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> Electricity isn't hard. Famous last words. Maybe the real issue is that it's treated as a "trade", ie, something you can get accredited with in 2 years of v
by VWWHFSfQ 3y ago
> Electricity isn't hard.
Famous last words. Maybe the real issue is that it's treated as a "trade", ie, something you can get accredited with in 2 years of vocational school or community college. But as we know from all the actual regulations about it, the reality is much different.
- SoftTalker 3y agoResidential/Household electricity isn't hard. Learning everything you need to know and putting in the time to get licensed as an electrician is. And for good reason, there are plenty of fools who would try to call themselves electricians otherwise (as there are many fools who try to call themselves software developers but make more of a mess than anything else). Learning how to do your own household wiring as a homeowner is not hard.
- meetingthrower 3y agoExactly. Running basics circuits is very straightforward. Why don't we just tier the licenses from super easy on up? Run 110, license A; run 220, license B; install main service from the street, license test C; running three way switch, badge 1. That way you can then get a handyman to do a light fixture change without him breaking the law.
- quickthrowman 3y agoWiring houses is maybe 5-10% of electrical work, the rest is commercial and industrial.
- denimnerd42 3y agoyeah and all the illegal work is being done in residential because of onerous regulations..
- tastyfreeze 3y agoIt also isn't hard to find an electrician that will come sign off on self done home wiring work to satisfy the regulators. To me that is a sign of overregulation. Electricians concede that non-electricians are capable enough to do their own work but the law requires somebody with a license to sign off on it.
- lotsofpulp 3y agoIt is not about being capable enough to do the work, it is about having enough reputation and liability insurance to be liable for damages resulting from faulty work. The city government most certainly does not want to shoulder most of it via their inspectors, so they share it with “licensed” electricians who have to put their assets, or the insurance company’s assets, on the line.
- tastyfreeze 3y agoIf my house burns down because I did some bad wiring that is all on me.
- lotsofpulp 3y agoSure, but what if you sell or rent the house and the next occupant suffers the consequences?
- rootusrootus 3y agoResidential is easy. Memorizing the code is the hardest part, and as a DIYer you can just go look that up as necessary to make sure you've got the right pieces.
- themaninthedark 3y agoI wish, right now the residential code in my state is owned by a private company so there is not a free copy that is easily available.