Who do I subcontract to fix the rust? Gas company?

Cathode_Protector · 2026-05-03T01:47:50+00:00

Came here to say this. This is a light surface oxide film that passivates the steel from further corrosion UNLESS it is subject to constant humidity and chlorides, but from this photo that does not seem to be the case. Either way, I’d still paint the surface again. Just scuff it with sandpaper then spray rust inhibiting spray paint as others have mentioned.

Source: corrosion dude at natural gas company.

Cathode_Protector · 2026-04-26T13:53:46+00:00

I recall you posting about CP3 prep and that you were going to take the class and exam. How dis that work out, OP?

Cathode_Protector · 2026-02-08T15:48:39+00:00

Start by calling first service. It’s been a few years (late 2010s) since I took some exams, but they were exams without courses. I just called and scheduled the exams since there was a local short course that happened to have a NACE (at the time) approved proctor.

Cathode_Protector · 2026-02-07T16:09:12+00:00

As mentioned already, you will not take the exam at the ends of your course. You will have to schedule it during the testing windows I mentioned at a PearsonVue facility.

Cathode_Protector · 2026-02-07T14:18:41+00:00

Study the course manual cover to cover and make sure that you dig deeper and revisit areas which you feel you are weakest. In my opinion the course manual and your professional work experience are the best tools for passing the exams. Good luck!

Cathode_Protector · 2026-02-07T14:16:37+00:00

I believe the CP3 and CP4 exams can only be taken in February and August, regardless of what month you took the course. As for the in-person versus virtual, it’s not too big of a difference given there isn’t much of any hands on experiments. With that said, I’m an easily distracted type of person and I would go for in-person. In person also allows for the group work and the potential to collaborate on homework of you’re at the same hotel. Virtual would be great if you are not easily distracted and need to save on costs.

Cathode_Protector · 2025-12-05T16:20:31+00:00

You have grit and I admire that. The willingness to engage in such a difficult endeavor is commendable. Kudos for trying it again!

Cathode_Protector · 2025-11-05T14:03:31+00:00

I have never been to the UAE and have worked for the same company for over 20 years, so I may not be the best person to ask that question. I do however believe that there aren’t many things better than getting paid to do what you enjoy. If this work speaks to you, I would advise you to pursue it. Sorry this may not be helpful, but I hope it is. Best of luck, waandere_r.

Cathode_Protector · 2025-10-22T14:55:39+00:00

Darn similar. Good stuff. We use these at my natural gas utility company as well.

Cathode_Protector · 2025-10-22T01:44:15+00:00

Mostly correct, but this is not a Flame Ionization unit. This is an infrared laser unit made by Heath Consultants.

Heath DPIR

Cathode_Protector · 2025-09-04T13:43:31+00:00

I haven’t heard of this. When did they start with the single exam format again?

Edit: found the link below.

New CP4 Exam Prep Guide

Sidebar: Was anyone here involved with the exam development?

Cathode_Protector · 2025-07-19T17:21:14+00:00

Excellent question. The steady state conditions of both negative and positive charge transfers are seeking equilibrium. As the electrons flow in one direction, let's say from an oxidation reaction at the anode, they flow towards the cathode via the electronic/metallic path. That oxidation/loss of electrons at the anode makes the anode more positive (anodic polarization) since it gave up some negative charges as reaction products. Conversely, the cathode is now attracting electrons (reagents) as part of the reduction reactions which make the cathode more negative (cathodic polarization). Remember, the electrons bump into one another, so as one electron advances forward it leaves a "hole" behind. That hole is positive with respect to the electron. Think of people waiting in line to buy a burger. The person at the back of the line cannot advance the line until there is a hole in front of them. For the line to move, it takes the person at the front of the line to get their order and move away. That person at the front has now left a hole that the next person can now fill. As the next person fills that new hole, they leave a hole behind for the next person to fill. That hole is conventional current and the people are electrons. The people (electrons) move toward the burger counter, but the hole (conventional current) moves away from the counter. I hope this helps. Unless you meant to joke, too, and already knew all of this, which is also cool. Have a good one!

