Replacing panels in dark basements

[ivsenroute]

I know what I use to do when I first became an electrician in the 80's and I know what I do now.

How do you provide lighting in dark basments when you are changing a main panel in a dark basement with no or very little natural light after power is removed to start work??

This should be interesting.

 

[nyerinfl]

Small generator, battery powered work lights?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Okay I pop the meter and hot wire a receptacle to the meter base-- no ocp -- I know shoot me. I do use a GFCI

 

[SEO]

I've made up a cord with alligator clips with an in line fuse and a receptacle on the end. Clip to line side of meter.

 

[iwire]

I have a dewalt compact fluorescent work light, it is more then enough for a simple panel change. I have a small inverter in the truck that I can run three battery chargers with so I can use my cordless tools as much as I want.

I am not above just asking the next door neighbor if I can plug in.

Back in the 80s we would usually put a 15 or 20 amp Edison base fuse in a temporary lamp socket and tap the service conductors with it.

 

[brian john]

While we do not do service changes we do need temporary power. A 1900 box with utility cover fuse holder and duplex outlet and 5' SO with alligator clips.

 

[MF Dagger]

Wire nut a temp outlet to the poco drop.

 

[jaylectricity]

I have one of those Ryobi 18V flashlights that works well, but if it's going to be really dark and I'm doing something like a panel change I also have an extension cord with 3 receptacles on the female end and alligator type clips instead of the male plug on the other end. I clip those onto the meter.

Then I plug in either a plasterer's lamp or the halogen lamp I have. If I need a battery charged I have room for that.

And of course I can't live without my radio.

 

[celtic]

My DeWalt of course:

DW906

...and if that fails ~ I had previously gotten the "OK" from a neighbor to use their power and ran a cord out

I frown on the alligator clips after an "incident" occurred while we were doing a fire repair job....yea, we started another fire

 

[jaylectricity]

I frown on the alligator clips after an "incident" occurred while we were doing a fire repair job....yea, we started another fire

Really? How did it happen?

 

[iwire]

I like this one, 6 to 8 hours on a charge and much better light to work with.

 

[celtic]

Really? How did it happen?

The first or the second fire ?

 

[iwire]

The first or the second fire ?

Wow, LMAO.

 

[celtic]

I like this one, 6 to 8 hours on a charge and much better light to work with.

No doubt


How about this puppy:

DC022

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Features:
[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Cordless/corded 38W Fluorescent worklight runs on 12-18V DEWALT batteries or AC power and provides area lighting without the extreme heat of halogen
[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]1 hour dual port battery charger charges (2) DEWALT 7.2-18V batteries in one hour or less
[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica](3) GFCI protected power outlets offers more versatility for jobsite power
[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Spring loaded battery hold down keeps batteries in place when transporting from place to place
[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Compact design provides quick and easy fold-up, transport and storage[/FONT]

 

[celtic]

It's all about being honest

It's all about being honest

Wow, LMAO.

LOL

Well...we gotta be honest...right :wink:

 

[iwire]

How about this puppy:

I have seen it and it looks good but I do not own one. :smile:

 

[jaylectricity]

The first or the second fire ?

Heh...well, I meant the one that started as a result of the clips.

And if that is still your response, I guess I'll choose the second one.

 

[celtic]

I have seen it and it looks good but I do not own one. :smile:

...yet? :wink:

It's about $100.

I think I need one

 

[ivsenroute]

I am one of the alligator clip users.

Just wanted to see who else was honest.

 

[celtic]

Heh...well, I meant the one that started as a result of the clips.

And if that is still your response, I guess I'll choose the second one.

The first fire was caused by an electrical failure in an exhaust/whole house fan or something :-? ....we had nothing to do with it

The second fire...well, that was all us....:roll:

It was a nice steamy August day....clipped the power at the POA, clipped Mr. Ally Gator on with a cord attached. Shoved the end to the man in the basement and proceeded to "git 'r dun".
Later in the afternoon, CHUD starts screaming ... there is smoke billowing out the basement casement window....the grass is on fire....the cord is on fire...WTFD????

CHUD had but one 60w lamp on and nothing else.

Why this fire started....not really sure....maybe the cord laying on aluminum siding on the sunny side in August.

Now the house once again stank like fire...the HO's were not too happy about the smell ~ but at least the FD didn't have to come back.
I don't think we'll be getting very many referrals from this one.
LMAO