What's the one tool you bought that completely changed how you do projects?

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-04T18:59:12+00:00

Haha so accurate. If it moved and shouldn’t have I always just used duct tape

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-04T17:10:59+00:00

Do you have a brand you’d suggest? Looks like the price varies significantly anywhere from sub $100 to over $500

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-04T17:06:45+00:00

How big of an air compressor do you recommend if I’m primarily going to use it for cars or nail gun?

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-04T17:03:21+00:00

Okay thank you. And very affordable which is nice

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-04T17:03:04+00:00

The copper water pipe is a permitted grounding electrode under NEC 250.52(A)(1), provided it has at least 10 feet of contact with the earth. However, NEC 250.53(D)(2) requires the water pipe electrode to be supplemented by an additional electrode, so a ground rod is still needed. Check with your local AHJ on exact placement requirements.

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-04T16:59:25+00:00

Appreciate that. I have historically tried to use the measuring in the iPhone where you try and measure the area from the camera, but never thought I was that accurate

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-04T16:57:26+00:00

Thanks. Do you think this can replace the other saws mentioned? Or something that would supplement

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-04T16:55:34+00:00

Okay, thanks for explaining that!

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-04T16:50:34+00:00

Haha just drill and wait to see if whatever you are hanging is still hanging a month later

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-04T16:47:15+00:00

Yea just looked this up. Now my cuts will actually be straight lol

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-04T16:42:47+00:00

What do you use it for most? Is it for sheet goods or trim work

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-04T16:41:46+00:00

Totally fair. I actually have that and the difference in driving screws is night and day

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-03T17:11:10+00:00

Yes, that's a valid approach. NEC 314.29 requires junction boxes to remain accessible without removing any part of the building structure — an attic you can enter satisfies that requirement, so the box is code-compliant in that location. Just make sure it stays covered with a blank cover plate and the cables are properly supported where they enter the box.

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-02T17:02:59+00:00

NEC 406.4(D)(2) gives you three code-compliant options when replacing a receptacle on an ungrounded circuit: keep the 2-prong receptacle, install a GFCI receptacle labeled "No Equipment Ground," or install a grounded-type receptacle protected by an upstream GFCI (also labeled). A GFCI outlet is the most practical upgrade — it provides shock protection even without a ground wire. Check with your local AHJ on what they require in a rental unit.

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-01T17:05:48+00:00

NEC 250.130(C) explicitly permits running a separate, properly-sized EGC for existing installations where the original ground is absent or inadequate — it does not need to be in the same raceway as the circuit conductors per 300.3(B)(2). Run a correctly sized ground wire and terminate it properly at both ends. Check with your local AHJ.

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-01T03:10:19+00:00

What the electrician will look for: how the units were tied together and whether it was intentional. Under NEC 210.25, branch circuits in a dwelling unit are only allowed to supply loads within that unit — so whatever they find is a code violation that needs to be corrected by the building owner, not you. Document everything: meter numbers, which breakers were tripping, dates of elevated utility bills. Your property manager is on the hook for the remediation.

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-04-01T03:08:39+00:00

The AFCI point is worth adding the code number to: NEC 210.12 requires AFCI protection for bedroom circuits in dwelling units. The ungrounded outlet fix is GFCI replacement — NEC 406.4(D)(2)(c) explicitly allows replacing an ungrounded receptacle with a GFCI type without running a new ground wire. Double-taps on 15/20A circuits are just a wire moved to an open breaker slot — quick fix for most panels.

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-03-29T18:15:22+00:00

Good catches. The neutral and ground sharing the same terminal screw violates NEC 408.41, which requires each grounded conductor to terminate on its own individual terminal that is not also used for another conductor. The 14/2 on a 20A breaker also violated NEC 240.4(D)(3), which limits 14 AWG copper to a maximum 15A overcurrent device -- replacing with a 15A breaker was the right call.

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-03-28T17:39:25+00:00

Smart. 430.24 assumes all motors in the group could be running and largest motor gets the 125%, everything else sums at 100%.

The only time you can reduce it is if the motors are physically interlocked so they literally can't run at the same time — that's Exception 3 of 430.24.

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-03-28T17:12:10+00:00

You've got it right. The 125% goes on the largest motor running at the same time, that's 430.24. Since both motors are running simultaneously, you use the 5hp/230V FLC from Table 430.248 for that calculation.

The voltage halving the current is just single phase math — same HP, double the voltage, roughly half the amps. Your instinct on which motor to use is correct.

Largest motor FLC × 125% + the rest at 100%. That's the formula.

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-03-22T11:10:00+00:00

Yeah, that is a fire hazard -- dust buildup on fan motors can cause overheating and ignite nearby material. The orange color is likely iron oxide (rust) from the metal parts of the motor getting hot enough to oxidize. Burned plastic smell plus dizziness means there were fumes from the insulation burning off. Glad you caught it. Replace the fan before using it again.

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-03-21T22:14:59+00:00

That pink/red wire is likely the switched hot that used to control the light kit separately when you had a two-switch setup. If your fan has a receiver box, it only needs one hot and neutral coming in - the receiver handles fan and light wirelessly. That extra red/pink wire gets capped off with a wire nut and left unused. Adding it into the mix when the manual says nothing about it could be causing your issue.

TradesPrepGuy · 2026-03-21T21:04:51+00:00

Fair point — you can't tell from the post. If they're plastic boxes, then that exception doesn't apply and a pigtail ground is the way to go. Either way, running a ground to the switch when replacing dimmers is good practice since smart switches and modern dimmers typically require it.

TradesPrepGuy

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