Must've been a knick in the SER cable... - Page 2 - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

Frasbee · 10-17-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazymurph

I still do not understand SER in conduit. Is this for temporary power?

Yes.

NolaTigaBait · 10-17-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazymurph

I still do not understand SER in conduit. Is this for temporary power?

It's New Orleans, no telling what kind of hack wired the school 20 years ago.

NolaTigaBait · 10-17-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frasbee

Yes.

Nevermind.

bobelectric · 10-17-2009, 09:35 PM

I'm calling in OSHA. This is bu@@@@@. Unsafe work pratices at are our expense.

wildleg · 10-17-2009, 11:06 PM

well, I just hope you learned something. you shouldn't have been in the ditch in the first place. there might have been a really nice current path in the vicinity of the fault (enough to kill you, but not enough to trip the breaker due to earth resistance). you jump in the ditch, you got no place to go but 6 feet under if that is the case, and noone is getting you out in time. please be more careful.

Celtic · 10-18-2009, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frasbee

February 2008 until now...so that's 1 year and 8 months?

There is a reason helpers/apprentices are not allowed to work hot/on temporary. [...may be an IBEW line item]

Count your blessings.

Fredman · 10-18-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frasbee

Yes.

So these temp feeds are buried 3' down?

(I'm learning here...)

mcclary's electrical · 10-18-2009, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredman

So these temp feeds are buried 3' down?

(I'm learning here...)

My thoughts exactly

Frasbee · 10-18-2009, 12:53 PM

People seem so confused by this thread.

Did I use incorrect terminology?

Cables come off utility pole into two panels (disconnects?) outside. The one on the left had to have its' fuses and cables replaced because it burnt up after the PVC was broken open and became damaged fed the first panel on the first floor on one side of the building.

The one on the right, where two of us got shocked, which they used SER cable sent through PVC, fed a panel on the other side of the building.

Both were buried 3' down.

All of this is temporary power.

wildleg · 10-18-2009, 12:58 PM

as bob pointed out, these cables are illegal. article 590 clearly states that unless 590 allows temporary, it must meet other portions of the code. 590 says that branch ckts and feeders "IN" buildings for temporary can be nm, it does not say that nm or se can be used for outside or underground. this is a violation, and I think you found out first hand why.

Frasbee · 10-18-2009, 01:10 PM

I wonder if that was why they weren't worried about taking pictures.

They kept mentioning about proving they weren't at fault, but they didn't seem interested in showing the GC or taking photos of the damage.

mcclary's electrical · 10-18-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frasbee

No, there were two panels feeding two separate panels on opposite sides of the building.

We knew the pipe feeding the right side was probably damaged. That disconnect was already off. That one was also ran with aluminum cable.

The other still had juice and was powering the left side of the building, but it turns out, the PVC pipe that the SER was fed through, was also damaged, leaving the SER exposed.

I'm less inclined to think I'm a dumba$$ if only because I was under the impression that if electricity found a good path to ground, it would take it, and therefore burn the fuse. Considering it was caked in wet mud for weeks, and we had no problem on that side of the building, I thought it was fine.

One of the electricians was saying that a high enough voltage could be felt outside of the jacket. I'm not sure if that's true, but now I'm really confused. Is that true?

You're lucky you did not become that "path". You would not be here typing.

Frasbee · 10-18-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcclary's electrical

You're lucky you did not become that "path". You would not be here typing.

Yes, I was lucky considering I was surrounded by several supposedly more qualified individuals who even provided the bucket of water and cloth to clean off the cable.

I don't know what you guys want from me, I've never tried to hide my ignorance on how electricity works with the amount of questions I've posted on the topic. It's still very much an anomaly to me.

Rudeboy · 10-18-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frasbee

Yes, I was lucky considering I was surrounded by several supposedly more qualified individuals who even provided the bucket of water and cloth to clean off the cable.

I don't know what you guys want from me, I've never tried to hide my ignorance on how electricity works with the amount of questions I've posted on the topic. It's still very much an anomaly to me.

Don't worry about it. More than likely people here are simply worried about workers safety regardless of level of experience. It sounds like your understanding of electricity may be on even a higher level than the "more qualified individuals" who made the apprentice jump in the ditch. Just because a guy has more field experience than you doesn't make him smarter. in many cases you may find that journeymen and supervisors and foremen and bosses and general contractors and site supervisors and engineers are complete idiots. Don't trust idiots with your life.

Celtic · 10-18-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frasbee

I don't know what you guys want from me....

Frasbee,
I think we all want you to be able to unlace your own boots every night.

Bob Badger · 10-18-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frasbee

I don't know what you guys want from me,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celtic

Frasbee,
I think we all want you to be able to unlace your own boots every night.

The data is a bit old but still

Quote:

A total of 5,348 workers were electrocuted in 5,180 incidents from 1980 through 1992.

That is more then 2 workers per work day for 12 years.

How old are you Frasbee?

Seriously, be careful

Bob Badger · 10-18-2009, 05:56 PM

Some more info to bring it right home to us (electricians)

NolaTigaBait · 10-18-2009, 07:13 PM

Interesting stats. I fall in the highest rate of deaths bracket

. Wheres the plumbers?....I love when a plumber tells me his job is much more important b/c toxic gases can get into a house an kill. How many times have you heard that happening?

Frasbee · 10-18-2009, 09:02 PM

I'm 23.

Lesson thankfully, learned. I can assure you all that something like this will never happen again. It's kind of amazing since there was still quite a load on those panels with the drywallers and framers still working. And I was wet and covered in mud.

I still don't quite understand it.

But I guess if the power is off, I don't really have to.

Rudeboy · 10-18-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NolaTigaBait

Interesting stats. I fall in the highest rate of deaths bracket

. Wheres the plumbers?....I love when a plumber tells me his job is much more important b/c toxic gases can get into a house an kill. How many times have you heard that happening?

I love when anyone acts like their job is more important. i also like it when someone says that being an electrician is easier than all the other trades.