Every month, we pick the top Ideas That Work submitted by you, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR readers. These ideas can't be found in any code or guidebook and are only learned or devised through years of experience and thinking, "There's got to be a better way to do this!" Please remember, the ideas presented in this article are for consideration only. Before using such ideas, make sure codes and safety standards have been fully adhered to.

Now, without further ado, here are this issue's Ideas That Work!

Cover lifter
When I install Quazite boxes in the ground, I also install a large nylon cable tie to the hook slot. These slots always fill up with dirt and debris, which has to be dug out to get to the hook slot. The cable tie saves time and effort to open the cover. Also, you can roll the cable tie flat so it stays with its cover for later use.

Andy Folgmann
Canton, Mich.

Heavy ballast replacement trick
Hard-to-start pole light ballast screws are frustrating, and, when the ballasts are overhead, they can wear you out during replacement. Any time I install or reballast an HID lamp where the ballast mounts overhead, I don’t use the screws that come with the new ballast or are already in the new fixture head. Instead, I take the screws out, cut sections of threaded rod to the appropriate length, taper the ends that face downward, and screw the rod into the housing’s mounting holes to make locating pins. Then, I push the ballast up over the pins, secure it with lock-flange nuts to fit the threaded rod and install the nuts with a hollow-shank nut driver.

Catherine Nazarene
Mount Airy, Md.

Old work can light remover
Removing old recessed cans is tough. To make it easier, I use a piece of No. 6 solid copper wire about 18 in. long and fashion a bend to make a hook about ½ in. long. On the other end, I make a bend to create a 5 in. hook for a handle. Then I use the ½-in. hook on the recessed can to pull down and away on the clip, and it pops right out.

Donnie Howlett
Virginia Beach, Va.

IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA that has saved you time or money on the job, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR ­readers would like to hear about it. Be sure to include a good photo of your idea—hand sketches are often hard to interpret. Note that some similar ideas are submitted by more than one person. In these cases, the one that is more clearly written and includes a photo is given precedence. Send your letter and photo to Jack Pullizzi, Ideas Editor, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR, 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1100, Bethesda, MD 20814-5372, e-mail [email protected], or use the online submission tool at www.ecmag.com/ideasthatwork.

CASH AND TOOL PRIZES FOR WINNING IDEAS Each published author in Ideas That Work receives a $50 American Express gift card from ELECTRICAL ­CONTRACTOR. In addition, Southwire (www.southwiretools.com) will send the following set of electrician’s tools to each month’s first-place winner:

• Cable cutter
• Fish tape
• Long nose pliers
• Side cutting pliers
• Diagonal cutting pliers
• Pump pliers
• Screwdriver
• Wire stripper
• Crimpers
• Multimeter

DISCLAIMER: The ideas presented in this article are for consideration only. Before using such ideas, make sure codes and safety issues have been fully adhered to. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR disclaims any liability from your use of these or any other ideas. ­ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR reserves the right to reprint the words herein at its discretion.