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!
Taking (remote) control
I’ve been in many commercial buildings and office spaces with dropped ceilings. Pulling communications wire or other wires through a long span is a repetitive process, removing every fourth tile or so. To help, we’ve taken radio-controlled (RC) trucks with tires big enough to go over the channel, hooked the wire to them and driven them to the other end. This was surprisingly easy, and nowadays, some RC trucks actually have built-in cameras.
Dale Winland
New Cumberland, W.V.
Pulling through
When you need to stub out some Type NM cable tails before the rockers come in, and you are between framing with nothing to staple it to, find a scrap of Type NM cable long enough to reach between two framing members. Staple it across, and use your knife to put a slit in it right where you need the stub out. Pull the stub through. This works in undercabs and for pendant or fluorescent luminaires that will be cut in later.
Justin Walecka
Fall River, Mass.
Cutting with glass
I was on a large remodel job that involved cutting in a couple hundred old work boxes. After cutting the first few in, I decided to make a template out of Plexiglass. This saved me the time of getting out the tape measure and level for each one. All I had to do was hold the template against the wall and cut within the lines.
Jay Zimnicky
York, 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 (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.
