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!

Getting the exact measurement

A recent installation of 150 2-by-4 LED fixtures presented a challenge. The print specification was to mount the fixtures at 22 feet throughout the warehouse. After some thought and a purchase of a laser measurement device, we mounted the measurement device on the elevated lift platform to read the bottom of the fixture. The fixture rests on one piece of cardboard to prevent scratches. Now, using the platform and with the measurement device constantly updating, we were able to get 22 feet exactly throughout the entire warehouse, since the truss would pitch over the width of the facility. When it was done, it gave the illusion of a flat roof and ceiling.

Bernie Beilmann
Madison Heights, Mich.

Keep it under your hard hat

For those of us who don’t have all of the conduit bending formulas memorized—or when you just need a quick accuracy check—here is a great way to keep these formulas handy when on the job. Simply write them (bender take-up, distance between bends, offset formulas, etc.) on the inside of the plastic shell of your hard hat with a permanent marker. Write neatly and large enough so they are easy to read with a quick glance. This simple strategy eliminates the need for searching electronically or in print guides for this information when in the middle of a job.

John Hemmings
Charleston, W.V.

Idea Igniter

It’s Thanksgiving, and the holiday season has started! By now you are probably hearing holiday music everywhere. (Whether you like it or not, it’s unavoidable.) In true holiday spirit, this month we are requesting ideas for the best ways to thank your customers and the best ways an employer or customer has thanked you.

Anton and Jesse Mikec

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 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.

PRIZES FOR WINNING IDEAS!

Each published author in Ideas That Work receives a $50 American Express gift card from ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. In addition, each month’s FIRST PLACE winner will receive a $100 gift certificate from Zoro, to be used at www.zoro.com.

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.