From Ohio to Colorado

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I've been an Electrical Contractor in the State of Ohio for about 30 years and I moved to Colorado last March. I've filled out the paper work here and I'm gonna be taking the Masters test just as soon as I feel that I'm ready. I picked up a new code book and I'm on page 545, out of those 545 pages; I have truly read about 90 - 95 % of those pages. I have another 229 pages to go, I'm getting quite anxious to call up and schedule the test.

In Ohio they have the State license and then every city and county also has one, some countys in Ohio only want a Bond, can someone from Colorado tell me how it works here ? After I get the State of Colorado Masters License, do I need to pick up a whole bunch of other as time permits ?
 
IMO ( Most test are based on how well you can use the code book. So unless you have a photographic memory I don't know how reading it page by page can do much good. On the other hand it can't hurt.:wink:

FWIW( I've always got practice questions. Then do one by one hundreds of them.
When you get to where you can do 85 out of a 100 or so right. Then it's time to take the test. These questions will be sort of like 15 on grounding, 15 load calculations, 7 motor load calculations, 5 bussiness, 18 look up questions. Box Fill, Conduit fill, Wiring methods , etc...

Try this for Colorado Licensing info. Good Luck :wink: www.dora.state.co.us./electrical
 
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No, reading the code book isn't needed, but as soon as I finish doing so, I'll take some sample test. When I was looking at the rules about closet lights, I came across a few words that spell check doesn't like Luminaries, with or without an s.. The code book spells it (Luminaires) . When I was looking at Class III, I came across the word (flyings), that's also a new word to me and spell check both. The word doesn't exist with an s on the end, I hope that someday in my lifetime, better English rhetoric will lead to an easier comprehension of the Code Book. Where would I find some sample tests ?:smile:
 
I forgot to say welcome to the forum.:smile:
I use the NEC hand book a lot. If you have not seen it, some librarys have it. You could go look at it before you buy it. And of course this forum is very good. :wink:Because it is so active.
Again good luck and let us know how you do.
 
Welcome to the forum & to Colorado! From what I've heard, the master test has several questions on motors & welders. You will need to know how to get thru the book pretty fast. It's been 16 years since I took it. You won't be able to take your own book in. I think only a calculater & maybe a pencil. When you scedule your test, you will get all the rules. I believe you'll test in Greeley. Best of luck to you. As Buck said, let us know. :smile:
Ron
 
When I was looking at the rules about closet lights, I came across a few words that spell check doesn't like Luminaries, with or without an s.. The code book spells it (Luminaires) .
Why are you spell-checking the NEC? ;)

Don't forget that definitions (Article 100) plays an important role in interpreting the NEC. Luminaire is basically a made-up word, but since it is defined in Article 100 then that definition takes precedence anyway.

Where would I find some sample tests ?:smile:
Check this out.
 
Luminaire is basically a made-up word,

I do not believe so, I think that comes from somewhere in Europe. I have worked on Germen equipment from the 1970s that used the word 'Luminaires' to label the lighting breakers, contactors and control switches.

The NEC changed to it to become more international.
 
Luminaire was a character in Disney's Beauty and the Beast if I remember correctly. In all seriousness with regards to the OP though, welcome to Colorado. The masters test wasn't to difficult, alot of calculations and they did seem to dwell on welders for some reason. Most of the local municipalities will require you to register with them and obtain a local license but will not require that you take any sort of test. The licensing is for business, not an electrical license per say. If you are going to work for yourself you will need these, if you intend on working for an estblished contractor you will not need them. Some of the muni's have a licensing "fee", some do not. If your lucky, you will come across rcarroll on your jobsites. If your even luckier, you will get a chance to meet Mr. Stolz himself :)
 
I don't know about that, but I'm pretty confident Fragile is a little town in Italy, too. ;)

Would I lie to you?:confused: The NFPA did not 'make up' the word Luminaire

1- 165 - (100-Luminaire): Accept in Principle​
Note: It was the action of the Technical Correlating Committee
that this Proposal be referred to Code-Making Panel 18 for
information.
SUBMITTER:​
William Buckson, Hubbell Lighting Inc.

RECOMMENDATION:​
Remove the FPN under 410-1 and add the
term Luminaire to Chapter 1, Article 100 Definitions, as follows:
Luminaire. A complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp or lamps
together with the parts designed to distribute the light, to position
and protect the lamps, and to connect the lamps to the power
supply.
(See the companion proposal for replacing the terms "lighting
fixture, lighting fixtures" and "fixture, Fixtures" with "luminaire,
luminaires").

