live Parts as they can short things out and kill you or cause an explosion
Thats why you always need a non conductive fish tape also
Yes sir I have a nylon fish tape that I use but it is very short so I use it when I'm around the panels
It,s kind of crazy because in a residential setting the ground wires are bare. I always thought it was crazy that you had all these live parts and then your ground conductors were always bare
Right on, I have both a fish tape and glowrods. I always preferred the glow rod. Coaxial cable is so easy to fish though.
@Deleted User that is crazy. Any reason it's bare?
I would say probably cost. They used to pull bare neutrals in conduit years ago but they discovered if someone broke a wire between a load and the panel the conduit would become energized as the neutral path to ground. That's why bare wire is not used in conduit anymore. Romex and certain grounding situations where you are burying a wire for grounding purposes for let's say service there are exceptions that allow you to use the bare copper
In regards to fishing wires in conduit. They make a vacuum system called a vacuum fish tape that uses little sponges with a wire connected to them that you hook a nylon string to and vacuum that device called a mouse through the conduit. It is used for long runs. It works good in PVC pipe because it is glued but if the pipe has been in the ground and has condensation water built up in it sometimes it will slow it down. You can use it in long runs of EMT which is the metal tubing but you have to have what they call compression fittings coupling the pipe together
I've never had a problem sucking rats in screw type connected EMT
@Deleted User wow, that's cool. I learned something today. I didn't know about that vacuum thing. Thanks bro
You can also just use a plastic bag, a shop vac, and jet line if you're doing it on the cheap
Yeah once have the gist you can use just about anything. I was on a job once and was searching for some plastic and ended up using part of a Fritos bag. I've used them with screw conduits before but it just depends on how big the conduit is and how long the run is.
I was about to ask how long of a run can you do that ghetto way?
I was just curious, because everyone has a different way to fish wire
@John O - so youre an electrician also?
Lol that's right I'm sorry. It has been a rough couple of weeks. What part of the country are you in
It's cool, Florida
That's right. I'm just getting senile in my old age. Are you going to hit him up for a raise once you get your journeyman's
I'm probably going to quit. I'm thinking about moving to Seattle, where I can get $35/hr so that I can save up for when the housing market drops.
Maybe California. Idk yet.
The company I work for is huge, and since the pay isn't great, a lot of my coworkers are Haitians or Hispanics. I get a bit tired of it, and I'm not sure I want to be in charge of a bunch of guys who resent me for being white boy in charge
I understand that! What kind of a foothold do the unions have in those areas?
If that's your picture for your avatar you look to be about 24
None
I was just asking I was trying to figure out how long you been in the trade total
I'm 22
Got my job 2 weeks out of highschool
Yes it seems like two unions have a stronger hold the further north you go up to Northeastern Corridor. Up around New York and New Jersey if you don't have a union card you don't get much work
Yes I graduated high school and two weeks later had a job as an electrician. I didn't know what I was getting into at the time. I really enjoy it though I don't think I would have gone another direction if I could do it over
I was college bound, pretty happy that I missed out on that
Yeah most of these colleges are freaking cancer. Feeding these kids heads full of b*******
My family has been oven middle class for 3 generations. My mom still flips out at me, despite my p nice net worth.
My dad and I are the first out of three generations, cousins included, on both sides, not to get a 4 year diploma.
I need to get my Master's, but I want to see the country a little while I'm still young.
It's definitely a top priority.