amusing phone call

[hardworkingstiff]

Someone I know asked if he could give my name and number to an "electrician" he had met that was looking for work. I said sure.

I got the call. Starts out with pleasantries. During the intro, he says he worked for the union for 8 years. I asked him if he was an electrician or an electricians helper. Answer, electrician! Following is the rest of the conversation.

Me: Do you mind if I ask you a few questions.

He: Sure go ahead.

Me: Can you tell me what ohms law is?

He: Ugh, ugh, no.

Me: If you are using 30 degree bends to make a 10" offset in a conduit, how far apart should your marks be?

He: It was a very long answer that said nothing (I can't remember what he exactly said).

Me: What is the take up on a 1/2" emt bender?

He: It's been a while since I bent pipe, I don't remember.

Me: Can you tell me what the ampacity is of a #12 wire?

He: Ugh, Ugh, 100?

Me: I'll call you if I need you, bye!

[ceb58]

Me: Can you tell me what the ampacity is of a #12 wire?

He: Ugh, Ugh, 100?


Sure it is.... for a short period of time

[480sparky]

I recall going to a school job years ago and end up working with the owners little brother.

I asked him how long he's been an electrician, and he said "8 years now."

I thought, "Great! I don't have to babysit this guy. Now maybe we can get something done!"



First thing he asks me is how to bend 1/2" EMT. :mad:

[hardworkingstiff]

So...... some of you sage guys out there gonna share the test questions you have for new employees?

One carpenter I know has the question to count from 0 to 1" in 16ths. If they go 1/16th, 2/16ths, 3/16ths the interview is over.

[cadpoint]

Me: Can you tell me what ohms law is?
He: Ugh, ugh, no.
Me: If you are using 30 degree bends to make a 10" offset in a conduit, how far apart should your marks be?
He: It was a very long answer that said nothing (I can't remember what he exactly said).

Ohm's law of 1826 states that if the ambiant temperature remains constant, the current flowing through certain conductors is proportional to the potential difference(voltage) across it. In other words, current equals voltage divided by resistance. "C" is current, "I" is voltage, and "R" is resistance in the equation and diagrams.
C=I/R
(above) based on Google (http://people.seas.harvard.edu/~jones/es154/lectures/lecture_2/Ohm'sLaw/Ohm'sLaw.html)

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Darn, I couldn't just spit out ohm law! :confused: I frankly had to go look for it on the I-net. I knew it existed I surely won't expect to have to pra-phase it!

And it took me a minute on the correct cosecant/mutiplier of 2, too. I always forget that one ... and that depends on the Bender.

30º bends are popular for making offsets, because the cosecant of 30º is 2. Also, most small EMT hand benders are designed so that the bender handle is straight up when a 30º bend has been made with the conduit on the floor.
Common angles and their cosecants
Angle 10º 22.5º 30º 45º 60º
Cosecant 5.76 2.6 2.0 1.414 1.15

(above based on Google (http://www.porcupinepress.com/_bending/offsets.htm))

Yeah my co-workers get a kick out of me, wait till I ask for the cosecant of that bend, LOL

Good show, Lou

[tonyou812]

I once saw a guy who said he was in the trade since 98 use two gem boxes to cut in a two gang switch box. Yea and he didnt put them together the way God ment them to be. He just cut a hole big enough to fit the two device boxes side by side and couldnt figure out why it wouldnt sit right.

[brantmacga]

did anyone ever see the episode of "monster house" where they electrician faked his resume and couldn't do the job? they showed him adding some switches and receps in an existing wall; he had cut gigantic holes in the drywall to give him the clearance to swing his hammer to nail up the boxes! that was clue #1. anyway, they just kept showing him standing around scratching his head. finally, steve took him aside and asked if he knew what he was doing. he came out and apologized to everyone that he lied. they got someone else to finish it, way beyond the scheduled completion time, but steve gave them all the prize tools anyway.

[stickboy1375]

did anyone ever see the episode of "monster house" where they electrician faked his resume and couldn't do the job? they showed him adding some switches and receps in an existing wall; he had cut gigantic holes in the drywall to give him the clearance to swing his hammer to nail up the boxes! that was clue #1. anyway, they just kept showing him standing around scratching his head. finally, steve took him aside and asked if he knew what he was doing. he came out and apologized to everyone that he lied. they got someone else to finish it, way beyond the scheduled completion time, but steve gave them all the prize tools anyway.


That was one of the best episodes ever... is that show on anymore?

[zdog]

did anyone ever see the episode of "monster house" where they electrician faked his resume and couldn't do the job? they showed him adding some switches and receps in an existing wall; he had cut gigantic holes in the drywall to give him the clearance to swing his hammer to nail up the boxes! that was clue #1. anyway, they just kept showing him standing around scratching his head. finally, steve took him aside and asked if he knew what he was doing. he came out and apologized to everyone that he lied. they got someone else to finish it, way beyond the scheduled completion time, but steve gave them all the prize tools anyway.
yea i saw that one.right from the start i kept thinking this guy does'nt know whats he's doing.he tried to blame why things didnt work on a bad recpt.

