My Biggest Mistakes as an Apprentice Electrician

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  • Опубликовано: 21 сен 2024

Комментарии • 89

  • @MrPress6
    @MrPress6 Год назад +72

    Never leave stuff on the top of a 10 or 12 foot ladder. You will end up forgetting its up there then moving your ladder said item (fatmax tape measure) will fall on someone's head. Don't ask me how i know that😂

    • @stfuitsjuan7119
      @stfuitsjuan7119 Год назад +3

      Never put anything on a ladder always use ur bad im not union or anything yet planning on going cus im in an pre apprenticeship never everrrr leave anything on top i worked with my grandpa unlicensed doing everything

    • @Chris-zz6my
      @Chris-zz6my Год назад +5

      don't leave anything on top of a 6 foot ladder either. i broke half of my front tooth off when I left my Kleins up there and picked the ladder up to move it

    • @kevinrivera6649
      @kevinrivera6649 2 месяца назад +1

      Left my drill with a half inch bit and when I moved the ladder. The drill with the bit attached, scratched my forehead and nose. Missing my eye

  • @tonyt2051
    @tonyt2051 Год назад +23

    Props to you for posting this. It definitely took a lot of courage and says a lot about how dedicated you are to producing valuable content. The key is that you learned from your mistakes instead of letting them hold you back, which is why you are where you are today!

  • @alexsanoff585
    @alexsanoff585 Год назад +14

    Thanks for putting the ego aside and sharing your mistakes with us. The more people communicate about these things the less likely others will be to make a mistake themselves which could have unfortunately severe consequences. Keep up the good work and thanks for the videos!

  • @Shrampion
    @Shrampion 10 месяцев назад +5

    I think my lowest moment was when I installed one of my first 320A residential service. I was by myself deep in the countryside on a wet and snowy day.
    First of all I had a underground meterbase for an aerial service. Had to knockout 2 holes on top. (Not sure if legal but at the end Hydro sealed it)
    Second of all I broke the inside mecanism of the expensive meterbase by turning my allen-key in the center hole without the meter on. (That was mentally hard, had to order a new 320A gut)
    Finally, everything was looking good for Hydro to come and connect, I let the boss know to send the permit. 2 weeks later Hydro called me saying that the connection point is unaccessable for them. (it was on a half-roof which I got up on with my ladder, then dangerously climbed with my spike boots on the icy incline). Hydro only work from a ladder or from their boom truck. They don't climb! So I had the extend my parrallel 2" PVC work 😃

  • @maverickdacollie768
    @maverickdacollie768 Год назад +1

    LOVE your bravery, no one is perfect, learning from mistakes and sharing them openly saves lives

  • @Greenliight
    @Greenliight Год назад +2

    Thanks for your videos man I just interviewed today for local 551 in Santa Rosa California, I feel like I did a great job and wanted to extend a thanks!

  • @sparky_murph
    @sparky_murph Год назад +4

    Very good video, I agree with you. I have made plenty of mistakes. I have always admitted to them and asked how to do it better. Sometimes, my journeyman was great, walked me through it and I actually learned something. Some other ones, were extremely horrible people, let alone just horrible leaders. I had an experience, where a journeyman, who was not a very good person, fried a PLC system, as he shorted to contacts on a relay blade when he was just let it hang there. 120 went across a 24v relay. Well he tried to blame me for this, as I was his apprentice. Which was rather difficult, I wasn’t there at that time, on site, an hour before this I was called away for a family emergency. I told our foreman, but my journeyman wasn’t around and the foreman would tell him. Well it didn’t go well for the journeyman.

  • @mandiphillips5901
    @mandiphillips5901 Год назад +4

    I messed up by connecting the black wire to the silver screw and the white wire to gold screw on an outlet I was replacing. It unfortunately was for my chest freezer. That was a mess and wasted food

    • @yesteryearr
      @yesteryearr Месяц назад

      Check for power next time 😉

  • @ValenceFlux
    @ValenceFlux Год назад +4

    My biggest mistake was agreeing to shoulder around bundles of rmc until the other apprentice showed up to help with the materials. The foreman first pleaded with me to just carry one more bundle to the roof by myself so he didn't have anyone standing around doing nothing. So I shouldered that burden he put on me and made sure they could produce until the end of the day. There were two workers assigned to move the bundles to the roof but he wanted one apprentice per bundle. Both of us hurt our backs so bad my nerves still get inflamed. What did you learn in your apprenticeship? d=?
    Could you imagine the difficulties living with a back injury like that? You are never the same.

