Today's laugh--DIY

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tshea

tshea

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Wisconsin
Was in a popular store that carries electrical supplies. An older than me lady had a shopping cart with a meter base, 1-1/4" EMT, a 3 phase panel a couple of breakers, all loose, a coil of wire, and some other odds and ends. It looked like her son was putting the "stuff" in the cart.
I was wearing my company hat and she stopped me and asked if this is what her and her son needed to change out the "fuse thing." I said I didn't know, OH OH the hat, Somebody gave it to me."
My wife said I should have helped. I said no way. They are trying to save a few bucks by supplying their own material. There will be a hassle getting paid!
"DIYer to the rescue" Good name for a show!
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

The one I just did was only a 120v. service, is that 1/2 a phase? :D
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

Originally posted by physis: The one I just did was only a 120v. service, is that 1/2 a phase?
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You know better than that. 120V is single phase. From that, we can calculate that 240V is 2-phase, and I guess that means that 480V must be 4-phase. :D
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

Originally posted by charlie b:
Originally posted by physis: The one I just did was only a 120v. service, is that 1/2 a phase?
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You know better than that. 120V is single phase. From that, we can calculate that 240V is 2-phase, and I guess that means that 480V must be 4-phase. :)
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Re: Today's laugh--DIY

Sounds to me like she and her son were planning on changing out the "fuse thing" themselves. I can't imagine a legit EC allowing them to buy their own materials. I'd never agree to this kind of thing. Not that I'd be looking to make money on markup, but I just wouldn't trust them to buy all the right stuff. Even if I gave them a complete list, chances are the store wouldn't have everything, and then they'd wind up talking to one of the helpful experts at the store, who would then advise them to buy all sorts of wrong stuff after insisting that it was the right stuff.

The only things I install that I let customers buy are light fixtures and ceiling fans, and I'm starting to rethink my policy on that after some major hassles in that area recently.

Oh, and your wife was way off base. There's no way we should help anyone who clearly doesn't know what he's doing, especially if they are planning on working on their "fuse thing." Besides, it's really not in our interest to provide free advice to someone so they can avoid paying for our services.

[ December 01, 2005, 06:05 PM: Message edited by: jeff43222 ]
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

We all know the more voltage you add the more phases you get right!!! Makes sense don't it ???

Shea, you shoulda helped her. You could have dazzled her with brilliance or baffled her with bull.... But instead you're gonna let her son install this new service and probably toast himself. :D
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

Originally posted by goldstar:You need to get all these facts so we know how hard to laugh
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I actually feel more inclined to cry. Someone is, at the very least, going to be wasting money on buying unnecessary equipment. Even if they take the stuff back, the store is going to lose money for no good reason. I don't want to think about the worst possible outcome of their purchase.
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

My attitude is that I don't want to contribute to a worst possible outcome. The only help I'd be willing to give this woman and her son is this advice: "You should hire a licensed electrical contractor to change out your fuse box because if you do it yourself, there's a good chance you will get injured or killed."

[ December 01, 2005, 06:21 PM: Message edited by: jeff43222 ]
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

Originally posted by jeff43222:
there's a good chance you will get injured or killed."
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Another contender for the Darwin Award! I wish I knew whee they lived. I'd go and take pictures. People try to save money in the d@mdest ways. They have no concept of their limitations! Unfortunately, these stores that sell electrical supplies are out for a buck and they are "stealing" it from our pocket.
Sounds to me like she and her son were planning on changing out the "fuse thing" themselves. I can't imagine a legit EC allowing them to buy their own materials.
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Exactly what I suspected. Why should I give them any advice? IF they misunderstood I could be held liable! So it's better to keep quiet and not say anything. If they wanted to pay me, I would have gladly offered my advice...don't do this yourself. You are not qualified. I can tell by the materials you have!

[ December 01, 2005, 08:31 PM: Message edited by: tshea ]
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

It's terrible to see this type of thing and let's not forget the tools required to do this type of job. We see this almost every day in remodels where someone has made some installations that were scary. Made a repair the other day, where the customer said her new micro blew the breaker that controlled the dining room, kitchen and hall lights. Sad thing was the micro was installed professionally by the appliance store.

Hank
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

I'm curious about this "popular store" that carries 3-phase panels.

Oh well, the joke is on them when they try to install it. I have no sympathy.
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

Originally posted by peter d:
I'm curious about this "popular store" that carries 3-phase panels.

Oh well, the joke is on them when they try to install it. I have no sympathy.
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Both were my thoughts as well.

We are "mean spirited" as the dems like to say.
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

I agree with you Peter. Who in tarnation are these people selling 3 phase panels to?

I almost grabbed one a short while back and couldn't beleive they even had one there.

What they didn't have the last two times I was there was a 200 amp and a 125 amp.

Good thing they had the three phase though. :D
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

More DIY stuff. 3-way switch operates a light until you flip the handle, then "pops" the breaker! Power in is on the common, wire to light is on a traveler, and the bare ground is on the other traveler!
You mean I'm supposed to drill holes through the wood and run wire through there?
 
Re: Today's laugh--DIY

Doesn`t have to be electrical to make you laugh.I went on a call not to long ago kitchen gfci tripping breaker as well.
Sure enough went to reset gfci pop goes the weasel.I opened the device on that circuit to see if after or before the device was the problem,all the wires were mangled but there was as as pretty as a picture a new piece of rg 6 running right through the box.
I asked thr h/o`r was there any cable work added to which she said oh yeah 2 days ago I look on he other side of the wall and right below the recep was a cable box :D
 
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