studying you code

[MASSDRIVER]

Seriously, I think it's great to have an extensive knowledge of your trade. I would catagorize JW's efforts on the academic side of things. Ignorance is not a virtue. Having said that, there is also a balance and at some point you should simply know what you are doing and don't get buried in minutia. That is one reason I signed up here, selfishly, to learn from others quickly and open my horizons and learn from others experience.

I take my work seriously, I don't cut corners, I have code references I study when needed. I'm not "that guy" cheating my way through.

To have an attitude of King Rat due to study vigilance is silly. The electrical trade, like others, is construction. You may be a walking talking encyclopedia, but can you diagnose and solve problems? Not just electrical black magic, but construction problems as well.

It reminds me of the "Commercial" electrician. These guys are the worst. Because they do commercial type work they are even worse than the residential guy when it comes to arrogance. I have worked with many of them that were " lowered to doing remodel or what have you, and were worthless as tits on a boar. Not one lick of problem solving ability, and couldn't drill a block without blowing it apart.

Ironically, the two best sparkies I have worked with was an outlaw biker than could mind meld with knob and tube, and a Frenchman, Gille in San Francisco who had an industrial background in France. His multi unit disconnects and meters were a thing of beauty, and he made anything work. He could drill a hole too.

I also admire the production guy that can acceptably rough, label and panel a two story home in one day. His code knowledge is fine and appropriate.

No so seriously; Isn't EDICT missing a syllable?

Brent.

 

[Dennis]

I deleted the post... ICE is melting

I think that was a good choice..

 

[jwelectric]

I see that this thread went south real quick.

The purpose of this thread was not one of I am smarter than you or you are smarter than I but one of a simple question of how much time you spend in the code books of your trade.

On forums such as this one there will be members that do nothing but residential for their entire life. Some that does nothing but commercial and some that do nothing but service work.

There will be electricians, inspectors, plan review, educators, engineers, code panel members, home inspectors, and a few DIYers just to point out a few.

It doesn’t matter what aspect of the electrical field you work in the code is the code. It does not change from the residential to the commercial and is the same in industrial and health care, from one job to the next.

This thread was not about problem solving or how to add a circuit to a bomb shelter. It wasn’t about how many years one has been in the trade it was a simple question of how much time one spends in their code book.

I am 62 years old and have many medical problems that prevent me from practicing my trade in the field. I have chosen to turn my attention to the education of upcoming electricians and inspectors. It has been my experience over the years that a lot of electricians as well as inspectors will pass the mandated test and never pick up a book again. The extent of their knowledge is the continuing education classes they attend and even then some will not have a book in their hand. They rely on memory of what was said during their class for the information they carry away with them.

I don’t know how it works in other parts of the country but here in North Carolina the only correct answer to a question on the test is what is written in the code book. The answer to the question cannot come from a commentary written by someone even those who edit the book. Nothing found on a discussion forum or even the way we have always did it. The answer comes from the book.

As Jeff pointed out an educator or a plan reviewer will spend more time in the codes than someone who does nothing but residential or service work. For the most part a residential electrician knows 6-12, 2-4, holes in the center, 2 circuits for the kitchen, and sling rope. The commercial and industrial electrician follows a picture someone else drew. In the latter case an inspector finds something wrong and the electrician says, “I put it in like the picture shows so what is wrong?”

Here in North Carolina should an inspector find a violation that inspector is bound by law to quote the code section which is in violation. They cannot say this is the way I want to see it done or I think it should be done this way or that way, it must be something that can be pointed to in the code.

This in and of itself means that an inspector will probably spend many more hours in the code than the electrician.

The electrician on the other hand is bound by law to install compliant installation weather or not it will be inspected so the electrician should be spending time in the code. Who knows the electrician might get an uneducated inspector that is requiring something that is not compliant to the code and should that electrician comply with the wishes of the inspector the electrician is still liable for the installation.

Being that I am physically unable to climb ladders or crawl around on the ground I have made education my means of support. I have made a hobby out of studying the codes past and present. As many as I can find I also study the ROPs and ROCs of the code making process. I don’t expect that many across the country will spend one tenth the time in codes books as I do but that was not the point of my question. I don’t spend one tenth of the time as many that I sit and listen to at many of the seminars I attend either. I do have a hunger to learn as much as I possibly can about the electrical code that I have devoted my life to, over 46 years in the field. I started with an old man at the age of 15 working during the summer months running to and from the truck and handing this and that. He gave me my first code book a 1962 cycle and I have had one in my hand till now.

My question was a simple question of how much time do you spend studying the code book that mandates the installation of the system you are installing or inspecting. Do you just do this installation like the one you were doing years ago, do you inspect the installation the same what you was years ago or do you study the code for a more efficient way to get the job done.

For anyone who was offended by my question or any statement I have made I apologize. It was not my intention to offend but to simply ask how much time you spend studying the laws that govern the trade you have chosen.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

If I ever get a large commcal job I will be looking in the NEC alot. I am commercal electrical inspector and passed the test years ago but where I work there is no commercal except a one gas station, a dollar store, two firehouses, the township building, three small strip malls and a few small restrants. We will be geting our first traffic light next year!