[electricalperson]

yea i saw that one.right from the start i kept thinking this guy does'nt know whats he's doing.he tried to blame why things didnt work on a bad recpt.
is there a youtube video of this episode? i want to laugh too

[macmikeman]

Probably an unemployed actor looking for more tv work to add to his resume. I've been in this trade since 1976, and I cannot remember what you add to the distance for a back to back using a 3/4" bender at this moment. I remember 1/2" is 2-1/4" but not for 3/4". Do I have to turn in my licenses now?

[mdshunk]

Sometimes, what's equally entertaining isn't their answers to your questions, but the questions they ask you. Things like "how long until medical insurance takes effect", "how many days a year do we get to take off", "do you do drug testing", "What's the policy on lateness". These question can be for completely benign reasons, but they always tweak my ear.

[hardworkingstiff]

Do I have to turn in my licenses now?

Nah, we just won't ask you to teach the pipe bending class. ;)

[winnie]

One carpenter I know has the question to count from 0 to 1" in 16ths. If they go 1/16th, 2/16ths, 3/16ths the interview is over.

My problem is that I would miss things like this. If I caught on, I'd probably make a joke, such as 1.6mm, 3.2mm, 4.8mm....I know how to reduce fractions but I would likely simply miss the need to do so.

-Jon

[dbuckley]

Ohms Law: Rain is 'Eavy over India :)

R = E/I.

Or, draw it as a triangle with a horizontal line through the middle, with E ('eavy) above the line, I (India) below the line, and then add the leftover letter R below the line, 'cos theres lots of space there. Then put finger on the item you want, and the triangle tells you what to do with the other two knowns toio get your unknown...

[frizbeedog]

..."do you do drug testing"... These question can be for completely benign reasons, but they always tweak my ear.

Stupid question for a prospective employee to ask. RED FLAG.

If they are stoners they will reveal themselves soon enough. Like the time one of our guys left his stash in the shop in a big paper sack. (more like his stash and enough stash for ten of his freinds).

Stupid people should not use this substance, as it enhances stupidness. 8-)

He even kept a box of sythetic urine handy for special occasions.

[220/221]

I've been in this trade since 1976, and I cannot remember what you add to the distance for a back to back using a 3/4" bender at this moment

0"...use the star.:D

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

Someone I know asked if he could give my name and number to an "electrician" he had met that was looking for work. I said sure.

I got the call. Starts out with pleasantries. During the intro, he says he worked for the union for 8 years. I asked him if he was an electrician or an electricians helper. Answer, electrician! Following is the rest of the conversation.

Me: Do you mind if I ask you a few questions.

He: Sure go ahead.

Me: Can you tell me what ohms law is?

He: Ugh, ugh, no.

Me: If you are using 30 degree bends to make a 10" offset in a conduit, how far apart should your marks be?

He: It was a very long answer that said nothing (I can't remember what he exactly said).

Me: What is the take up on a 1/2" emt bender?

He: It's been a while since I bent pipe, I don't remember.

Me: Can you tell me what the ampacity is of a #12 wire?

He: Ugh, Ugh, 100?

Me: I'll call you if I need you, bye!

I wouldn't know what answer you were looking for if you asked me what ohm's law was. I'd give you the formula. I'd answer your 30 degree bend question, as I use them whenever possible. I'd guess at your 1/2 EMT take up, and tell you I'm guessing, because we never use anything smaller than 3/4 in NYC.

Anyone who doesn't know the ampacity of #12 must have been in the Teamsters union.

[quogueelectric]

Probably an unemployed actor looking for more tv work to add to his resume. I've been in this trade since 1976, and I cannot remember what you add to the distance for a back to back using a 3/4" bender at this moment. I remember 1/2" is 2-1/4" but not for 3/4". Do I have to turn in my licenses now? 2 1/2 now turn in your bender not your licence you will make a great contractor.

[480sparky]

0"...use the star.:D

Isn't it an "A" or "B" on a GB bender?

[mdshunk]

Isn't it an "A" or "B" on a GB bender?
I hate those stinking benders. Give them to the rebar guys. They're 45 degrees with the handle straight up, so that alone gripes me. I can multiply by 2 pretty easily, but I'm not really up on my 1.47 times tables.

[boater bill]

My employer uses a 25 question electrical test to help determine if the guy will be a ditch digger, pipe bender or foreman. A lot of the foreman applications come in with no answer to the pipe bending, wire nut, or box fill questions.

At least were not the only ones struggling for good help.

[mivey]

I used to work with a guy who could stand on the ground, look 20 feet up at some crazy offset+turn, then bend it, we would take it up and it would fit like a glove. I have just never been that good. I can get close but I'll usually need at least one tweak or two (sometimes I just throw the thing away in disgust...like when I bend it backwards!).

I don't know how much grilling I could take as an expert bender could probably trap me into saying something stupid. For that matter, I say stupid stuff all the time without being trapped.

