As someone who spent 2 years learning to be an electrician, I can safely say, DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE A PROJECT. While it may seem simple, such as replacing a ceiling light or replacing a switch, there is a lot that can go wrong and electricity does not forgive mistakes or shortcuts.
Ummm. I don't think I've ever had anything good as smooth or as fast as I thought or hoped...lol. that's why I try to live by "slow is smooth. Smooth is fast"
You should be sued for all your commits... # Reason, you yourself admitted. With 2 years experience.. First of all it takes 2 years just to be come a qualified apprentice. And 4 years, to become a Qualified Journeyman Electrician... My suggestion, to keep yourself from being sued. GET QUALIFIED. IN THE TRADE....
@@larrylynn5047 i thought the same as you then i thought. i'm not so sure that he said he was a electrician. he said learning to to be a electrician. when i was a 2nd year apprentice i was also learning to be a electrician at that time.
When I watch these videos and read some of the various comments, I see a sense of competition that more than likely comes from a sense of insecurity. I'm a retired electrician of 35 years with 5 years of formal electrical schooling and I know that there was so much more that I could have learned had I continued my journey. I enjoyed the experiences I had the honor of having and took every opportunity to encourage the younger individuals coming into the trade because electricians will always be needed.
Sorry: Not here about DIY mistakes. I came for what is in the title. These are not "electrician" mistakes. Any "electrician" making these mistakes needs his license revoked.
Indeed. They compiled mistakes no electrician makes just to be able to connect it to a fire hazard or a fatal shock. The most common mistakes the less than average electrician makes usually relates to aesthetics or accessibility for future jobs. Not one electrician on any of my jobs have caused a fire or a serious shock wiring houses.
and this title says electricians, when it talks specifically more about DIYers. I guess if they titled it properly, it wouldnt have gotten as many clicks.
The wire is short is the issue and code violation, but the caused of fire is loose connections, long wire or short wire if the connections is not tight , will cause the arcing and cause the wire, please correct what you are saying!!!! , I am electrician for 35 years and has ran into lot of these issues.
Push in connectors are a fire hazard waiting to happen. I'm a licensed electrician, and I've seen more than one house fire due to push in connectors (Wego's).
Correct. Except Wago connections are the ones with levers, not just push in. The push in connectors are the lowest form of UL listed connectors, and it is a shame that they are listed. Wago connectors are only slightly better. Removing the direct connection of one wire to the other, involving dissimilar metals, springs that eventually can fail to achieve appropriate pressure, and plastic housings that become brittle in a decade with application of heat from a degrading connection are just recipes for premature failure.
@@jimmac1185, any connector, regardless of manufacturer, that uses springs made of steel, as the only means of connection between two copper wires is suspect in my estimation. Wire nuts use a steel spring that merely applies pressure to the connected wires, its function not primarily being to provide the path of current, only to apply pressure. In a wago or any other stab or lever connector, the function of the spring parts is to provide a current path. In very low current applications, these work advantageously for a number of good reasons. However, when applying these products to receptacles/wiring whose function in general use may be to serve higher current applications, longevity and safe operation are unlikely outcomes. Wire nut connections that fail over time are extremely rare, and almost always can be traced back to poor implementation at time of connection, or exposure to unusually corrosive conditions that would certainly result in even faster failures using dissimilar metal connections such as a wago.
Excessive power-transformer noise at the start of operation is most likely caused by A. an open feeder switch. B. a loose brace. C. an open load fuse. D. a defective radiator.
In this video, the GFCI-TR receptacle was installed by using straight connections and then was jammed into the box causing wire and device stress. A good and safety oriented electrician that cares about his work and the safety of people will pre shape the wires and hook & torque them properly.
@@randomrazr The flex on the bent wires applies pressure on the hole. After some time. This 'wire stress' contributes to failure of the stab-back type of hole.
@@DevJB i have an actual eletrical question. so i installed and replaced a light switch with. a timer light switch. i noticed the timer light switch is warm to the touch and the neighbor normal light switch is a little warm too. i know the back aprt of the timer switch was big and took. a bit of effort to shove int he box. is this warmth normal for a timer switch?
@@randomrazr Do you mean Dimmer switch? Or is this a Timer ? Which room? Bathroom? Which circuit? Bathroom fan + lights, or just lights, or non bathroom lights only? Is there receptacles on this switch\timer ? What wattage timer or dimmer is it? Timer and Dimmer both can get warm but the other normal switch shouldn't be warm. Is this 15a or 20a?
@@DevJB its was originally a normal light switch. its for the exterior porch lights (LEDs) . model is Leviton 021-VPT24-1PZ Vizia 24-Hour Programmable Indoor Timer rated at 15amps. the switch feels a little warm to the touch whether the lights are on or off.
I agree with most everything in this video. I have been a master electrician and contractor for over 40 years, and have seen it all in that time. Short wires, junction boxes that are too small or non existent. Splices inside walls, staples that were driven in so tight that the wiring is shorted years later (just to name a few) I also agree with the comment that said something like 'it may look easy when you see an electrical project shown online.' Yes, that is a pet peave of mine, those that think they know what they are ( or were) doing and then causing a problem without even knowing it. I myself, have watched professional electricians on home improvement shows make potentially dangerous mistakes. Not much one can do other than shake my head in dismay. Anyway, my last thought is this- if you are confident in what you are doing (and research from several sources) then go ahead and tackle your electrical project. If not, ask a professional just like this video suggests. Also, make sure to ask any questions if you have any concerns about the work (should you decide to hire an electrician) After all, it's your house ( or business) Stay safe and work smart.
