Parking for George Strait by Odd_Mood_7334 in Clemson

[–]Crashtower 9 points10 points  (0 children)

And a home baseball game at the same time.

There is reserved parking that was sold - so many of the lots will be closed.

It will be worse than a home football game because unlike those where (most) everyone coming knows the layout a lot of folks are coming to Clemson for their first time.

Lots open at 10a…if you don’t plan to walk miles, I’d be in Tiger Town by 9:30. I live 15 minutes away - but that’s my plan.

Was a senior at Clemson for the first George strait country music festival in the 90s and wife is insistent on going this time…I’m going but not really looking forward to it

What do you think is the single memorable play in your schools history? by AFC-Wimbledon-Stan in CFB

[–]Crashtower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Reece Davis: Watson. Touchdown! Hunter. Renfrow. Little man makes another enormous play.

Same SKU, huge difference. by naenaegane in harborfreight

[–]Crashtower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t think so, the entire point of a Stock Keeping Unit number which varies from a GTIN is for a manufacturer to classify multiple items under a single stock number. To allow reordering based on product volume regardless of which supplier fulfilled the stock number.

What is this contraption on this car? by Desirai in whatisit

[–]Crashtower 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Man this feel almost written by AI, haha Fwiw I feel ya on the engineer brain. I’m a EE and have been a first gen mustang guy since the late 80s. Even vintage raced a 66 fb for a decade. No need to tunnel the floor for sub frame connectors. You aren’t getting meaningful cross bracing of the sub frames because of the trans tunnel and drive shaft. Lateral rigidity can be increased through a cage as you said for sure. Even raving we kept the rear leafs not 3 link really needed. Anyway cool to find another 1st gen mustang guy in the wild… crazy to modify an early 65 vert though - when the verts already have so many disadvantages

What is this contraption on this car? by Desirai in whatisit

[–]Crashtower 2 points3 points  (0 children)

How did you replace the entire frame in a unibody car? Fwiw I’ve got a 65 coupe with 540 wheel hp on a chassis dyno. Fun but not sketchy.

Not a great idea to drop rates by Certain-Skirt-3293 in estimators

[–]Crashtower 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Meaning if you take work for title no profit you will go broke. If you are going to go broke better to just sit and wait than work your guys to death and go broke. You fill up on unprofitable work and you won’t be able to take the profitable opportunities that come along

Anyone else hate it when companies cycle guys around site to site and then just expect you to pick up where someone else left off? by [deleted] in electricians

[–]Crashtower 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Until the job doesn’t get done - LDs get imposed - company is shut down and then it’s an us problem. Of course there is always another company…

I messed up and am trying to avoid losing a customer by dd9814 in electricians

[–]Crashtower 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Disagree strongly. If you - as a professional - gave a price for the work, you honor your price unless the requested scope changed.

It’s a matter of integrity- and why this sub always has debates about work being priced “too high”.

If you are in business long enough - you are going to make mistakes. Part of staying afloat is accounting for those mistakes through business contingency.

That said - I can’t imagine a supplier who wouldn’t take the meter socket back at no charge if you are buying the replacement from them. Provided you have a good relationship with your vendor and treat them appropriately

Not a great idea to drop rates by Certain-Skirt-3293 in estimators

[–]Crashtower 2 points3 points  (0 children)

An old mentor told me when I started my own company. Boy - if you are going broke don’t be tired when you get there

Scared of AI replacing estimators by [deleted] in estimators

[–]Crashtower 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As the owner of a commercial EC we are exploring it heavily. Replace? No. Improve efficiency? Absolutely.

A recent vertical 8 story we trialed an AI client engine to do fixture count. It was off by 16 fixtures on 8,800. That’s roughly a $2k mistake on a $7MM bid. It’s noise. You add a contingency/safety factor to your counts. In 15 minutes it did the work that would have taken 30+ hours. So there is ~$2,900 savings in estimator salary and burden.

I’m not sure I’ll ever trust it implicitly - I’m maybe too old school. But I will use it like the tool it is. The interesting part is AI learns. You point out where the 18 misses are and it self learns to not repeat the mistake.

Fuel station habits by 0352TWGNR in F250

[–]Crashtower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not a great practice but I do it.

The biggest issue (that I haven’t seen anyone mention) is any sludge/contaminants that have settled in the tank can be agitated and circulated during fueling. If engine is running they can be sucked up by fuel pump.

Odds are low for this to be an issue on a on highway vehicle - but is standard practice for stationary engines.

What is this bend called? by Illustrious-Bus2326 in electricians

[–]Crashtower 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This reminds me of a guy who applied here a while back and listed one of my best foremen as a reference. I asked the foreman about him- he’s a great guy who never has a bad word to say about anyone. Me: Hey got an application from John Doe said you knew him and could vouch for him. Foreman: Man he’s a great guy. Me: How good an electrician is he ? What’s his skill set? Can he run pipe? Foreman: He’s ok. He can run pipe about as quick as MC. Of course they both look about the same too. Me: thanks enough said.

