Lost or forgotten installation tips from the past!

[Pete999]

Just thinking back to my Apprenticeship time, and working on a Large luxury Housing development, the chap I was working under, was a strict, but knowledgeable Electrician.
At the time in question we used metallic oval conduit for our switch drop and sockets etc., one of his rules where possible were that all switch drops had the conduit cut to the same length and the same for the runs from the floor up to the socket positions, during the first fix he would always inquire as to which make of sockets we were going to used for the second fix, so much so that he insisted that if the L was on the right hand side of the accessory, I had to feed the 7/029 cable up the conduit , with the L on the right hand side, didn't think it mattered all that much, until you came to install the socket, and how much easier it was with the cables entering the back box all on the same side.
Anyone else got any odd little tips that they were taught, that may have gotten lost over the years?, another one was marking the lighting cables at the ceiling rose, switched pair with a cross and the feeds in and out with a split at the end for identification, simple things I know.

 

[Pete999]

Wonderful stuff

First housing job, working with a Sparky called Terry Selway.
Good Spark, long before cavity cabling was frowned upon, Terry would knock a hole in the ceiling void, eyeball a line down the wall (Breeze block in those days) knock another hole under the down stairs floor, drop a weighted string line down the hole in the ceiling void and get me to fish the string out with a straightened out wall tie, once he had decided there was enough string down the cavity, and using a draw wire joined to string pull whatever cables were required up the cavity, usually a lighting feed, got very good at this during my time working with Terry, if he is still around, thanks for the experience Terry, RIP if you have gone to the big Electrical Contractors in the Sky.

 

[Pete999]

Useful tips to get you out of (or into) a hole when you've forgotten your meter..

I worked with a bloke when I left School and started my Apprenticeship, who would, if he wasn't sure, if the circuit was dead ( no safe isolation in those days) touch the wire to the back of his hand, why the back I would ask, cuz your muscles contract when you get a belt, so the back of your hand is best. Go figure the logic. Bib and Brace coveralls with the ubiquitous Neon tester clipped in the top pocket, you weren't a Spark until you could carry a neon tester in your pocket with pride, he even had one in his jacket when he turned up at work in the morning, I wanted to be like him, hero worship I think it would be called these days. Funny how things change!!!!

 

[DPG]

Even after testing for dead in the proper fashion I don't think it's a bad thing to just give the conductor a gentle touch before grabbing it firmly.

Note, that's an electrical conductor, not a bus conductor. I'm not allowed to grab bus conductors firmly any more.

 

[Pete999]

Even after testing for dead in the proper fashion I don't think it's a bad thing to just give the conductor a gentle touch before grabbing it firmly.

Note, that's an electrical conductor, not a bus conductor. I'm not allowed to grab bus conductors firmly any more.

They don't have conductors on the buses in N/ton Mate cost to much, not that I use Buses if I can help it, never know what you are sitting next to, or on, and yes I do have a Bus pass before anyone asks.

 

[Deuce]

I worked with a bloke when I left School and started my Apprenticeship, who would, if he wasn't sure, if the circuit was dead ( no safe isolation in those days) touch the wire to the back of his hand, why the back I would ask, cuz your muscles contract when you get a belt, so the back of your hand is best. Go figure the logic.

I've heard of this done in factories and asked the same question. The theory being that if you use your fingers/front of your hand you could inadvertently 'grab on'. Also 240v, you swipe your hand over and the momentum will ensure your hand travels over and past the power source. As a fleeting current, providing you're not earthed across your heart-line (for example, holding on to adjacent plumbing with your other hand), then most people would just feel a moments mild discomfort. I'm sure there are plenty on here that have caught a shock and whilst it's.. erm... 'shocking', it's not normally actually painful as such. I think if you were ready/expecting it you would probably pull it off without even a murmer.

 

[Deuce]

Even after testing for dead in the proper fashion I don't think it's a bad thing to just give the conductor a gentle touch before grabbing it firmly.

Note, that's an electrical conductor, not a bus conductor. I'm not allowed to grab bus conductors firmly any more.

Especially after checking they're dead

 

[DPG]

Deuce, did you just say you could pull it off without a murmur?

 

[Deuce]

Deuce, did you just say you could pull it off without a murmur?

Yes - but it's not true. I squeal and wimper

 

[telectrix]

Yes - but it's not true. I squeal and wimper

-----.

 

[Pete999]

I worked with a bloke when I left School and started my Apprenticeship, who would, if he wasn't sure, if the circuit was dead ( no safe isolation in those days) touch the wire to the back of his hand, why the back I would ask, cuz your muscles contract when you get a belt, so the back of your hand is best. Go figure the logic. Bib and Brace coveralls with the ubiquitous Neon tester clipped in the top pocket, you weren't a Spark until you could carry a neon tester in your pocket with pride, he even had one in his jacket when he turned up at work in the morning, I wanted to be like him, hero worship I think it would be called these days. Funny how things change!!!!

I suppose today's equivalent to my Mate would be Thomas (Naggy) sorry Thomas couldn't resist, no offence intended,

 

[Squid]

Ringshank nail, sometimes refereed to as a screw nail by some, not by me though, never actually seen a screw nail, unless of course you are referring to a screw that your screwdriver wont work on. so you transgress and belt it with a hammer

Screw nail has a type of thread its used to increase the holding strength of the nail.

 

[Pete999]

Screw nail has a type of thread its used to increase the holding strength of the nail.

Thought that was a ring shank nail!!

 

[Squid]

Thought that was a ring shank nail!!

Basically the same thing.

 

[DPG]

Different thing. Rings shanks have concentric rings, but there are nails with screw threads also. Have a Google if you don't believe me.

 

[Deuce]

Different thing. Rings shanks have concentric rings, but there are nails with screw threads also. Have a Google if you don't believe me.

Pretty sure that's just a different way of getting rings on the shank. I don't think they're designed to be used any differently.

Still just a nail either way