I remember around 1979 when I was just started electrical work. A man added a receptacle in his den coming off the dishwasher circuit in the kitchen. I suppose he used it because of the ease of getting to it. At any rate he set the den receptacle on fire and called us out to fix it. I'm retired now after a lifetime of electrical work but that one still sticks with me.
I remember I little problem we had with our dry wall contractor... They get paid by the board hung... Well, we had our rough inspection done... So, we told them close the walls up... I was a 4th year apprentice I told the 2nd apprentices to roll the wires back into the box on all boxes... (the last drywall contractor cut them even with the box)... I was doing panel risers and started to do under the counter stove tops... When we left for lunch the panels were tagged and shutdown... So, I resume my range tie in and wham..!!! I broke through the counter with my back... Then all hell broke loose... THE DRY WALL CONTRACTOR...TURNED ALL BREAKERS ON... My foreman had just finished another Drywall contractor screw up... So... He wasn't happy... and proceeded to use his 5 pound hammer looking for our buried boxes... You don't screw with him...
Another one they should avoid is making a mistake and refusing to take the blame for it, then ducking the customer's calls for 3 weeks until being threatened by a lawsuit. Then reluctantly come back to "take a look at it" and quickly realize they fucked up after all (He forgot to reconnect the wire to my well pump, but told us he doesn't make mistakes like that and that we should call the well company or get a new pump. Luckily I'm not a complete moron or I would've believed him and paid $20,000 for a new pump that still wouldn't have worked)
6:58 The black wire has the copper clearly nicked, meaning the effective conducting area is compromised. Cut off, and strip again. Also they missed the foundation of electrical work: securing the workplace. Break the circuit at the fuse box, make sure it can not be switched on before you are done, and *measure* live, neutrals and ground against each other to make sure the circuit indeed is broken.
Also pay attention to your surroundings.if you are close to rail road,and feel the vibration thru your house, may want to check the screws from your electric panel .. they will get lose with the time . Was almost late for me but I was home..one of the screw on the panel got so lose that start sparking and getting hot to the point of melting the protection cover... after retightenning, everything was fine .. checked all of them and all lost some of the holding power .
Wow I would have never thought of that. I manage properties I am going to make an inspection sheet for electricians to check out each panel since the building sits right next to 2 train tracks. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Using push in connectors is asking for a fire. They are unsafe, poor connections, often resulting in surface area of contact that is insufficient to handle larger loads. This includes the push in contacts in residential devices. I can't remember how many of these I've seen melted/burnt because of the degradation of the connection over time. Wago connectors are only slightly better.
I have never seen a cooked melted Wago connector. I can't even remember how many cooked wire nuts I've encountered. True wire nuts are more common than Wago's but again I have never seen one that melted from a poor connection. But by far the most common thing that I have encountered is melted, cooked GFCI outlets used outdoors. Most were in water resistant housings, but I have seen more than my fair share of exposed GFCI outlets melt down and cook 3 or 4 inches of wire along with it. When I built my home it only made sense to use GFCI breakers instead of the outlets
We have to use wire nuts to extend\pigtail wires in our panels and boxes. Connectors are only allowed for recessed lights, can-lights, pots, mostly. And low voltage; for us. I mostly use them on 15a ceiling lights because they come attached to the can-light. You have to relieve all wire stress by pre shaping the wires to fit nicely, or they have high chance of failure.
Meanwhile, level and push in connectors has been European standard for over 30 years... while wire nuts are shunned as inefficient and prone to faulty installation.
Watching a couple TH-cam videos does not make you an electrician. It took me 5 years of school and 10,000 hrs of work to earn that title and no real electrician would do any of those hack jobs.
Do not use those twinkle connectors for any loads over 5 amps if you know how to properly do a wire nut you will have no problem Winkle connectors are not made to hire handle high amperage even though they've been approved I'm sorry but I would not use them they're great for doing LED lamps and feelings but that's about it
Meh, they are routinely used for loads up to 32 A (highest residential current, as the voltage is twice as high as in the USA) here in Europe, being more or less defacto standard since the 1990s. For industrial use there are Wagos rated up to 63A, so Cunk on you. Follow the manufacturer installation specifications, and problem is solved.
This video is unnecessarily confusing because it is so full of stock footage that does not illustrate what is being talked about. One particularly bad example is at 6:30, talking about GFCIs but showing us something ghastly that is definitely not a GFCI!
agreed, too much extra makes things tighter in the box, nothing fits right and is it's own problem. I usually target 3", it's just enough to work with and fits without causing more problems.
I caught that too. Actually if you listen carefully it is pretty clear the person who wrote this does not really understand the topic. The text is just a bunch of stuff found searching the web thrown together haphazardly. And many of the statements seem garbled. For example what does he mean when he says that it is important to strip wires of insulation before cutting them, otherwise there is a risk of cutting them too short? Either nonsense or very unclear. Plus there is a lot of filler which sounds like something a student would write in response to an essay question on a test when he did not know the answer.
Ok maybe it's just me. To leave enough wire and have consistency. Make your hand a blade. Your fingers will touch the back of the box . Cut the length at your wrist. Especially if it's your home so you will most likely be the person how has to deal with short wires. Be a team player and leave enough to make 1 mistake.