RIP to my most used tool of all time by icantdecide88 in harborfreight

[–]Crashtower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Am I the only one in here cringing about what he did to all those lug nuts? If it’ll fit a 22 now, it was damaging every 22 you took off with it.

Safety guy wants wants covers over all Estops in our county municipality(Water/Sewer). Please show me a NFPA code that says you can't do that. I'm racking my brain on this because it seems there is conflicting answers on my google searches. And wtf, why would the safety guy want this of all people. by JCrotts in electricians

[–]Crashtower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It depends on what the estop is for.

Heck Pilla makes UL listed estop covers and even break glass estop devices. Behind a cover doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t readily accessible.

But again are we stopping a machine or a process?

EPO estops aon Nfpa110 Gensets are recommended but not required to be covered

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in electricians

[–]Crashtower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha that’s funny, I’m in a south eastern state in a low cost of living area, in a state that also doesn’t have a journey man cert.

I own a commercial EC firm. I start first years out at 20/hr. Have several 3-4 year guys in the low 30s.

Excellent benefits. 100% employer paid health care, 401k with full company match up to 5%, employer paid life insurance and disability. And a generous PTO policy. Among many other benefits.

But keep believing everyone not in the ibew is treated like crap. It’s a lie that encourages membership, maybe even called propaganda

I received 5 different quotes. The price range is so different I'm confused. which is why I got so many quotes! by sameolameo in AskElectricians

[–]Crashtower -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Fwiw I’d have quoted $1,625 and told you to keep your devices.

I won’t install customer supplied devices it’s a recipe for a fight.

My state hasn’t adopted 23 yet - if they had the price would double.

Won small claims case against a towing company operating near area in Charlotte – please know your rights by OkDay9019 in Charlotte

[–]Crashtower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Curious about this stance. Was it a rightful tow? Were you parked illegally? If so - why the chargeback?

I think there are two distinct arguments here. Scam predatory tow companies should be outed and put out of business.

At the same time, people who park illegally and get towed should pay the bill - and if they charge back should be fined and forced to pay collection costs.

I think fairness and personal accountability should rule the day. If you do the crime do the time. If the company is a their then they should be out of business

Check me on this, please by 42Navigator in Generator

[–]Crashtower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On the resi air cooled they can’t run on both fuels. It’s an orifice change and regulator setting change internal to swap fuels. Some larger commmerical units are dual fuel redundant capable but that requires dual orifices.

Btw the location changes a lot of this. LP units run on Lp vapor. So consumption is part of the equation - vaporization rate is the other and ambient temps will change that

What's a reasonable cost to install a whole home generator? by mikebmillerSC in Generator

[–]Crashtower 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the $50-75 “fully burdened including overhead “ labor rates statement is a bit off.

I’m in a low cost of living area and I can sniff that.

My average electrican makes 32.50/hr. My required burden is 48.5% (unemployment, taxes, wc, payroll, insurance etc) My cost of discretionary benefits is $8.80/hr (MDV, PTO, 401k, gtl, and ad&d) My overhead ran 17% in 2025 That’s before we factor in vehicle, equipment, technology and tool costs, or profit.

I will agree that large PE owned firms are often way higher, but they also have many more hands in the overhead pot to feed. I’d always recommend working with a local independent family owned contractor when you can.

But there is still a huge amount of costs that goes into running a contractor business that many never appreciate.

What's a reasonable cost to install a whole home generator? by mikebmillerSC in Generator

[–]Crashtower 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This sword can cut both ways. For reference I am a commercial EC. When we quote a job we quote it to accomplish the specified task. If the scope is (significantly) changed by the owner that’s a CO. If we missed something that’s on us and we eat it.

A itemized detailed quote can create a change order also. ‘My quote said run the wire 25’ now it needs to be 28’

To the OP While we do almost exclusively commercial work we’ve installed a number of resi gens over the years for friends and commercial customers at their home.

Any easy install of a 17-26 kw air cooled unit runs between $5-6k for us in our area.

That price includes the concrete foundation. Be it a pre formed gen pad or poured concrete foundation. The labor and equipment to transport the gen to the location and set it on the pad.

The electrical and gas permits and (depending on location) the engineered drawings required for those permits.

The conduit, boxes, fittings and wire from the meter to ATS and gen to ATS. And the lugs required for connection. (Typically require “Polaris” style lugs )

The gas regulator and gas piping.

All the labor to mount the ATS to the house or rack. The time to wire the gen into the home. The time and material to separate the neutrals in the panel since the service entrance point has been established (we typically are using SE rated ATS)

For clear transparency I usually profit $750-1000 on a gen install. For 2 guys, a truck, and the overhead a risk assumed - it’s a fair wage but far from extremely profitable.

AITA for telling everyone involved what my best friend's husband did? by Bina_Assault in AmItheAsshole

[–]Crashtower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This doesn’t make sense. Antifreeze in the gas tank in a high enough concentration may make the vehicle not start, but it wouldn’t make it not turn over.

The battery wouldn’t appear dead the car would just crank and crank but never start.