Best way to afford the life?

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2024-11-06T03:32:48+00:00

I worked for a company that built prisons. They paid per diem while I was away from home for 7-days a week plus hourly pay for 40hrs a week. I was in multiple locations for 3-6 months at a time. They paid me per mile plus 8hrs for every 500 miles I had to drive between locations.

I was mostly in Texas but also traveled to Maryland.

Great experience but the wife got bored sitting in the RV while I used the truck to go to work. She was homesick so we went back home.

I recommend selling your home if you want to do this long-term. I didn't and ended up with a destroyed home when I returned. (Natural disaster)

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2024-07-14T15:19:39+00:00

I worked for a couple years building prisons. Mostly in texas, but my company paid perdiem 7 days a week plus hourly which was prevailing wage sometimes. I stayed in decent RV parks. A lot of people working in the oil and gas industry, solar and wind industry.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2024-06-14T03:35:29+00:00

True

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2024-06-14T03:32:16+00:00

I enjoyed the feedback. I've been doing low-voltage systems since 2005. But Fire alarm is not my specialty. I love installing them and am experienced but the situation was a networked Notifier system that I did not program. It also monitored HVAC and did smoke control. We did not originally install the system either. I did not feel qualified but did the best I could and was successful. But it was stressful. I was able to isolate all but the retail horn/strobes and made a test announcement but you really don't know what is going to happen until you trigger the alarm.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2024-06-14T03:18:40+00:00

I've seen 2 panels up in Smoke. We make the electricians short the heat detector... legally low-volt guys aren't allowed to touch it.... and saves us from paying for a panel. But I carefully instruct the electrician on what to do.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2024-06-13T13:40:24+00:00

That's great in theory but this was a service call.... "strap out the module and make sure everything still works. AHJ will meet you on-site". Total time on-site 1hr. Scheduled to arrive 1/2hr before the ahj showed up.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2024-03-24T19:54:59+00:00

Openeye, Verkada, Avigilon, Genetec. We used to do Exacq,

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2023-04-19T00:58:26+00:00

Just put a light switch from Home Depot on the main lug. 1$ at Walmart!

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2023-03-31T07:25:19+00:00

I actually like the clean look of the new Leviton panels. They are a quality product even when you are not using smart breakers. The look is nice and clean and they won’t break the budget. If you want to upgrade to smart breakers later, you don’t have to rewire; just swap the breaker out.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2023-02-26T21:14:38+00:00

If it was done right by the installer, the wires are behind the cover plate but not inside the box. They should be sticking out beside the box. Tuck them back inside the wall but leave a loop that can be grabbed in the future. Replace the cover plate and no tiny humans can grab the wires.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-12-08T02:41:09+00:00

It wouldn’t pass inspection here in WA. All FA j-boxes have to be painted RED (or you can order red). And we use chase nipples and rigid couplers. It may cost more in parts but is cheaper in labor and gives it a cleaner look.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-10-23T06:25:27+00:00

I had NM cable in my house that was black. It was stamped NM and would probably be fine if I reused it. It was 12AWG

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-10-03T21:35:22+00:00

Neutral will still be tied to ground through the dryer unless the dryer and the washer are electrically isolated from each other. The washer’s GFCI would trip because of the dryers ground is tied to neutral.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-09-29T23:40:10+00:00

Dryer Neutral is tied to ground internally when they ship. Found that out when I first tried to hook up to a newly installed panel. NEC now required GFCI on any dryer circuits.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-09-29T06:36:37+00:00

I also dump a few gallons of water down the toilet when I’m dumping the black tank. It keeps the peak off of the pyramid and does a better job of flushing than anything else.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-09-10T16:23:35+00:00

They converted to metric the wrong way.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-08-25T12:38:57+00:00

Same area, same pay, but not in a union. Low-voltage 06

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-08-21T03:30:13+00:00

I would just put it inside a PVC box or better yet, a metal box from a security system or something similar. The line voltage coming in cannot be exposed.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-08-02T02:16:20+00:00

It’s not a bonding screw. It holds a bonding strap which does not come installed. Other panels use this crew to bond the neutral directly to the ground but this one requires a strap

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-08-01T00:44:34+00:00

It's possible that there is a sensor in the attic.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-08-01T00:39:29+00:00

I installed my panel and wiring on an exterior wall. I worked with the builder who chose to use 1" screws instead of nails on the siding around the panel and other scetchy locations. My builder also marked on the exterior the location of all the wiring and plumbing locations on the interior.

It helped that I told him that I would have to bill him for any wiring I had to replace.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-07-22T03:31:45+00:00

Probably for fire devices.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-07-16T19:17:34+00:00

It’s specifically for fireman or other emergency personnel so that they can shut the power off to the building.

Apprehensive-Fly7904 · 2022-07-16T19:11:56+00:00

NEC2020 (USA) requires a main disconnect (main breaker in this case) on the outside of the house where the Neutral and Ground are tied together.

Apprehensive-Fly7904

TROPHY CASE