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.

For a note on "game-changing ideas" from the Ideas That Work editor, Anton Mikec, click here.

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

Cell phone usefulness

When we update our cell phones, we usually keep the old phones and chargers. Even though they are not activated, you can still dial 911 and get through for help. So we keep the phones in our job gang boxes, trucks, scissor lifts, etc., in case of emergencies. [Editor’s note: You can also use the phone cameras to document job site findings.]

Gary Hobbs
Van Buren, ARk.

Fishing finished walls

If you need to cut a hole when fishing walls with no access,  you can hide the hole with an HVAC return grill. If additional cables need to be installed in the future, just remove the grill and reinstall it, and no patching or painting are necessary.

James Robertson, Jr.
Fort Wayne, INd.

Marking breaker panel

When I get a service call to look for problems in an older house, I spend a lot of time trying to locate the right breaker. So I try to mark the breaker for my next visit. It is also a good idea to do this when installing a new breaker panel. This simple and cheap fix is worth your time. Just cut about a 2-in. piece of junk Romex wire, pull out the wires, and write a description on the jacket where the circuit breaker wire goes. Take the wire off the breaker, slip your label on the wire and reconnect it. It is a lot cheaper than buying labels, and it looks good. 

Herb Wipf
Scotland, S.D.

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.