Today I Learned...

[soundman98]

I brushed over a lot of details, somewhat intentionally, don't need anyone following me online...

Its a gray area that really comes down to the inspectors individual interpretation of code wording. Technically, the location was within line of sight, so it met the bare minimum, but there's a strong argument that could be made that while it's accessible, it's not readily accessible in case of emergency. Which is why I can do it instead of flat out telling him I can't. He originally wanted it on the house another 50' further away obscured in the bushes, which I told him could never happen.

A union inspector would tag it because we're a non-union company. But an easy going inspector would see the interpretation and let it go. It's walking a very thin line that while technically correct, it's not normally a line we would take, because we'd rather plan for the most obtuse inspector and not have to deal with getting our work red-tagged, fixed, and reinspected.

But then jumping between 2 states with drastically different inspection measures(indiana is a singular statewide code with county-wide inspectors, Illinois is individual town/inspector base,and every one of them is differentd), we tend to do stuff a lot more overkill to satisfy some of the more unique inspectors requirements we deal with.

[soundman98]

here's a fun one.

ever need a singular device that entirely eliminates the effects of EMP bursts, sun flares, and electrical surges?

this device does it all, for only $400. oh, and they make one for houses and cars!
https://www.empshield.com/


don't worry, it's military-spec tested, so it HAS to be good!

[2020BRZtS]

Originally Posted by soundman98

today i and the carpenter on the job both learned that we were working for the god of all customers. he knew carpentry better than the carpenter, kept telling him how to build a deck(despite not having anything more than basic tools everywhere), and his 10 minute google searching meant that he knew more about electrical than i've ever known in my 10+ years of doing it.

he was adding a hot tub, with a full deck, and landscaping, after he already did a full in-ground pool setup. so he's literally funneled money into his backyard...

every hot tub needs an electrical disconnect "within sight of the hot tub" per electrical code.

despite every issue i raised, he kept insisting that it had to be around a corner, below the deck, and demanding that it be placed underneath the deck that was going to have a full skirting put over the top... spent most of the morning talking with him about this, trying to get him to agree to move it to somewhere that would best meet code where it was actually within sight instead of tucked away under a deck which serves the opposite of the purpose.

and finally he just shouts "there's only one way to decipher the code, it's fine here, it's going here, and if this doesn't work, i'm calling this entire project off, no more electrical work, no more deck, no more landscaping!"......

so i shrugged, called the boss, who told me to let this amazing person know that we'll put it wherever he wants, but we're not going to be liable, or eat the cost, if the inspector doesn't agree with his reasoning or location...

i'm still reeling a little from the experience. it reminded me of the entitled only-child up the block i grew up at that didn't have any friends on the block for a good reason...

but on the up side, now i know who i need to call when i don't 'understand' electrical code!

Long time lurker... infrequent caller... love the flair.

Why does any of this surprise you? You've contributed to the majority of the threads on this forum and 90% is questions asked and answered by the OP with a few knowledgable tid bits in the middle. It's no different IRL.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by 2020BRZtS

Long time lurker... infrequent caller... love the flair.

Why does any of this surprise you? You've contributed to the majority of the threads on this forum and 90% is questions asked and answered by the OP with a few knowledgable tid bits in the middle. It's no different IRL.

you're right. it shouldn't.

but there is a dramatic difference between reality and keyboard warriors. i talk way more through a keyboard than i do in reality!

i guess it's easier to picture all of those posts as young idiots who don't know any better

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by soundman98

here's a fun one.

ever need a singular device that entirely eliminates the effects of EMP bursts, sun flares, and electrical surges?

this device does it all, for only $400. oh, and they make one for houses and cars!
https://www.empshield.com/


don't worry, it's military-spec tested, so it HAS to be good!

Lol you know it's garbage when the site lists a bunch of possibly made up awards before it tells you about the actual product.

ROFL at citing the mil-stds (which describe how to test things iirc). "I took a calculus test" isn't the same as saying "I am proficient in calculus".

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by 2020BRZtS

Long time lurker... infrequent caller... love the flair.

Why does any of this surprise you? You've contributed to the majority of the threads on this forum and 90% is questions asked and answered by the OP with a few knowledgable tid bits in the middle. It's no different IRL.

My car won't start. all the lights work but nothing else.

Did you check the battery?

Lights are on so not battery.

Check the battery.

Tried boosting it with some old cables I found at the bottom of a lake. Nothing.

Check the battery.

Replaced the starter still nothing.

Check the battery.

Replaced all the fuses still nothing.

Check the battery.

Replaced the alternator still nothing.

Check the battery.

Buddy says wiring so replaced the wiring harness. Nothing.

Check the battery.

You guys are no help at all it still won't start.

Check the battery.

Just in case it happens to somebody else it turns out my trunk lid was open and the battery was drained.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

My car won't start. all the lights work but nothing else.

Did you check the battery?....

Speaking of checking the battery....

TIL that you should always check the battery first...

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Speaking of checking the battery....

TIL that you should always check the battery first...

And
Even though online a search of "hood" would probably have got it open well under the hour so that it took them.

Took me exactly 28 seconds (not including the 45 seconds search and download time to get the manual). I appreciate that I am sitting safely in an office not stuck in traffic but he KNEW he wanted that hood open right from the start.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Took me exactly 28 seconds (not including the 45 seconds search and download time to get the manual). I appreciate that I am sitting safely in an office not stuck in traffic but he KNEW he wanted that hood open right from the start.

On the thread where this video first popped up on a different forum I did mention that, as well as it would help if GM had just used a standard "hood pop" pull instead of an unlabeled cable loop. Just another example of overcomplicating things just because its an EV.

[Tcoat]

TIL that a surprising number of people think my car is a Porsche. For the third time in a week I have heard it called such.
Guy at the gas pumps yelled over "nice Porsche" this morning.
Woman at the grocery store on Wednesday asked "what year is your Porsche".
The best was the three twenty something girls at the park on the weekend that stopped to discus and admire the "Porsche" parked on my site. The guy with them was very quick to show his expertise and correct them though. I was glad to learn that my car is not a Porsche but actually a really old, very valuable and highly sought after Saturn! All this went down with them standing staring at the Toyota emblem on the trunk lid.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

TIL that a surprising number of people think my car is a Porsche. For the third time in a week I have heard it called such.
Guy at the gas pumps yelled over "nice Porsche" this morning.
Woman at the grocery store on Wednesday asked "what year is your Porsche".
The best was the three twenty something girls at the park on the weekend that stopped to discus and admire the "Porsche" parked on my site. The guy with them was very quick to show his expertise and correct them though. I was glad to learn that my car is not a Porsche but actually a really old, very valuable and highly sought after Saturn! All this went down with them standing staring at the Toyota emblem on the trunk lid.

Should have just walked by and said "It's a Toyota" got in and left.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Should have just walked by and said "It's a Toyota" got in and left.

I was sitting on the deck and they couldn't see me. I just chuckled and let it be. Wouldn't have even thought of it again if not for the two other comments this week.

[Takumi788]

TIL there is a specific screw driver meant for wiring housing outlets and light switches called an ECX driver.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Takumi788

TIL there is a specific screw driver meant for wiring housing outlets and light switches called an ECX driver.

I just use a #1 Robby which fits just fine without slipping but that is cool.
Sort of redundant but cool.