ladder - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

busymnky · 08-29-2009, 10:20 PM

http://www.faxko.com./index.html
Anybody seen or used one? The tri legs look a bit flimsy. The Little Giant almost killed me last time!

drsparky · 08-29-2009, 11:42 PM

Electrical and aluminum ladders do not mix.

480sparky · 08-29-2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drsparky

Electrical and aluminum ladders do not mix.

Why are you working hot?

Black4Truck · 08-29-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 480sparky

Why are you working hot?

How do you do a service change in Iowa?

I don't use aluminum ladders, but do S/C all the time hot.

The POCO even gives us permanent tap connectors for permanent splices

480sparky · 08-29-2009, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black4Truck

How do you do a service change in Iowa?

I don't use aluminum ladders, but do S/C all the time hot.

The POCO even gives us permanent tap connectors for permanent splices

There's no need to ever do a service change in Iowa. We do it right the first time.

We simply call the POCOs and have them disconnect at the transformer. When all is inspected and done, they switch it over to the new service.

But in the rare occasions I work a service hot, it's not an aluminum ladder that gets pulled out. I use an aluminum ladder (Little Giant #17) mostly for roughing in a new house.

Black4Truck · 08-30-2009, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 480sparky

There's no need to ever do a service change in Iowa. We do it right the first time.

We simply call the POCOs and have them disconnect at the transformer. When all is inspected and done, they switch it over to the new service.

But in the rare occasions I work a service hot, it's not an aluminum ladder that gets pulled out. I use an aluminum ladder (Little Giant #17) mostly for roughing in a new house.

Much better to do them hot.. then connect a temp outlet to the drop.

Then you have somewhere to plug the light and radio

Beats using a generator

480sparky · 08-30-2009, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black4Truck

Much better to do them hot.. then connect a temp outlet to the drop.

Then you have somewhere to plug the light and radio

Beats using a generator

95% of the time, I can leave the old service in place until I'm done building the new one. Because the new service is not permitted to go in the same location as the old one.

So I don't have to do anything with the old one save for getting prepared to switch the circuits to the new panel.

If push comes to shove, I can build a new service with cordless tools. If I need light, I put a 12v bulb in a drop light and I have a short extension cord with alligator clips so I can get power from the truck battery.

drsparky · 08-30-2009, 12:10 AM

See OSHA 1926.1053(b)(12) hot or not.

Black4Truck · 08-30-2009, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 480sparky

95% of the time, I can leave the old service in place until I'm done building the new one. Because the new service is not permitted to go in the same location as the old one.

So I don't have to do anything with the old one save for getting prepared to switch the circuits to the new panel.

If push comes to shove, I can build a new service with cordless tools. If I need light, I put a 12v bulb in a drop light and I have a short extension cord with alligator clips so I can get power from the truck battery.

Why can't you put the new service where the old one was?

That makes no sense at all

drsparky · 08-30-2009, 12:19 AM

OSHA 1926.1053(b)(12)
Ladders shall have nonconductive siderails if they are used where the employee or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment, except as provided in 1926.951(c)(1) of this part.

480sparky · 08-30-2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black4Truck

Why can't you put the new service where the old one was?

That makes no sense at all

Old service is the the back half of the house. New services are required here to be in the front half of the house.

Or, the old service is fed by a service drop that is too close to the roof, so the new service is on the other end of the house.

The new service must meet all the current requirements when locating it within the structure. 95% of the time, it needs to get moved for this fact alone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drsparky

OSHA 1926.1053(b)(12)
Ladders shall have nonconductive siderails if they are used where the employee or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment, except as provided in 1926.951(c)(1) of this part.

In 99% of electrical work, there's no exposed energized equipment nearby when you're working with a ladder anyway.

busymnky · 08-30-2009, 12:29 AM

Actually it was the weight at full extension, working alone on some ice that gave me trouble.
You haven't really lived till you plant that metal ladder in the wet snow and climb up to troubleshoot that 277v lighting though! lol
Working live and working stupid are two different things. Every once in a while you'll have to take a chance. That's why I spent money on hot gloves, boots with a rating. I'm all for safety, but if I wanted to feel safe- I wouldn't have picked construction.

busymnky · 08-30-2009, 12:52 AM

Have to add- taking a chance is not like flipping a coin. The first and most important aspect of being safe is thinking clearly and carefully. Then there's my good friend lectricmeter (sic). Followed by hot gloves, layers of insulating tape and if it's called for, an apprentice with a 2x4.

drsparky · 08-30-2009, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 480sparky

In 99% of electrical work, there's no exposed energized equipment nearby when you're working with a ladder anyway.

Working for yourself I don't think OSHA applies, but for the rest of us electricians can not use metal ladders. If you change a light bulb hot you are exposed to energized electrical equipment. If OSHA walked onto a construction site and saw an aluminum ladder with our equipment they would tell us to get out the check book.

480sparky · 08-30-2009, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drsparky

Working for yourself I don't think OSHA applies, but for the rest of us electricians can not use metal ladders. If you change a light bulb hot you are exposed to energized electrical equipment. If OSHA walked onto a construction site and saw an aluminum ladder with our equipment they would tell us to get out the check book.

If I'm roughing in a new house, where is my exposed energized equipment?

As for changing a lamp, you can always LOTO the circuit.

Bob Badger · 08-30-2009, 06:06 AM

I agree with drsparky and would really enjoy watching Ken talk his way out of a fine with the OSHA guy.

We have little Giants, but they are fiberglass.

s.kelly · 08-30-2009, 11:20 AM

OSHA guy aside, I think a real problem with aluminum is the lazy factor. If it's already out and you do have to do something on or near hot stuff seems awful easy to go ahead and do it. Personally, it seems a bad idea for aluminum to be on a work truck. Even installing elevators that was my policy and 95% of the ladder work then is mechanical.

paul d. · 08-30-2009, 11:27 AM

aluminum ladders have no place in the professional electrical world.

480sparky · 08-30-2009, 11:33 AM

Would someone care to show me in a new house I am roughing in where the exposed energized equipment is?

For some reason, I manage to buy all my wire, boxes, conduit and panels that don't have any electricity in it. Strange that it's such a localized thing that all you other guys are installing everything hot. Geez, what fun is it roping a house when you have to wear arc suits all the time?

For that matter, wouldn't you need to suit up to walk into the supply house just to pick up a roll of 14/2?

s.kelly · 08-30-2009, 11:50 AM

480 I hear what you are saying, I still stand behind the possibility that it is out at the wrong time and increasing exposure to electrical energy

I think I remember you own your company and can control conditions better. Still not sure if it is worth the lighter weight or lower price.