As for a quiz: I remember talking to a builder in Atlanta who built multi-story buildings. He said he interviewed a guy one time and started giving him the "competency test". He asked the guy if he had his own plumb bob. The guy said "of course" and showed him a nice new one. He then asked the guy when it was last calibrated...."um, I'm not sure but I can have it checked". That was the end of the interview. The builder laughed and told me he just uses a brick and string!

[melanconelectric]

I used to work with a guy who could stand on the ground, look 20 feet up at some crazy offset+turn, then bend it, we would take it up and it would fit like a glove. I have just never been that good. I can get close but I'll usually need at least one tweak or two (sometimes I just throw the thing away in disgust...like when I bend it backwards!).

I don't know how much grilling I could take as an expert bender could probably trap me into saying something stupid. For that matter, I say stupid stuff all the time without being trapped.

As for a quiz: I remember talking to a builder in Atlanta who built multi-story buildings. He said he interviewed a guy one time and started giving him the "competency test". He asked the guy if he had his own plumb bob. The guy said "of course" and showed him a nice new one. He then asked the guy when it was last calibrated...."um, I'm not sure but I can have it checked". That was the end of the interview. The builder laughed and told me he just uses a brick and string!

That's to funny!! I worked with an old Jamaican electrician who was the same way... funny thing is that he couldn't see anything (barely) I would drive him everywhere, couldnt find tools or misc. materials but that joker could bend pipe for ya over the phone, he would just listen to it and know what it needed

[macmikeman]

2 1/2 now turn in your bender not your licence you will make a great contractor.

Been one since 1984, and thats why I forgot:smile:

[iaov]

Ohms law says the amount of current in a circuit depends on how much pressure is pushing upon how much resitence. IMHO every electrician should understand this concept inside, outside, upside down. It is the fundemental physics of what we do.

[growler]

I got the call. Starts out with pleasantries. During the intro, he says he worked for the union for 8 years. I asked him if he was an electrician or an electricians helper. Answer, electrician!


If a guy calls up and tells you he has done electrical work for 8 years this really has no meaning. The electrical field is very broad. I worked with a guy that could do all sorts of control work but couldn't bend a piece of conduit.

I don't have any employees at the present but I have run many crews.

What I alway liked to do is ask the prospective electricain is what type of work he had been doing and just what his job title and function was on those particular jobs. ( beware the material man or tool room guy unless you need one).

A guy can be a job foreman running a crew for residential work and know very little about commercial or industrial work. Doesn't mean he's stupid just ignorant ( untrained ). But, if he has been on a residential crew for 8 years it is reasonable to expect him to know everything about residential work. If he has learned all about residential it's also reasonable to think he can learn other types of work. If he has spent 8 years on a residential crew and still doesn't know residential the odds of him ever becomming a good commercial or industrial electrican are very, repeat, very slim.

It's good to have a well rounded background in electrical but many people only know what they have been taught on past jobs. I have always believed that a person that becomes proficient at one job can learn another.

I know some Union electricians that have not touched a power cable in years. The company they work for has two departments , one for power and another for low voltage ( data, fire alarms, fiber optics and so on). Some others have worked maintenance at a local mall for years ( I think these guys have forgotten how to do electrical work ). :confused:

[Rewire]

Expierience in the trade and time in the trade are often not the same thing.around here if a guy has spent his time wiring condos then you can figure all he knows is ,nail a box, drill a hole .pull a wire then repeat.

[mivey]

Ohms law says the amount of current in a circuit depends on how much pressure is pushing upon how much resitence. IMHO every electrician should understand this concept inside, outside, upside down. It is the fundemental physics of what we do.I'm not sure if he said he did not get the concept:

I wouldn't know what answer you were looking for if you asked me what ohm's law was. I'd give you the formula.

It seems to me he didn't necessarily know how to quote the technical definition. While there is nothing wrong with knowing the technical definition, I don't think you need to know it to be an electrician. Engineers are the ones who are supposed to get all worked up about the technical definitions and the finer details of the concepts. Electricians live in a more practical world:grin:

[edit: typo]

[charlie b]

I recall a story that came from Fr. Theodore Hesburgh’s book, “God, Country, and Notre Dame.” If you don’t know the name, he is president emeritus of that fine school. I won’t get this story completely right, but I’ll get it close enough to be on topic with this thread.

One of his earliest acts, upon taking on the presidency, was to fire the Athletic Director. The man objected, citing among other things the fact that he had 20+ years of experience. Fr. Hesburgh replied, “No you don’t. You have one year of experience, and you have repeated it 19 times.”

[hardworkingstiff]

One of his earliest acts, upon taking on the presidency, was to fire the Athletic Director. The man objected, citing among other things the fact that he had 20+ years of experience. Fr. Hesburgh replied, “No you don’t. You have one year of experience, and you have repeated it 19 times.”

:grin: I like that story.

Charlie, I like the new avatar too. :)

[quogueelectric]

Electricians live in a more practical world:grin:
We live in crazy town.:grin: