Electricians pulling phone and TV cable

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sguinn

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Location
Blue Ridge, Ga
The county I inspect in is about to start enforcing license requirements(it's only been a state law since 1983!) and I got a call today from a local EC wanting to know if he had to have a low voltage license to pull phone/tv cable. I didn't have an immediate answer for him so I contacted the state to which they replied YES. As a former EC myself, we pulled miles of the stuff according to NEC. The reason being was that the phone/cable company would send ONE guy out to the site at a rate of $65/hr and I have never saw those guys get in a hurry.(No offense lv guys) Just wondering if any other municipalities would allow EC's to pull phone/tv's?:confused:
 
We do the low voltage in about 25% of the new homes we wire. There is no licensing for low voltage in Louisiana.
I'm not a big fan of terminating cat-5.
 
I may be wrong here so someone correct me if I am wrong: but if an EC has something like a residential, journeyman or masters exceeds a LV license and would be permitted to do LV work. Like having a CDL drivers license and driving a car only requiring an Operators liscense.
 
I thought the whole idea of a "low voltage license" was so that the low voltage guys didn't need to get a full-blown electrician license? I thought that an electrician's license automatically qualified you for "lesser" licenses?
 
I agree with the others, the only reason for a LV license is so that people "besides" a full blown EC can perform these tasks.

Roger
 
Here are a few examples of people that SHOULD have a low voltage license, but not sure if they do
or not. A overhead garage door installer when installing electric openers, ( but I think if the wiring is exposed its okay not to have one?) and a central VAC installer...
 
If I need a special license to pull & terminate the stuff, well, I guess I'll be like Otis
and have Andy come arrest me as well.

Otis03.jpg
 
I agree that that's the way it usually is. A LV license usually certifies only that the license holder knows the applicable NEC articles as well as any local amendments so that their work is compliant and safe. This limited area would be covered under the much broader EC license.

Note though that none of this has any relevance to either license holder's competance to install LV wiring or equipment properly, only that their work is NEC complient and safe.

Because of this some jurisdictions will also test the LV license applicant's knowledge of the LV trade or industry and require education and work experience in the LV trade in order to insure that the customers are getting what they are paying for. Unfortunately an EC exam falls short in this area since it only certifies the NEC knowledge part. The applicant for an EC license will not likely have the same experience and education in the LV area as the applicant for a LV license and are not tested for it.

My opinion is that an EC should be required to take and pass the same limited license exams before they are allowed to do the work unless the LV exam only covers NEC knowledge.

-Hal
 
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hbiss said:
The applicant for an EC license will not likely have the same experience and education in the LV area as the applicant for a LV license and are not tested for it.
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That's okay. The EC installing LV jobs will at least have a safe installation. Isn't that the idea of licensing? It might not work as intended, but I'm not sure why the government should regulate that.
 
sguinn said:
The county I inspect in is about to start enforcing license requirements(it's only been a state law since 1983!) and I got a call today from a local EC wanting to know if he had to have a low voltage license to pull phone/tv cable. I didn't have an immediate answer for him so I contacted the state to which they replied YES. As a former EC myself, we pulled miles of the stuff according to NEC. The reason being was that the phone/cable company would send ONE guy out to the site at a rate of $65/hr and I have never saw those guys get in a hurry.(No offense lv guys) Just wondering if any other municipalities would allow EC's to pull phone/tv's?:confused:
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In Massachusetts, a journeymans or Systems Tech (Power limited only) license is not required for data, or cable TV.
 
hbiss said:
Because of this some jurisdictions will also test the LV license applicant's knowledge of the LV trade or industry and require education and work experience in the LV trade in order to insure that the customers are getting what they are paying for. Unfortunately an EC exam falls short in this area since it only certifies the NEC knowledge part. The applicant for an EC license will not likely have the same experience and education in the LV area as the applicant for a LV license and are not tested for it.

My opinion is that an EC should be required to take and pass the same limited license exams before they are allowed to do the work unless the LV exam only covers NEC knowledge.

-Hal
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Why not post one of these LV tests so some of us uneducated electricians can have a crack at it and see why LV work so out of our league...:roll:
 
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Yes it is supposed to be required

Yes it is supposed to be required

OP is in GEORGIA which has 4 LV classifications, none of which a non-restriced or restricted EC license qualifies you for. You must do a separate apprenticeship w/ an LV contractor to get the license unless you have a NREC license (can only take the test for the license you worked under). The folks you talked to in Macon are right; an LV license is required by law, however, in most jurisdictions it is not enforced. I work in 5 south GA counties, all of which allow the EC to pull the phone/TV because the providers will not, so if anyone is going to do it, they figure it might as well be someone w/ at least partial knowledge of the field.

Here are GA's electrical-related licenses. The LVU license is one that I'm hoping to get some day if I can ever find an LVU contractor who's willing to sign me off to be his competition. You can only sit for the test w/ the approval of an LVU contractor.

Electrical Contractor- Restricted 1,088
Electrical Contractor- Non Restricted 9,155
Low Voltage-General 815
Low Voltage-Telecommunication 767
Low Voltage-Alarm 1,411
Low Voltage-Unrestricted 1,833
 
Here in California there are 3 types of electrical licenses:

C10 - Electrical Contractor

An electrical contractor places, installs, erects or connects any electrical wires, fixtures, appliances, apparatus, raceways, conduits, solar photovoltaic cells or any part thereof, which generate, transmit, transform or utilize electrical energy in any form or for any purpose.

Authority cited: Sections 7008 and 7059, Reference: Sections 7058 and 7059 (Business and Professions Code)

C7 - Low Voltage Systems Contractor

A communication and low voltage contractor installs, services and maintains all types of communication and low voltage systems which are energy limited and do not exceed 91 volts. These systems include, but are not limited to telephone systems, sound systems, cable television systems, closed-circuit video systems, satellite dish antennas, instrumentation and temperature controls, and low voltage landscape lighting. Low voltage fire alarm systems are specifically not included in this section.

Authority cited: Sections 7008 and 7059, Reference: Sections 7058 and 7059 (Business and Professions Code)

C45 - Electrical Sign Contractor

An electrical sign contractor fabricates, installs and erects electrical signs, including the wiring of such electrical signs.

Authority cited: Sections 7008 and 7059, Reference: Sections 7058 and 7059 (Business and Professions Code)
 
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peter d said:
Yet a landscape contractor can wire a pool, hot tub, or line voltage landscape lighting - go figure.
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That makes me a little nervous. Can't imagine why you would not require a license for wiring pools & hot tubs!
 
hbiss said:
I agree that that's the way it usually is. A LV license usually certifies only that the license holder knows the applicable NEC articles as well as any local amendments so that their work is compliant and safe. This limited area would be covered under the much broader EC license.
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Actually, as we all know, a license from a governmental entity really only means one has a license from a governmental entity. It says nothing at all about the competence of the work at all, or the licensee's knowledge.
 
petersonra said:
Actually, as we all know, a license from a governmental entity really only means one has a license from a governmental entity. It says nothing at all about the competence of the work at all, or the licensee's knowledge.
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This can be seen and proven everyday on your local highways. :grin:

Roger
 
Several reasons for licensing,

Safety no guarantee here.

Qualified person performing certain types of work no guarantee.

Income for the local jurisdiction/state guarantee honored here.
 
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