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?

Not yet, going to take my Journeyman's in a few months. I had a convo with you about it a week ago.

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.

@Deleted User I love under counter lights.

And those "hidden" plugs are sweet

Yes sir! What kind of cabinet is that with the strips mounted in it?

I think they were mounted after. I don't know anything about those cabinets, they were in a house in the triangle.