@@joaquinsuarez6090 300.14 Length of Free Conductors at Outlets, Junc- tions, and Switch Points. At least 150 mm (6 in.) of free conductor, measured from the point in the box where it emerges from its raceway or cable sheath, shall be left at each outlet, junction, and switch point for splices or the connection of luminaires (fixtures) or devices. Where the opening to an outlet, junction, or switch point is less than 200 mm (8 in.) in any dimension, each conductor shall be long enough to extend at least 75 mm (3 in.) outside the opening. Straight from the NEC, I'm not mistaken.
I'm a little confused by this. Are you under the impression that short wires are considered short circuits?? I assure you that they are two very different things and you have a serious misunderstanding of electrical basics. It's best if you leave the video making to those in the know. 😂
You need to go back and actually listen to what he said. He said short wires are a cause of short circuits. If the wires in the box are too short, there isn't enough ground wire to safely keep it away from the hot terminals in the box. Ground wire contacting the hot wire = short circuit.
@@newguy2794 The neutral and hot wire touching will also cause a short circuit. The problem with wires being too short in a box is related to the difficulty in making sound connections to the switch or outlet. Because the wires are so short you have to struggle to properly connect them to the device installed in the box. A poor connection can fail, resulting in a wire slipping off a terminal and touching another wire in the box.
@@jackpine4347 That is how I understood it too. However in the very next statement he equates loose connection (shown arching in the video) with a short circuit. So even if the original thought is sound it has been garbled by the person who made the video
@@david672orford Upon further listening he made a quick reference to wires that are too short causing poor connections but did not really explain that. Most of this video is stock images combined with blabbing to fill up the time. He could have made his point about too-short wires causing poor connections that can lead to short circuits and fires in a few clear sentences.
First rule of diy, call a qualified electrician 😉. Blows my mind when people who are not electricians try and teach people how to do electrical work on TH-cam. To become a journeyman electrician it takes 8000 on the job hours and 2000 in class hours. Roughly a 4 year apprenticeship.
@@skeeskeeter6994 Yeah, like an apprentice is really going to know, during their apprenticeship, that they are not learning all they should during that apprenticeship.
Electrical profession is a lifestyle, not a job. I recommend before start charging premium prices, get experience, work in a company. They may not have great pay, but gain the experience until you feel comfortable enough to work on your own. Remember Premium prices = premium services.
Everytime I replace light switch I always keep slack on the cable(after power is shut off of course) I do have to cut the wires at where’re the clamp is for if it’s not connected using screw therminal s
There are both crappy electricians and crappy DIYers. Thinking you know everything even after years of work or DIY is number 1 mistake. Also "good enough" is not good enough.
5:30 In most parts of the USA, it's OK to run cables through most walls with no conduit. The trick is knowing when conduit is required and what kind to use. PS: 2:14 If you are using the type of strippers shown here, it would be no surprise that the wires might get cut too short. Manual strippers with holes for each gauge wire are very prone to accidentally nicking, or even accidentally cutting, the wires that are being stripped. They also make it harder to strip off a uniform amount of insulation and to do it without tugging on the other end of the wire. If space allows, I very much prefer automatic, self-adjusting strippers.
Actually, only cables defined as "listed for use in concealed spaces" are permitted by code. For the purposes of this discussion, that means NM/NM-B. Or you can use MC, which in the case of plastic boxes will require use of bonding bushings and appropriate boxes...not worth the hassle. Your statement might lead others to believe they can legally run power cords, such as SJT or similar products through those concealed spaces. I've seen a contractor try to get away with SOOW just straight through a block wall, not acceptable.
@@Steve_Kassiotis Agreed. The auto ones are great for bench or control panel work, too bulky for field work. Regular strippers in the hands of a pro will almost never result in a nicked/cut wire.
@@pld8993 Fun fact, European electricians tend to use strippers like the CC22 or CC38 that doesn't have various sized holes, but relies on the user getting the feel for how deep to cut.
there was a lot more diy going on back in 1950s through 1980s long before HGTV people actualy read books before television and internet made everyone brain dead
alright besides the video which there are some great points you Diy or homeowners.. hire an electrician but read on.. i was reading these comments..😂😂 im gonna make this simple. More then half these comments are bullshit.. for example, WAGOS... i agree dont use level locks unless ur doing some low voltage.. hell go even better and solder your connections with low voltage.. However i have yet to hear anything from a pushin Wago cause fires, shorts, etc.. and ive been using them long before they were even heard of in the states.. a fellow electrician brought them from europe and showed us what they use.. Now if a wire broke off from the Wago or some weird thing happen its cuz the eletrician made an error.. like using the wrong size stripping gauge crimping into the copper, making a weak point.. i can go even further wit other possiblities that no electrician wants you to know... If any electrician suggests wire nuts over Wagos for lets say your job ur wanting done, its cuz he wants more money in his pocket.. it may be nickles but nickles add up.. besides money factors, Wire nuts are a big time risk factor,and its been proven many time over.. FOR EXAMPLE.. i dont know how many times ive opened a box and the failure was at the Wire nut.. fuckers over tighten them and pops out the tops🤦🏽♂️...or they dont know if when twisting the wires together in the nut that one breaks within the sheathing until u go to test it... ESPECIALLY when they get folded up in the box... Let alone pig tails barely making connections.. box is pack to gills that the wire nut wedged between outlets or swtches..ETC, ETC... i could go on for days.... there is 2 benefits to wire nuts... Cap live line for what ever reason u needed that line hot & quick connections to see if something is going to work... Oooohhh wait i lied.. they are great for caping off caulking tubes as well.. almost forgot that one.. Wagos shit on Wire nuts! Want to know why electricain make a big deal about Wagos, cuz they the type who want to keep they delecate fingers soft.. meaning to get a line out of a Wago, u need squeeze the side and pull that line.. its tough, no lie, but fuck your pedicure, unless ur a lady electrician.. they amp me up 😝.. Anyhow ladies and germs, if your a someone seaking an electrician, find one who wont bullshit ya.. im tired of seeing that shit..