SUBSTANTIATION:​
1. Lighting standards that have or are being
developed, revised and adopted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
are utilizing the IES term Luminaire in lieu of the term fixture.
This includes the new UL/CSA BI-NATIONAL l u minair e standard,
which will ultimately replace the UL 1570, 1571, and 1572 standards.
(These are the very standards used to evaluate the lighting products
required to be Listed and Approved, according to the NEC and
verified by the Authorities Having Jurisdiction).
2. The Canadian Electrical Code has used the luminaire term for
the last ten years.
3. The Tri-NATIONAL lighting standard currently being
developed will be designated as a l u minair e standard.
4. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association has recently
retitled its "Lighting Fixture Section, to L u minair e Section".
5. The U.S. National Committee’s Technical Advisory Group to
the IEC is working on exporting U.S. lighting perspectives into
luminaire (IEC) standards.
6. There are initiatives underway by both NEMA and the NFPA to
promote and solidify the use of the NEC from a global perspective.
The NEC and its IEC counterpart, IEC 60364, have recently
undergone an equivalency review conducted by UL, NFPA, IAEC,
NIST, and NEMA as part of this global strategy.
7. If the NEC is ever to be considered as an International
Standard, it must utilize the proper terminology.
8. The FPN under 410-1 denotes that luminaire is an international
term. International does not mean European only, international,
includes the U.S.
9. The term fixture, is archaic and a misnomer. The term fixture
has many meanings and connotations. A fixture could refer to a
building part, any type or number of gas, plumbing, machine,
electric or appliance components, a familiar element or feature or
even an individual that has been in a position for a long time. The
term luminaire however, by its very formulation, communicates its
meaning in a more clear and succinct manner, reducing the
possibility of misunderstanding or misapplication of the term.

PANEL ACTION:​
Accept in Principle.
Revise the definition to read as follows:.
"Luminaire. A complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp or
lamps together with the parts designed to distribute the light, to
position and protect the lamps and ballast (where applicable), and
to connect the lamps to the power supply."

PANEL STATEMENT:​
The panel believes the definition should
include reference to ballasts. Refer to CMP-18 for action and
removal of the FPN as proposed.

NUMBER OF PANEL MEMBERS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE: 13
 
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No, no, no - I just posted a joke in a confusing way. That looked wrong.

But hey, it caused you to dig up the supporting material which is interesting reading, so it all worked out, ey? :D

It's cool, I was not mad, just surprised.

Here is some follow up from a good old boy that does not want to go 'foreign'


3- 1 - (Entire Code): Reject​
SUBMITTER:​
Dann Strube, Lanesville, IN

COMMENT ON PROPOSAL NO:​
3-1

RECOMMENDATION:​
The proposal should have been accepted
in principle as follows:
Leave the terms fixture, lighting fixture, etc. as they are and add
(luminaire) after those terms.

SUBSTANTIATION:​
The term luminaire is not in general use in
the United States; therefore, its use is not in keeping with efforts to
insure that the code is user friendly.
At the August meeting of the Kentucky Chapter IAEI meeting, I
ran a quick poll (show of hands) of the 150 to 200-person
audience. None said they spoke French. Very few said they knew
the term luminaire. None said they felt the contractors,
electricians, builders or owners in their area would understand the
term. None said they like the change. Almost 100% said the
change was nonsense. This alone is an indication that some efforts
to make the NEC look international are not productive and only
make the code less friendly.
The claim that "fixture" could be confused with a toilet is
nonsense. Anyone foolish enough to make that assumption should
not be reading the "electrical code."
The claim that failure to change the term is a problem for the
manufacturers is also nonsense. If they want to market overseas,
they can mark their products and cartons any way they want.
Point 8 in the substantiation is also defective. This item cites a
FPN and FPN definition in Article 410. In fact, the international
definition found in this FPN does not match the definition
accepted by CMP 1 at Proposal 1-165.
The United States of America is the largest user of the NEC. As
such the terms in use in our own country should be the terms of
first choice in the document. The code panels have dedicated
untold man-hours trying to improve the code. Do not destroy their

hard work in an effort to make the document appear as if it is
intended for the world at large. If the NEC is to be international, it
should be marketed in English and French as the IEC documents
are now marketed.​
PANEL ACTION:​
Reject.

PANEL STATEMENT:​
The proposal was accepted in response to
an action on definitions within Article 100 by Panel 1 and by the
action of a proposal by Code-Making Panel 18 to change the term
"fixture" to "luminaire."
The Technical Correlating Committee has directed that the term
"luminaire" be accepted but be followed by the existing term in
parenthesis. This action is intended to provide consistency
throughout the code.

NUMBER OF PANEL MEMBERS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE:​
11

VOTE ON PANEL ACTION:​
AFFIRMATIVE: 11
 
The NEC has many terms that are not "mainstream" USA, just as other technical tomes do not.

One of the earliest and probably the most recognizable is the term "AMPACITY". You will not find this term in standard dictionaries. I even looked it up in a scientific dictionary I have and it is not defined there either.



The word ampacity is formed from two other words:

Amperes
Amp-
Capacity
-acity
 
You might want to take a prep class. I took th JW test in July 2008 and spent months preparing for it and it still was the most difficult test I've ever taken. The samples make it look easy. I too am from Ohio with 30+ years in the trade and have had licenses in several states. I'm wondering how tough the update will be.
 
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