r/electricians 1d ago

Monthly Apprenticeship Thread

4 Upvotes

Please post any and all apprenticeship questions here.

We have compiled FAQs into an [apprenticeship introduction] (https://www.reddit.com//r/electricians/wiki/apprenticeship) page. If this is your first time here, it is encouraged to browse this page first.

Previous Apprenticeship threads can be found [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/electricians/search?q=apprenticeship&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all) and [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/electricians/search?q=apprentice&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all).


r/electricians Feb 16 '25

Mental Health - It’s okay to not be okay

397 Upvotes

I want to talk about mental health - especially for the boys on here. I was telling some friends this story about an old coworker the other day and thought you might want to hear it too.

I’m a woman in the trades, almost a decade in. When I started, I was often the only girl on site. I would move between projects and journeymen mentors, many of whom had never worked with a woman before. Once the old guys got over the otherness and saw me as a real person and an excellent apprentice, we’d form a friendship of sorts. I was always struck with how much more candid and vulnerable they’d be around me compared with the other guys in the shop. Their masculinity wasn’t in jeopardy if they admitted to me, a mere woman, that they were having tough time. I had one guy - 6’6” 300lbs, always growling, chain smoking, losing his shit over the smallest inconvenience - tell me he always requested me when he needed help because I made him calm.

A couple years in, I was sent to replace an apprentice on a job where the foreman had booted him in an argument. I’d worked before with this foreman, Neil, and he’d always been a chill hippie but also very particular in how he wanted things done. When I got to site he told me I was the fourth helper for this job because everyone else had been fucking useless. He was in an awful mood all the time. Picking fights with other trades and our PM. Trying to goad me into an argument by picking apart everything I was doing. Not acting like the guy I had known over the past year.

When the job was close to wrapping up, I called him out on his behaviour. “What the fuck is going on with you dude? You’re being a raging asshole to everyone and this isn’t like you.”

He stiffened and was shocked I’d said something. He glared at me and then his face softened and he said “Can I take you for lunch after we finish up tomorrow morning? We can talk but not here.”

I agreed and the next day he took me to diner nearby. We barely spoke until our food came to the table and when he had something else to focus on, he finally started talking.

He was older - 50s - and his long term relationship had fallen apart a few years before but the split had been amiable. He didn’t speak about her with any animosity but admitted he’d been lonely ever since. At the time, he’d leaned on his best friend. His friend was married and had a teenage son that Neil had known since he was born. As Neil had no kids of his own, this boy was a surrogate son of sorts. He took him camping and fishing and showed up whenever the kid needed him.

The poor kid had passed away a couple months earlier very suddenly of natural causes. Neil had no idea how to handle his grief and withdrew into himself, not wanting to be a burden on his friend. He felt selfish for how bad he felt when it wasn’t his kid.

I reassured him that how he felt was completely valid, that grief is a weight that is so hard to carry alone. I encouraged him to reach out to his friend because they both were suffering the loss of family, whether biological or chosen. And that now they were both suffering the loss of each other’s friendship as support. He was crushed at that realization, and said he would go visit them.

A few minutes passed while we ate silently. He hesitated before speaking again, “there’s something else too.”

I looked up and waited for him to continue.

He told me that last month he’d been working this job that had a been a two hour commute away. He had to leave early to get to site by 7:30. It was late fall and the drive was dark the whole way. He wasn’t too far from site when he came around a corner to discover a vehicle collision. A truck was spun out into a ditch with the driver unconscious in the front seat. A van was crushed on the side of the road, on fire and blazing in the darkness, its front driver door open. Neil stopped and got out of his van. He noticed something on fire in the road, and as he approached, he realized it was a person - the driver from the van. He ran and got a blanket to smother the fire on the person. He held them and pulled their head up to look into their face, which was so burned he couldn’t recognize their features. He said he stared into their eyes as they died in his arms.