Bullshit right from the beginning Don’t use push in connectors fix the short wire problem by adding a length of wire with a physical connection and a wire nut!
I have been a Journeyman Wireman Electrician for 40 years and you are sadly mistaken if you think the average Joe can do a Electrical project in no time! There is something called experience which you have none of and you are misleading home owners which is the worst thing you can do! You know nothing about professional save work ethics. These people should hire a professional insured license bonded contractor which would also protect them and their family. Their are local and state codes which they know absolutely nothing about and recommending they ask a salesman in a store for advice is a horrendous idea! Your video is terribly misleading.
@@keebler82ut In know what the Nec states. It was just a suggestion. I should have been more clear. I cut at 6. I like to strip my wires a little longer than needed and cut it to desired length.
If you are not a competent person don't try to do any diy at home. any . Basic electrics are easy. with a little of prep you will do it better than somebody who went to college for two years and somehow became one. British electricians are a joke for example. Real threat
Just an awfully put together video. Filled with nonsensical stock clips, repetitious clips. Title indicates that these are mistakes that every electrician makes and yet it talks about DIY'ers. I would venture to guess that most electricians are not this bad. It's like it's not sure what theme it wants so it just starts rambling on for 8 minutes and figured whatever and then posted this hot mess.
6 inches is code. Having a short wire, say 1 inch is not only a pain to work with but can be hard to connect and or tighten to the device. Excessive length like 9 inches or more is not only unnecessary but can be hard to pack back into the box, especially if the box is too small in the first place. Plus, filling a junction box full of excess wires can cause unnecessary heat within the box if there is some load on the circuit. Stay safe and think smart.
@@clarkcortezer2414 that was my thoughts as well. You only have so much space in a box there's no need to leave so much wire. Especially the exposed ground wires.
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I became an electrician so I never had to hire and deal with another electrician ever again.
As someone who spent 2 years learning to be an electrician, I can safely say, DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE A PROJECT. While it may seem simple, such as replacing a ceiling light or replacing a switch, there is a lot that can go wrong and electricity does not forgive mistakes or shortcuts.
Ummm. I don't think I've ever had anything good as smooth or as fast as I thought or hoped...lol. that's why I try to live by "slow is smooth. Smooth is fast"
keep your study's up because when you think you know it all you always have more to learn.
You should be sued for all your commits... # Reason, you yourself admitted. With 2 years experience.. First of all it takes 2 years just to be come a qualified apprentice. And 4 years, to become a Qualified Journeyman Electrician... My suggestion, to keep yourself from being sued. GET QUALIFIED. IN THE TRADE....
@@larrylynn5047 I'm gonna stick with being a mechanic at Electrified Garage. Way more fun for me then being an electrician.
@@larrylynn5047 i thought the same as you then i thought. i'm not so sure that he said he was a electrician. he said learning to to be a electrician. when i was a 2nd year apprentice i was also learning to be a electrician at that time.
When I watch these videos and read some of the various comments, I see a sense of competition that more than likely comes from a sense of insecurity. I'm a retired electrician of 35 years with 5 years of formal electrical schooling and I know that there was so much more that I could have learned
had I continued my journey. I enjoyed the experiences I had the honor of having and took every opportunity to encourage the younger individuals coming into the trade because electricians will always be needed.
Amen.
Keeping up with the NEC and local area changes to codes also makes it an ongoing learning process.
Well said Sir. The trades, just like nursing, require skills that will always be in demand. You can't go wrong with a career in the trades.
Sorry: Not here about DIY mistakes. I came for what is in the title. These are not "electrician" mistakes. Any "electrician" making these mistakes needs his license revoked.
Many titles are nothing more than clickbait.
This was more than Clickbait. It was a full on ad!
If you are an electrician and doing ANY of these things, IMHO you need to reconsider your career choice.
Indeed. They compiled mistakes no electrician makes just to be able to connect it to a fire hazard or a fatal shock. The most common mistakes the less than average electrician makes usually relates to aesthetics or accessibility for future jobs. Not one electrician on any of my jobs have caused a fire or a serious shock wiring houses.
Every electrician? Yes, there are a ton of hacks out here but to generalize these to EVERY electrician is just asinine.
and this title says electricians, when it talks specifically more about DIYers. I guess if they titled it properly, it wouldnt have gotten as many clicks.
Well said brother.
Wow!! This is such a garbage video!! 8 minutes of my life I'll never get back!! 🤣😂🤣
Clickbait lol
Lol, I watched this as a first year electrician…… you need to know these things the first day of the job. Smh. Terrible clickbait
The wire is short is the issue and code violation, but the caused of fire is loose connections, long wire or short wire if the connections is not tight , will cause the arcing and cause the wire, please correct what you are saying!!!! , I am electrician for 35 years and has ran into lot of these issues.