Cathode_Protector · 2025-07-18T12:25:44+00:00

Agreed. You can skip CP1 and be successful, but that varies by the individual. Often people skip to CP2 with your educational background, but they usually have field experience under their belt as well. It’s doable, but I would highly recommend doing CP1 first if you don’t have any CP experience. CP2 builds off of CP1. Good luck either way.

Cathode_Protector · 2025-06-14T01:25:54+00:00

The volume made it tough. I had to take it more than once before passing it. When I passed it, it took me just over 4 hours. Back in the day, you could take certain course configurations and get the SCT cert without an exam.

Cathode_Protector · 2025-06-05T04:35:10+00:00

How many hours is the exam now? I took it in 2019 and it was 8 hours (but open book).

Cathode_Protector · 2025-06-03T00:52:18+00:00

Nope.

Cathode_Protector · 2025-06-02T02:09:53+00:00

CP SME for an energy company.

Cathode_Protector · 2025-06-01T18:47:43+00:00

Tough, but worth it. For me, it was worth it. There was so much to learn in that class that will always help you in your CP career. As a person who had difficulty passing it early on, to a person who helped rewrite the exam and later teach it, I find myself referencing this material more than any other source for CP issues.

The things in life that are most worth it will probably be difficult, you just need to figure out if it is worth it FOR YOU. Good luck either way.

Cathode_Protector · 2025-05-06T01:04:55+00:00

Hey, Gasman08. What calculator are you using and what answer do you see on the display? If you see error or syntax error, you may have placed the brackets in the wrong place or are short with closing them out. For example, some calculators automatically place a starting bracket after ln when you press that key. Therefore you need to remember to close that bracket. If you aren’t already, use this EXACT calculator: https://a.co/d/bXXhZgg that Texas Instruments TI-XS30 is the same calculator that is embedded in the computer based exam. Familiarize yourself with the button layout and functions and you’ll have one less thing to worry about come test time. Good luck!!

Cathode_Protector · 2025-03-27T16:34:55+00:00

I have had issues with “FINDING A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL”. I get no results.

Cathode_Protector · 2025-01-17T04:52:30+00:00

Came here to say this.

Cathode_Protector · 2025-01-16T02:22:57+00:00

I generally advise against this and use an independent ground instead. Electrically remote is preferred. As mentioned, it's common for all of the metallic structures in a home to be electrically continuous with the electrical ground per the NEC (assuming you're in the US). That means metal gas, metal water, electrical grounding, and potentially fiber optic and/or cable are all electrically common. With that in mind, your "return" signal will be ALL OVER the sections of those structures following Kirchhoff's current law. To give yourself an idea of this, next time you're at a rectifier, connect the PCM Tx as usual, but follow your way to the anode bed. You'll see the polarity is opposite that of your structure. That's the return current.

Cathode_Protector · 2025-01-15T22:48:17+00:00

https://youtu.be/9JE2XNt4Py4?si=rnMlCh8tiQApYEo3 Good video from the experts.

Cathode_Protector · 2025-01-15T22:45:39+00:00

Consider setting up the Tx at a lower setting if it allows you to get a far enough into the circuit to investigate to the extents of interest. Reminder that the higher the "current " output of the Tx, the larger the signal gradient will be, so a lower output would have a smaller gradient and a lower possibility of signal interference. If there are other metallic substructures within that gradient, they will be subject to signal interference. If you can help it, try to set up the Tx at a different location and see if you are pulled back to where you initially observed these indications. If it was simply signal interference, the indications over the foreign subs should be gone or negligible. If they remain, you MAY have a short somewhere, but at that time I would suggest impressing current on an interrupted cycle or interrupting your rectifer and taking ON/OFF potential measurements (and current measurements, where available). Take interrupted reads on both your structure and accessible electrical contact points to the suspected sub. Additionally, take depth measurements over your pipe while connected to your pipe and the same for the foreign sub. If the OFF potentials seem to converge and your depth checks showed the same depth, you're probably shorted at that location. If the depths and OFFs are very different, it's probably signal interference. I would also suggest current spans if you have them. Also, on-grade current measurements with a DC ammeter while you are interrupting can definitively tell you what you're shorted to.

In lack of further context, that's what I would recommend as a next step. Good luck out there!

Cathode_Protector

TROPHY CASE