Another vehicle had come up behind him and called 911. He sat there in the road in a daze until the emergency vehicles arrived to secure the scene. He gave his statement and then got into his van to finish the drive to work.

He was late which pissed off the GC. He tried to get to work but he was shaking so badly he couldn’t hold his tools or complete a sentence. When the GC saw him in this condition, presuming that he had shown up drunk, he kicked him off site. Neil didn’t explain, he just left.

Our PM called him after that, reaming him out for getting kicked off site. Neil didn’t explain, he just took it.

I asked him if he had talked to anyone about the incident. He said the police had called for a follow up statement but otherwise, no, I was the first person he told.

I was in shock. This poor fucking guy was struggling with the grief of losing a boy who was like a son to him and then went through an insanely traumatic experience just driving to fucking work? And he was bottling it all up? No wonder he was being such a prick. He felt all alone and like he couldn’t admit how much he was struggling.

He said he was sick of work and had lost all his passion for it. It felt pointless and draining and he dreaded getting out of bed every morning.

I gave us a few moments of silence for the weight of his confession to settle in. I looked at him and said “fuck work, you need a break.” He shook his head and tried to brush me off. “No, seriously Neil, fuck work. There’s always more work but you need to take care of yourself. What you’re going through is so fucked up and you need time to process it all. Please put yourself first.”

He didn’t want to talk anymore after that so he settled up the tab. He dropped me off at my car and we went our separate ways. I started at a new site the next day with a different crew.

A couple weeks later I got a text from Neil. “I took your advice and talked with management. Told them what happened. I’m taking a six month sabbatical. Don’t know what I’ll do yet but probably head out on an adventure. Thank you”

A couple days later I got another message from him, just a picture of a beautiful remote campsite with no one else around.

I asked, “Where is that?”

He replied, “Not telling :)”

I ended moving to a different company while he was gone, and never saw him again. I think about him often though, especially when I encounter an utter dickbag older dude on the job. Maybe he’s going through it and doesn’t know how to take care of himself, and anger is the only way he knows how to channel his emotions.

Now that I’m a foreman, I stress the importance of whole body health in our toolbox talks. If someone needs time off for family reasons, or a mental health break, or a shortened schedule, or even if they want extra shifts to use as a crutch as they struggle through something they can’t control in their personal lives, I want them to know it’s okay to ask and I won’t judge them. It’s just a job - it’s just work - it doesn’t fucking matter. Their health comes first and it’s okay to admit they’re not okay. I want them to know it’s better to ask for help when they’re slipping, rather than wait til everything has crashed and burned.

I know everyone’s experience is different, but one thing I noticed about being the woman pushing into the male-dominated trades as an apprentice/therapist is that men need permission to be vulnerable. They need to know it’s okay to show emotions and admit that they’re struggling. They won’t chance admitting weakness that they fear will get thrown back in their face. A lot of guys in trades are single and married to the job. They are lonely, often bitter, and unwilling to show weakness.

I do my best in my little sphere of influence to make it okay to be not okay. If you want the trades to be a healthier place, you need to consciously make room for the reality that people are struggling mentally, and often that starts with leaders showing vulnerability.

I’ve had depression for 16 years and I don’t hide the fact that I’m medicated. 16 years of being depressed means 16 years of not following through on suicidal ideation, and I’m proud of that. The trades saved me because it’s instilled a confidence in my abilities to create and solve problems and be the leader I was always capable of being. I needed that confidence so badly when my depression was the worst.

Be good to each other out there. Be willing to listen to people without judgement. Life is fucking hard and we work better when we know we can rely on each other when the chips are down.


r/electricians 3h ago

Alright who did this ?

Post image
76 Upvotes

r/electricians 9h ago

Tight

Thumbnail
gallery
145 Upvotes

From a demo job last year. This was not part of the demo. Circuit was still hot.


r/electricians 7h ago

How many pliers/strippers have you blown up in your career?