Push in connectors are a fire hazard waiting to happen. I'm a licensed electrician, and I've seen more than one house fire due to push in connectors (Wego's).
Correct. Except Wago connections are the ones with levers, not just push in. The push in connectors are the lowest form of UL listed connectors, and it is a shame that they are listed.
Wago connectors are only slightly better. Removing the direct connection of one wire to the other, involving dissimilar metals, springs that eventually can fail to achieve appropriate pressure, and plastic housings that become brittle in a decade with application of heat from a degrading connection are just recipes for premature failure.
@@mikebowler1962 Wago makes push in connectors as well as the lever type....
@@jimmac1185, any connector, regardless of manufacturer, that uses springs made of steel, as the only means of connection between two copper wires is suspect in my estimation. Wire nuts use a steel spring that merely applies pressure to the connected wires, its function not primarily being to provide the path of current, only to apply pressure. In a wago or any other stab or lever connector, the function of the spring parts is to provide a current path. In very low current applications, these work advantageously for a number of good reasons. However, when applying these products to receptacles/wiring whose function in general use may be to serve higher current applications, longevity and safe operation are unlikely outcomes.
Wire nut connections that fail over time are extremely rare, and almost always can be traced back to poor implementation at time of connection, or exposure to unusually corrosive conditions that would certainly result in even faster failures using dissimilar metal connections such as a wago.
@@mikebowler1962 I was just correcting that you said Wagos weren't the push in type. Thats all.
@@mikebowler1962 good point
Excessive power-transformer noise at the start of operation is most likely caused by
A. an open feeder switch.
B. a loose brace.
C. an open load fuse.
D. a defective radiator.
Or a bad Fuel Injector
In this video, the GFCI-TR receptacle was installed by using straight connections and then was jammed into the box causing wire and device stress.
A good and safety oriented electrician that cares about his work and the safety of people will pre shape the wires and hook & torque them properly.
how would it cause stress
@@randomrazr The flex on the bent wires applies pressure on the hole. After some time. This 'wire stress' contributes to failure of the stab-back type of hole.
@@DevJB i have an actual eletrical question. so i installed and replaced a light switch with. a timer light switch. i noticed the timer light switch is warm to the touch and the neighbor normal light switch is a little warm too. i know the back aprt of the timer switch was big and took. a bit of effort to shove int he box. is this warmth normal for a timer switch?
@@randomrazr Do you mean Dimmer switch? Or is this a Timer ?
Which room? Bathroom?
Which circuit? Bathroom fan + lights, or just lights, or non bathroom lights only?
Is there receptacles on this switch\timer ?
What wattage timer or dimmer is it?
Timer and Dimmer both can get warm but the other normal switch shouldn't be warm.
Is this 15a or 20a?
@@DevJB its was originally a normal light switch. its for the exterior porch lights (LEDs) . model is Leviton 021-VPT24-1PZ Vizia 24-Hour Programmable Indoor Timer rated at 15amps. the switch feels a little warm to the touch whether the lights are on or off.
I agree with most everything in this video. I have been a master electrician and contractor for over 40 years, and have seen it all in that time.
Short wires, junction boxes that are too small or non existent. Splices inside walls, staples that were driven in so tight that the wiring is shorted years later (just to name a few)
I also agree with the comment that said something like 'it may look easy when you see an electrical project shown online.' Yes, that is a pet peave of mine, those that think they know what they are ( or were) doing and then causing a problem without even knowing it. I myself, have watched professional electricians on home improvement shows make potentially dangerous mistakes. Not much one can do other than shake my head in dismay.
Anyway, my last thought is this- if you are confident in what you are doing (and research from several sources) then go ahead and tackle your electrical project. If not, ask a professional just like this video suggests. Also, make sure to ask any questions if you have any concerns about the work (should you decide to hire an electrician) After all, it's your house ( or business)
Stay safe and work smart.
I remember around 1979 when I was just started electrical work. A man added a receptacle in his den coming off the dishwasher circuit in the kitchen. I suppose he used it because of the ease of getting to it. At any rate he set the den receptacle on fire and called us out to fix it. I'm retired now after a lifetime of electrical work but that one still sticks with me.
After the fire from shoddy electrical work... Be sure to tell the insurance adjuster your a wanna be ELECTRICAN...
I remember I little problem we had with our dry wall contractor... They get paid by the board hung... Well, we had our rough inspection done... So, we told them close the walls up... I was a 4th year apprentice I told the 2nd apprentices to roll the wires back into the box on all boxes... (the last drywall contractor cut them even with the box)... I was doing panel risers and started to do under the counter stove tops... When we left for lunch the panels were tagged and shutdown... So, I resume my range tie in and wham..!!! I broke through the counter with my back... Then all hell broke loose... THE DRY WALL CONTRACTOR...TURNED ALL BREAKERS ON... My foreman had just finished another Drywall contractor screw up... So... He wasn't happy... and proceeded to use his 5 pound hammer looking for our buried boxes... You don't screw with him...
Another one they should avoid is making a mistake and refusing to take the blame for it, then ducking the customer's calls for 3 weeks until being threatened by a lawsuit.
Then reluctantly come back to "take a look at it" and quickly realize they fucked up after all
(He forgot to reconnect the wire to my well pump, but told us he doesn't make mistakes like that and that we should call the well company or get a new pump.