    • @nevinkuser9892
      @nevinkuser9892 Год назад

      Hatha yoga can fix that. I had major back injuries and now I'm 40 and feel great. It's possible!

    • @ValenceFlux
      @ValenceFlux Год назад +1

      @@nevinkuser9892 I have done much yoga, fasting, breathing and cold exposure. It helps some but nothing has fixed it. Spine inflammation can humble the confident.

  • @BabyKangaroo
    @BabyKangaroo Год назад

    I'm a second year, one test away from third year apprentice Local 606 Orlando FL. Just this past week actually, myself, another apprentice, and my Journeyman made a huge costly mistake. We're putting in lights on a remodel and had tied the lights in, we had relays in place and went to energize the circuit. We lost two relays and one light due to a ground fault. the mistake was, when making the terminations in the lights and closing the covers for them, the covers and surrounding edges are razor sharp and scored our conductors causing the short. After a good chewing out by the foreman, we found a better way to make the terminations and ensure there will be no damage to the conductors when closing the covers. Lesson learned and fingers crossed it does not happen again, like I said, those edges are razor sharp and we're having to be extra careful when closing those covers now, which slows the project down a bit.

  • @cjstephens1989
    @cjstephens1989 Год назад +1

    Awesome video! Thanks for all of the content you produce. Just recently got my ranking for the inside program at Local 48 and I'm sitting at #35. Thanks again!

    • @williamcruz7976
      @williamcruz7976 8 месяцев назад

      Almost there man. It takes a while but it's worth it

  • @Hatim.13
    @Hatim.13 Год назад +3

    Hi man, I wanted to let you know that your videos are such a valuable ressource in the Electricians/Electrical apprentices community, and that we re lucky to be in an age where other brothers share their wisdom, experiences and knowledge with others in such a convenient way!
    I am an IBEW CW2 and I ll hopefully join the apprenticeship classes in September and become an apprentice, so thank you for all the great content you share with us!
    Also 18min video isn't too long for us! Your videos are amazing and they can be 2 hours, they ll still be enjoyable!
    Thanks brother!

    • @michaeldoran4367
      @michaeldoran4367 Год назад

      78" veiny black COX glistening in the MOONLIGHT after exiting the BUTTTWHOLE of an old man who was the unwilling PARTICIPANT of some BUTTTWHOLE magic. Volleyball sized BALLZSAX with a 2" SHAFT, trying to enter the scene. "You're too short!" The 78" KOK shrugged.
      A Puerto Rican whipped out his WEENER on the school bus. 65" Diameter COK only 1" long. Bloody WEENER exits the BUTTTWHOLE of a Walmart employee's BUTTTWHOLE. BUTTTWHOLE DESTROYED. DEMOLISHED BUTTTWHOLE. BUTTTWHOLE WRECKED. Pieces of the bloody BUTTTWHOLE remains vacuumed up by a Honduran maid.

  • @thespiritualist2842
    @thespiritualist2842 Год назад +1

    We learn from our mistakes. Thank you for the informative video. I appreciate it.

  • @GabrielGarcia-u8v
    @GabrielGarcia-u8v Год назад +1

    Low voltage here.. screwed a light switch mud ring by screwing a screw through the wire while installing the bracket for the switch, it was magnetic.. well i ended up shorting half of the lighting system in the entire house.. me, my lead, and another tech ran around chasing the short around from switch to switch for around 45 min at the end of the day till we finally found the screw going directly through the wire.. i’ll be honest I didnt hear the end of it for about a week and a half from my lead cause of that day 😂

  • @PotentialDifference1
    @PotentialDifference1 Год назад

    In california we use 0-10v dimming Mc cable . The 2 18awg dimming conductors were always grey and purple until not too long ago. Because guys were taking that grey 18awg dimming wire to a 277v neutral 👀

  • @23tracy91
    @23tracy91 Год назад +1

    There's a tool for aligning holes between floors called a plumb bob.

  • @yukitadano5098
    @yukitadano5098 Год назад

    Thanks for the video. This stuff is probably even more important than the tips videos!