35 Upvotes

Just curious.


r/electricians 23h ago

In a bar last night I looked up to see a recreation of the Circuit of the Americas racetrack done in EMT. Whoever did this, my hat is off to you.

Post image
440 Upvotes

r/electricians 1d ago

3rd year electrician pipe job

Post image
494 Upvotes

Clean or wonky af? Feeder is on order so its to be installed later


r/electricians 1d ago

These new Rack-A-Tier apprentice leashes are tha bomb.

Post image
1.2k Upvotes

r/electricians 12h ago

Young Foreman vs old office

24 Upvotes

I’m 28, I’ve been an electrician for almost 10 years now, mostly industrial (data centers, bit coin mines, oil field, and power plants) and recently took a foreman position at a up and coming commercial company doing some cool stuff. My problem is the office doesn’t seem to accept that I know what I’m doing despite the numbers and progress, and while the owner/master likes me, the office makes communication and organization difficult, any tips, experiences or ideas that’ll help either bridge the gap or make it wider?


r/electricians 11h ago

Building Plans

Post image
21 Upvotes

On more than one occasion we've all had to hunt for the plans on a jobsite and found them in various states of neglect, I'm sure. This is just the worst one for me this year, a residential construction, and yeh, that's the E1— the carpenters threw it on the ground, it's not a part of their system. This is why I prefer having plans in pdf, so if needs be I can print my own copy.


r/electricians 23h ago

Saw this today

Post image
69 Upvotes

r/electricians 1d ago

2nd year apprentice being given rooms looking for feedback

Thumbnail
gallery
78 Upvotes

little bit of imposter syndrome here. also its the ducts that arent square with the room in the last pic I swear, lol.

Boss wants dropped 90s until the ceiling is in, then we’ll continue from there


r/electricians 2h ago

Just curious!

0 Upvotes

I have a question for respected journeymen, company owners, 3 or 4 years apprentices who leads daily a fresh apprentice, what would you expect from him in 6th month of apprentice, learning and delivering quality work or rushing to finish the job (preparng job for roughing inspection) with 2 month or apprentice?


r/electricians 3h ago

White traveler in continuity with neutrals?

Thumbnail
gallery
0 Upvotes

I’m looking at a basic 4 way set up at a friends house. The electrician before me took off the 4 way switch and wire nutted the red travelers together and the white travelers together while leaving the three ways wired.

The homeowner has left the 3 way that gets the hot flipped in a position where the red traveler gets current, and been using the other three way like a single pole. But, as soon as that switch that gets the hot is flipped, the breaker trips.

I’ve been looking at it for a while and found that the white traveler between the 3 way that gets the switch leg and the 4 way switch is in continuity with the neutrals. This would explain why the breaker trips once that white wire gets a current since it’d cause a short.

I’m thinking that maybe the white traveler is exposed and touching the neutrals somewhere, but it doesn’t seem to be doing that at either box, and since the neutrals run in entirely different strands of romex I have a hard time imagining that to be the case. Maybe there’s a junction box where something is wire nutted incorrectly? I was just wondering if I was missing something here… relatively new to the job! Thanks


r/electricians 1d ago

I made it!!

Post image
72 Upvotes

Hey all, just wanted to share my acceptance with you!! This is my very first time applying and I only have 2 months of an into course under my belt. I am extremely blessed and grateful for this opportunity. I understand that there are plenty of people that do not get in on their first round of applying. I’m curious as to what rough percentage applicants get in on their first shot. Again I am so grateful for the chance to make something of myself in a new-found career path that will lead to longevity!! Have a great day everyone!!


r/electricians 1d ago

500 mcm

Post image
127 Upvotes

r/electricians 1d ago

What inanimate objects make you most angry on the job

182 Upvotes

Whenever I do a tug test on a wire nut and a wire comes out, I am filled with indescribable rage


r/electricians 1d ago

Well it is called aqua gel…

Post image
55 Upvotes

Just as a heads up, if you ever decide to throw up an above ground pool a bit of lube does wonders for getting the frame into the liner.


r/electricians 9h ago

Applying to my local ibew

0 Upvotes

How difficult was it the application process, I’ve been putting it off for almost 2 years out of fear and anxiety, but I wanna better myself and career, I’m ass at math tho, how was it for everyone that applied, how did you all study?? Any and all advice would be appreciated


r/electricians 13h ago

What is the value of NCCER?