Luckily I'm not a complete moron or I would've believed him and paid $20,000 for a new pump that still wouldn't have worked)
6:58 The black wire has the copper clearly nicked, meaning the effective conducting area is compromised. Cut off, and strip again.
Also they missed the foundation of electrical work: securing the workplace. Break the circuit at the fuse box, make sure it can not be switched on before you are done, and *measure* live, neutrals and ground against each other to make sure the circuit indeed is broken.
Also pay attention to your surroundings.if you are close to rail road,and feel the vibration thru your house, may want to check the screws from your electric panel .. they will get lose with the time . Was almost late for me but I was home..one of the screw on the panel got so lose that start sparking and getting hot to the point of melting the protection cover... after retightenning, everything was fine .. checked all of them and all lost some of the holding power .
Wow I would have never thought of that. I manage properties I am going to make an inspection sheet for electricians to check out each panel since the building sits right next to 2 train tracks. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Always trust a contractor who has a caulking gun in his tool pouch.
Lol the outlet usually gives you the length on the back of the receptacle, also in mi code is 6 inches from back of j box
Using push in connectors is asking for a fire. They are unsafe, poor connections, often resulting in surface area of contact that is insufficient to handle larger loads. This includes the push in contacts in residential devices. I can't remember how many of these I've seen melted/burnt because of the degradation of the connection over time. Wago connectors are only slightly better.
I have never seen a cooked melted Wago connector. I can't even remember how many cooked wire nuts I've encountered. True wire nuts are more common than Wago's but again I have never seen one that melted from a poor connection.
But by far the most common thing that I have encountered is melted, cooked GFCI outlets used outdoors. Most were in water resistant housings, but I have seen more than my fair share of exposed GFCI outlets melt down and cook 3 or 4 inches of wire along with it.
When I built my home it only made sense to use GFCI breakers instead of the outlets
We have to use wire nuts to extend\pigtail wires in our panels and boxes. Connectors are only allowed for recessed lights, can-lights, pots, mostly. And low voltage; for us.
I mostly use them on 15a ceiling lights because they come attached to the can-light. You have to relieve all wire stress by pre shaping the wires to fit nicely, or they have high chance of failure.
Meanwhile, level and push in connectors has been European standard for over 30 years... while wire nuts are shunned as inefficient and prone to faulty installation.
Wow what a video! So true!
Watching a couple TH-cam videos does not make you an electrician. It took me 5 years of school and 10,000 hrs of work to earn that title and no real electrician would do any of those hack jobs.
I use my lighter for striping wires and for a perfect fit for sticking in the hole in back of switches
thank you very much
Forgetting to turn the juice off while wiring a light to a live wire n locking myself to the wire was my mistake.
I feel like we’re confusing short circuits with short wires am I right?
Keep waiting for this to mention the importance of following code, or AFCI
Igniting the drywall?
Goodbye!
Do not use those twinkle connectors for any loads over 5 amps if you know how to properly do a wire nut you will have no problem Winkle connectors are not made to hire handle high amperage even though they've been approved I'm sorry but I would not use them they're great for doing LED lamps and feelings but that's about it
Meh, they are routinely used for loads up to 32 A (highest residential current, as the voltage is twice as high as in the USA) here in Europe, being more or less defacto standard since the 1990s.
For industrial use there are Wagos rated up to 63A, so Cunk on you.
Follow the manufacturer installation specifications, and problem is solved.
I make a living fixing DIY electrical jobs..
Me too 😂😂😂
This video is unnecessarily confusing because it is so full of stock footage that does not illustrate what is being talked about. One particularly bad example is at 6:30, talking about GFCIs but showing us something ghastly that is definitely not a GFCI!
First piece of advice in this video is don't cut your wires too short. Later at 6:30 shows a guy wiring a GFCI with wires cut too short. 😂😂😂
4"' sticking out past the box is plenty. it will allow enough length for future device changes as well. too much excess wire is a sloppy job.
agreed, too much extra makes things tighter in the box, nothing fits right and is it's own problem. I usually target 3", it's just enough to work with and fits without causing more problems.
A short is caused by the hot and neutral making contact not bad connection!
I caught that too. Actually if you listen carefully it is pretty clear the person who wrote this does not really understand the topic. The text is just a bunch of stuff found searching the web thrown together haphazardly. And many of the statements seem garbled. For example what does he mean when he says that it is important to strip wires of insulation before cutting them, otherwise there is a risk of cutting them too short? Either nonsense or very unclear. Plus there is a lot of filler which sounds like something a student would write in response to an essay question on a test when he did not know the answer.
Ok maybe it's just me. To leave enough wire and have consistency. Make your hand a blade. Your fingers will touch the back of the box . Cut the length at your wrist. Especially if it's your home so you will most likely be the person how has to deal with short wires. Be a team player and leave enough to make 1 mistake.
Very well said...
6 inches out of the box
@@Tre16 it's 6 inches total, 3 inches from the face of the box.
@@mattlitton8066 I think you are mistaken. Is 6 inches from front of junction box. Please check on that and correct your comment.
@@joaquinsuarez6090 300.14 Length of Free Conductors at Outlets, Junc-
tions, and Switch Points. At least 150 mm (6 in.) of free
conductor, measured from the point in the box where it
emerges from its raceway or cable sheath, shall be left at each
outlet, junction, and switch point for splices or the connection
of luminaires (fixtures) or devices. Where the opening to an
outlet, junction, or switch point is less than 200 mm (8 in.) in
any dimension, each conductor shall be long enough to extend
at least 75 mm (3 in.) outside the opening.
