Electricians pulling phone and TV cable

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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 out league...

Actually I would like to see them myself but you miss the point. Say you want to do telecom or sound work. An applicant for a LV license that covers that work would have to provide documented OJT, work experience and education in that trade before he could sit for the test. So a person with a LV license is going to have a solid and specialized background in that particular trade.

Because an EC license and trade is so broad in scope it is impossible for someone to have experience and training in every area. That's why most ECs specialize. It would be unusual for someone in the electrical trade to have the specialized knowledge that someone who has worked solely in a LV trade has.

-Hal
 
Hal, that was a respectable answer, and I didn't miss your point, I just sometimes laugh at the LV work I see, nothing against anyone, just my area where I work/live... I guess in Residential you only see a quarter of the low voltage trade.
 
Believe me, I curse at some of the LV work I see also. I'm a strong proponent of education, licensing and enforcement. Done properly it would go a long way to eliminate some of the things we see.

-Hal
 
hbiss said:
Believe me, I curse at some of the LV work I see also. I'm a strong proponent of education, licensing and enforcement. Done properly it would go a long way to eliminate some of the things we see.

-Hal
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You mean stuff like this? ;)

mess38.jpg
 
Here in Florida our EC license is considered "unlimited". Low voltage is a speciality, ES license, broken out of the overall knowledge portion of the EC test.
Low voltage wiring is on the Florida EC exam.
 
Fire Alarm said:
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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You left out the General Building Contractor, who under the correct circumstances can do electrical work (even though he has no electrical journeyman's or contractors license) This really burns me! :mad: And I have a general license (as well as a C-10)
 
electricguy61 said:
You left out the General Building Contractor, who under the correct circumstances can do electrical work (even though he has no electrical journeyman's or contractors license)
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That makes no sense at all. Talk about a huge loophole around licensing requriements!
 
Low Voltage Electrical Work

Low Voltage Electrical Work

In NYC: The installation, alteration, maintenance or repair of electrical wiring that is designed to operate at LESS than 50 volts for signaling, communication, alarm and data transmission circuits except that such term shall not include the installation, alteration, maintenance or repair, regardless of voltage, of any such wiring which connects to, is a part of or is located within: (a) life safty system
(b) class I,II or III
(c) intrinsically safe system
(d) a point of connection to or interfacing with a control circuit which activates light, heat or power.
 
hbiss said:

Because an EC license and trade is so broad in scope it is impossible for someone to have experience and training in every area. That's why most ECs specialize. It would be unusual for someone in the electrical trade to have the specialized knowledge that someone who has worked solely in a LV trade has.

-Hal
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This is Bunk! (respectfully)

So An EC cannot wire a residence, because his/her experience is in industrial?
We can not wire the switch gear because we mostly do office lighting?
I do building fire, I can't do suppression? (bad example, I do need a seperate lic. for that. 1 for engineerd,pre-engineerd,portables,Gas stations etc.) But that is a different authority, State Fire marshal, that makes sence.

It IS A VERY broad feild. This is the exact reason we are tested based on ALL aspects of the feild.

LV is specialized, therefore limited. Therfore a license for that specific area.
EC is broader, therfore allowing more areas to be licensed for.
 
Washington State requires licensing for telecom contractors but the installers don't have to be certified. Thats the way the industry wanted the law. Telecom industry wanted licensing as there were too many unsafe installations-firewalls improperly penetrated, etc
 
peter d said:
Yet a landscape contractor can wire a pool, hot tub, or line voltage landscape lighting - go figure.
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Actually, in CA a licensed landscape (C27) contractor cannot wire a swimming pool or hot tub. They can do low-voltage landscape lighting though.

A swimming pool contractor (C53) can do the electrical for a swimming pool, though. And yes, I think that is a crock, too.

My two-cents: I think that a licensed electrical contractor, being a licensed professional, should be able to wire anything low-voltage. If you know, practice, and seek to improve your craft, you should want to experience all the other facets of the trade. I think that is what separates the professionals from the rest.

- Greg
 
keesha said:
This is Bunk! (respectfully)

So An EC cannot wire a residence, because his/her experience is in industrial?
We can not wire the switch gear because we mostly do office lighting?
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I think you missed Hal's point.

My own license allows me to do all types of electrical work, I could run V/D as well, but I will never be as proficient at it as a person that works 40 hours a week doing it.
 
Perhaps I did miss the point. I'll reread it.

My point was not in any way to start "class warfare".
I feel the LV expertice comes in at the destination points,not the travel of the cables.
With that, if that is all you are going to do then I feel a license is a good way to secure your expertice. Lord knows we have seen alot of "unsupervised" installs.
This I see as the main reason for authorities to require lic.(revenue don't hurt either::rolleyes: ) Is to make sure it is installed correctly. over due yes, But If I'm tetsed on all 9 chapters,that qualifies me to do all coverd in them.
If I'm only tested in 4 or 5 of them, then I should be limited in my work.


Expert in all, no way. But who is.
I hope this clears my thoughts a little, I respect anyone in any part of this industry.
 
hbiss said:
Because an EC license and trade is so broad in scope it is impossible for someone to have experience and training in every area. That's why most ECs specialize.
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Another option for an EC would be to have specialized divisions within his organization. But indeed, the field of electrical is broad and no one man can claim expertise in all of it!
 
I used to have major issues with regular ECs pulling data cables. Mostly they did a horrible job of it. As it became more common, the general level of skill improved. These days it not a real big issue in most cases.

From the EC end, its certainly true that you can be far more profitable if you are able to specialize, or at least have some of your employees specialize then if everyone tries to do any and everything.
 
I used to have major issues with regular ECs pulling data cables. Mostly they did a horrible job of it. As it became more common, the general level of skill improved. These days it not a real big issue in most cases.
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I've seen the same thing over the last few years.
 
Poolside said:
Actually, in CA a licensed landscape (C27) contractor cannot wire a swimming pool or hot tub. They can do low-voltage landscape lighting though.

A swimming pool contractor (C53) can do the electrical for a swimming pool, though. And yes, I think that is a crock, too.
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Interesting, I distinctly remember reading on the CSLB website that a landscape contractor can do any work related to their contract, including electrical work on pools and hot tubs. :confused: Maybe they changed something recently?

At any rate, I stand corrected.
 
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