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!
Easy reach
When pushing wire in overhead runs with multiple junction boxes, everyone knows that the end of the wire may get hung up and stuck in the box. One solution is to get a piece of ½-in. EMT conduit with a ceiling hanger wire run through it and a hook bent on the end. With this, you can reach up and hook the wire with the ceiling wire to pull it free.
Dean Michos
Fairview Park, Ohio
Pushing with ease
When pushing wire through a ½-in. flex socket, twist a tan/yellow wire nut on the end. It allows for a snag-free wire push, and it works well for low-voltage.
Mark Wisneski
Cloquet, Minn.
Labeling and dividing
It’s always frustrating looking for the right “tap” and machine screw in dimly lit areas. To speed things up, I write the size tap on a piece of jacket from Type NM cable, making it easy to find in my toolbox. Finding machine screw sizes can also be a problem. I cut cardboard to fit the dividers and label the tray in my fastener bucket. The cardboard also prevents the screws from migrating into the adjoining dividers.
John Meyers
Whitehall, Pa.
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 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.