Straight from the NEC, I'm not mistaken.
And you CAN"T hide the junction box because 1: it's illegal and 2 : it 100% unsafe
Dont need to watch this. Had my license for 35 years. " trust me i know what im doing"
I'm a little confused by this. Are you under the impression that short wires are considered short circuits?? I assure you that they are two very different things and you have a serious misunderstanding of electrical basics. It's best if you leave the video making to those in the know. 😂
You need to go back and actually listen to what he said.
He said short wires are a cause of short circuits.
If the wires in the box are too short, there isn't enough ground wire to safely keep it away from the hot terminals in the box. Ground wire contacting the hot wire = short circuit.
@@newguy2794 The neutral and hot wire touching will also cause a short circuit. The problem with wires being too short in a box is related to the difficulty in making sound connections to the switch or outlet. Because the wires are so short you have to struggle to properly connect them to the device installed in the box. A poor connection can fail, resulting in a wire slipping off a terminal and touching another wire in the box.
@@jackpine4347 That is how I understood it too. However in the very next statement he equates loose connection (shown arching in the video) with a short circuit. So even if the original thought is sound it has been garbled by the person who made the video
@@david672orford Upon further listening he made a quick reference to wires that are too short causing poor connections but did not really explain that. Most of this video is stock images combined with blabbing to fill up the time. He could have made his point about too-short wires causing poor connections that can lead to short circuits and fires in a few clear sentences.
This video implies that short circuits are caused by short wire cuts.
First rule of diy, call a qualified electrician 😉.
Blows my mind when people who are not electricians try and teach people how to do electrical work on TH-cam.
To become a journeyman electrician it takes 8000 on the job hours and 2000 in class hours. Roughly a 4 year apprenticeship.
I agree, it’s insane
Even more annoying is when the whole video ends up as an ad for a training course!
Ya... That's pretty much the time line to go up for your license... Plus, two nights per week in the classroom and Half a day on Saturday mornings...
@Yes Time to find a real apprenticeship program...
@@skeeskeeter6994 Yeah, like an apprentice is really going to know, during their apprenticeship, that they are not learning all they should during that apprenticeship.
Why can a wire cut too short cause a short circuit? IT can cause arcing but that's it?
Frustrating ai written video/// mixing up “cutting wires short “and “short circuits “ just cause the words are similar
Electrical technician don't make mistake like that...
Electrical profession is a lifestyle, not a job.
I recommend before start charging premium prices, get experience, work in a company. They may not have great pay, but gain the experience until you feel comfortable enough to work on your own. Remember
Premium prices = premium services.
Everytime I replace light switch I always keep slack on the cable(after power is shut off of course) I do have to cut the wires at where’re the clamp is for if it’s not connected using screw therminal s
1:40 - I mean, would you hire HIM???
I see what game we're playing here.... I'm a 45 year electrician myself. I'm 35 btw
There are both crappy electricians and crappy DIYers. Thinking you know everything even after years of work or DIY is number 1 mistake. Also "good enough" is not good enough.
I'm a avionic electrician, so i'm curious
5:30 In most parts of the USA, it's OK to run cables through most walls with no conduit. The trick is knowing when conduit is required and what kind to use.
PS: 2:14 If you are using the type of strippers shown here, it would be no surprise that the wires might get cut too short. Manual strippers with holes for each gauge wire are very prone to accidentally nicking, or even accidentally cutting, the wires that are being stripped. They also make it harder to strip off a uniform amount of insulation and to do it without tugging on the other end of the wire. If space allows, I very much prefer automatic, self-adjusting strippers.
Actually, only cables defined as "listed for use in concealed spaces" are permitted by code. For the purposes of this discussion, that means NM/NM-B. Or you can use MC, which in the case of plastic boxes will require use of bonding bushings and appropriate boxes...not worth the hassle.
Your statement might lead others to believe they can legally run power cords, such as SJT or similar products through those concealed spaces. I've seen a contractor try to get away with SOOW just straight through a block wall, not acceptable.
@@mikebowler1962 follow the NEC and make sure is approved by the AHJ
Please stop LARPing. Anyone who can't use regular strippers and relies on automatic ones is not a real sparky.
@@Steve_Kassiotis Agreed. The auto ones are great for bench or control panel work, too bulky for field work. Regular strippers in the hands of a pro will almost never result in a nicked/cut wire.
@@pld8993 Fun fact, European electricians tend to use strippers like the CC22 or CC38 that doesn't have various sized holes, but relies on the user getting the feel for how deep to cut.
Click Bait ... Every Electrician needs to be changed to DIY Electricians. Us IBEW Electricians know better.
EXACTLY...
there was a lot more diy going on back in 1950s through 1980s long before HGTV people actualy read books before television and internet made everyone brain dead
Too much talking and not enough germane content.
Lol.. cutting your wires too short isn't a short circuit
alright besides the video which there are some great points you Diy or homeowners.. hire an electrician but read on.. i was reading these comments..😂😂
im gonna make this simple.
More then half these comments are bullshit.. for example, WAGOS...
i agree dont use level locks unless ur doing some low voltage.. hell go even better and solder your connections with low voltage..
However i have yet to hear anything from a pushin Wago cause fires, shorts, etc.. and ive been using them long before they were even heard of in the states.. a fellow electrician brought them from europe and showed us what they use..