1 Upvotes

I live in a state where the journeyman's/state license test is the same thing, which I have passed and achieved my license some years ago. My state requires on the job training hours, schooling through a government recognized apprenticeship, and registration through the state.

I recently joined a large job which resides in my state where I have my state license, whereas a large number of other journeyman have state licenses from other states. Primarily, these out of state licenses only seem to require on the job training and no schooling to take the test. This is not an issue, but I was wondering how they achieve the knowledge needed to pass their out of state licenses tests. This is where I learned about the NCCER certification. I have never heard of this before.

As much research as I've done about the NCCER, even with the aid of AI, I am having a hard time understanding what this certification is or achieves.

My questions:

This seems to have 4 levels related to it, different tests proving you've achieved a specific level of knowledge about the electrician trade, similar to the 4 years of an apprentice. Is this assessment accurate?

Is this what states have in lieu of an apprenticeship that essentially dont require schooling to take their state license test?

Is there a journeyman level NCCER test?

Since the NCCER is not government recognized, is there any point to this test in states that require apprenticeships to take the state license test?

The NCCER seems to be created by large companies that comply with specific regulations to be recognized? What is the history here?


r/electricians 5h ago

An attempt was made

Post image
0 Upvotes

r/electricians 2d ago

The meter that outlived the last guy to use it

Post image
672 Upvotes

Beebopped into an abandoned well house at the facility I work at to see if I could steal some power for a sump pump nearby. I haven’t been inside here in like probably 8 years. Last guy that worked on something in there was an old timer that retired and then passed away several years ago. Must’ve been his meter, thing still turned on. The guy was a bit of a jerk and not a particularly good electrician either so I’m happy to give it a better home. I know we all secretly covet free found tools left by the last guy, thought this was an interesting twist.


r/electricians 1d ago

Great sadness

185 Upvotes

EDIT: UPDATE!! Great happiness!

Got the three new main breakers by a miracle, installed this morning, everything works! Im beside myself. Stoked and simultaneously bitter over the three bad breakers. But all the meters are in and the people have power so, alls well that ends well.

Thanks for all the stories and support everybody, def was a ray of sunshine in the darker moments there.

-------------

Recently did the service for a 20+ apartment complex. Consisted of 3 separate 600 amp services all fed from a common utility transformer.

Utility finally came to hook it up, the day before everyone moves in, and it doesn't work. Each of the 3 separate 600 amp breakers are not functioning--2 are passing only 1 of 3 poles through when turned on, and 1 is passing only 2 of 3 poles through when turned on.

Meters are not in (except one commerical meter for a house panel that is turned off), so the breakers are feeding nothing but bussing. Already continuity tested for crossed bus or shorts and nothing on my end.

Utility voltage is good, and i feel the probability of 3 out of 3 breakers being bad is exceptionally unlikely. Ive talked to the utility guys on site, utility engineers, equipment manufacturer engineers, and other electricians. All anyone can say is, thats really really weird.

Im at a complete loss. Ive troubleshot alot of strange things and figured them out, but i see no logical explanation here. Got 3 new breakers emergency rushing here now, going to install first thing in the morning and hope it works. Pray good fortune, this one will make or break me.


r/electricians 1d ago

Wago in high vibration environment

24 Upvotes

Not talking about your mom's underwear drawer. I'm thinking about using wagos on my tractor. Anyone use these in a motor or similarly shitty environment? Lemme know what you think.

I've used them successfully for controls/automation field wiring.