Now if a wire broke off from the Wago or some weird thing happen its cuz the eletrician made an error.. like using the wrong size stripping gauge crimping into the copper, making a weak point.. i can go even further wit other possiblities that no electrician wants you to know...
If any electrician suggests wire nuts over Wagos for lets say your job ur wanting done, its cuz he wants more money in his pocket.. it may be nickles but nickles add up..
besides money factors, Wire nuts are a big time risk factor,and its been proven many time over.. FOR EXAMPLE..
i dont know how many times ive opened a box and the failure was at the Wire nut.. fuckers over tighten them and pops out the tops🤦🏽♂️...or they dont know if when twisting the wires together in the nut that one breaks within the sheathing until u go to test it... ESPECIALLY when they get folded up in the box... Let alone pig tails barely making connections.. box is pack to gills that the wire nut wedged between outlets or swtches..ETC, ETC... i could go on for days....
there is 2 benefits to wire nuts...
Cap live line for what ever reason u needed that line hot & quick connections to see if something is going to work...
Oooohhh wait i lied.. they are great for caping off caulking tubes as well.. almost forgot that one..
Wagos shit on Wire nuts!
Want to know why electricain make a big deal about Wagos, cuz they the type who want to keep they delecate fingers soft.. meaning to get a line out of a Wago, u need squeeze the side and pull that line.. its tough, no lie, but fuck your pedicure, unless ur a lady electrician.. they amp me up 😝..
Anyhow ladies and germs, if your a someone seaking an electrician, find one who wont bullshit ya.. im tired of seeing that shit..
WTF is this. A commercial in a tech video. And no one sees it in the comments?
this is not good video. call an electrician.
Bullshit right from the beginning Don’t use push in connectors fix the short wire problem by adding a length of wire with a physical connection and a wire nut!
Cutting wire too short is not the reason for short circuit. This short isn’t equal to that short. lOL
I have been a Journeyman Wireman Electrician for 40 years and you are sadly mistaken if you think the average Joe can do a Electrical project in no time! There is something called experience which you have none of and you are misleading home owners which is the worst thing you can do! You know nothing about professional save work ethics. These people should hire a professional insured license bonded contractor which would also protect them and their family. Their are local and state codes which they know absolutely nothing about and recommending they ask a salesman in a store for advice is a horrendous idea! Your video is terribly misleading.
Leave 6" of wire from the inside of the box.
6” from outside of box
@@peejones9035 US NEC states: 6 inches from entry point of the wire, or 4 inches outside of box, whichever is longer.
@@keebler82ut In know what the Nec states. It was just a suggestion. I should have been more clear. I cut at 6. I like to strip my wires a little longer than needed and cut it to desired length.
You say every electrician but you say in the video DIY. Learn the difference between the two
How about no electrical work and call a real electrician
What is the meaning of DIY
watch the sparky channel and electrician u both great informational youtube channels
wow
You can do it we can help now home depot sells gas lines Can't wait to see the statistics on that
Lol everytime I go into a HD I mutter to those around you can fck it up and we can help the lol from pple is priceless
Uhhhhh, HD has been selling gas lines and equipment for gas line connections since their inception. This is not new. Where have you been??
IE read and follow effing code...?
Too many ads. Come on! I could not watch.
Electric is NOT a hobby!
I have never heard a video that said SO LITTLE with SO MANY words! TERRIBLE video!
No electrician does any of this, hacks do this.
NIN siwiss
If you are not a competent person don't try to do any diy at home. any . Basic electrics are easy. with a little of prep you will do it better than somebody who went to college for two years and somehow became one. British electricians are a joke for example. Real threat
Keep doing your dangerous diy jobs guys. We will never be out of work fixing your fuck ups.😂😂😂
You talk to fast.
You spell two bad.
Every time a Do it yourselfer does his or her own work ,it’s a service call for me …. Love the DIY ers
Piss poor info!
Likes to hear himself "repeat" ... takes to long to get to the point and that robot super expressive up speak voice is too much...PASS
Just an awfully put together video. Filled with nonsensical stock clips, repetitious clips. Title indicates that these are mistakes that every electrician makes and yet it talks about DIY'ers. I would venture to guess that most electricians are not this bad. It's like it's not sure what theme it wants so it just starts rambling on for 8 minutes and figured whatever and then posted this hot mess.
3 to 6" is still too short. leave at least 9" from the wall. the length of a good pair of side cutters (lineman pliers).
I strongly second this. Short wires are at the very least a pain to work with.
6 inches is code. Having a short wire, say 1 inch is not only a pain to work with but can be hard to connect and or tighten to the device. Excessive length like 9 inches or more is not only unnecessary but can be hard to pack back into the box, especially if the box is too small in the first place. Plus, filling a junction box full of excess wires can cause unnecessary heat within the box if there is some load on the circuit.
Stay safe and think smart.
@@clarkcortezer2414 I second this!
@@clarkcortezer2414 that was my thoughts as well. You only have so much space in a box there's no need to leave so much wire. Especially the exposed ground wires.
6 inches is code. This guy making the video is absolutely ignorant. 🤦♂️
Looks like a recipe for disaster. You should used a licensed electrician.
This video should of been 30 seconds long. If you want to do electrical work call an electrician
If you need to watch this video you shouldn’t be doing your own electrical work anytime soon.
This shit is silly