  • @ghostprotocolvideos
    @ghostprotocolvideos Год назад

    Love your vids. I just got accepted into my local union as a HVAC apprentice. Hope to make use of a lot of your advice.

  • @interstellarrefugeeshavira5471
    @interstellarrefugeeshavira5471 Год назад +1

    Hey I live in Portland also. And I'm interest in this program. I might go to PCC to join the program at first.

    • @alexsanoff585
      @alexsanoff585 Год назад +1

      Hey, they prefer hands on trade experience over classes, though classes in electrical theory wouldn’t hurt. You might put your name on the material handler books and get a job with an electrical contractor to gain that experience, that’s what they recommended to me.

  • @preparationoftheelect2023
    @preparationoftheelect2023 Год назад

    Thankyou brother for sharing your experiences so we can grow from it; god bless you 🙏🏼

  • @sportydoubledee
    @sportydoubledee 10 месяцев назад +1

    Almost knocked my teeth out with a pair of bullnose pliers i left on a ladder my first year, if it wasnt for the brim on my hardhat i would have that truckstop smile

  • @MikeSmith-gi4hc
    @MikeSmith-gi4hc Год назад +1

    Have a question for you. Once you got sent to the hospital job, have you been there ever since? Do you ever think about dragging and trying something new? Im torn as an apprentice between being well rounded and being an expert in a specific area. Thanks for the vids. Your advice helped get me into local 351.

  • @peanutbutterdijonnaise
    @peanutbutterdijonnaise 3 месяца назад

    14:40 “this was definitely sort of a Fluke thing”
    I see what you did there 👀😂

  • @SparkyHelper
    @SparkyHelper Год назад

    Thanks for the vid! Such great wisdom hard won. Appreciate your bravery sharing.

    • @ValenceFlux
      @ValenceFlux Год назад

      Bravery. Right. Because this job takes guts many don't have hahaha.

  • @igee1605
    @igee1605 Год назад +1

    Im thinking of starting an apprenticeship soon but ive been looking at electrician wages here in the uk, and they seem to be significantly less than what you're making over in America with the ibew.... it looks like when you're full qualified, you will be making like 30k which doest seem worth it for how long it takes to get there

    • @SorrowAvenue
      @SorrowAvenue Год назад +1

      Only 30k? I thought the US State of Kansas pays low with only 54k quid (68.000-70.000 USD).
      In the US State of Oregon, they pay around 98.000 USD for Journeyman and little over six figures for Masters. Then again, the housing prices are higher.
      In Alaska, I’ve heard of a story of someone in the field taking an out of state job to there and coming home with 200.000k USD a year - 157.000 pounds.
      The most I have ever heard in the trades (and they most definitely had to have additional qualifications for this) was around 500.000 USD a year. Almost 400.000 quids. That’s disgusting money.

  • @williamcruz7976
    @williamcruz7976 8 месяцев назад +1

    I think most dudes in the trade are afraid to say that they were at fault as either as an apprentice or even as a JW.

  • @jusdiesel8612
    @jusdiesel8612 Год назад +2

    I know you said you studied on Khan academy which math did you study pre algebra, algebra basics or algebra 1?

    • @galielgarcia2679
      @galielgarcia2679 Год назад +4

      The aptitude test will be on algebra 1 if that’s what you’re getting at .

  • @OwenBlake-ei3ub
    @OwenBlake-ei3ub 8 месяцев назад

    Wouldn’t verifying power to the equipment be considered hot work, and Nietc doesn’t allow for unsupervised apprentices.

  • @n8scotti
    @n8scotti Год назад +1

    please do a video about going from the military to an IBEW apprenticeship, i am trying to find resources and research but haven’t been able to find anything helpful yet. love your videos thank you so much

    • @MrJahka
      @MrJahka Год назад

      Google IBEW VEEP. It’s a program explicitly for fast tracking veterans who want to get into the union electrical industry. Beyond that, it’ll really be local by local but a lot of them do offer special considerations for veterans trying to join.

    • @MrJahka
      @MrJahka Год назад

      VEEP is actually pretty awesome in the sense if you’re trying to join a very desirable local like 3 or 103 it’s the easiest way to cut the line

  • @dennis3337
    @dennis3337 Год назад

    Thank you buddy

  • @TheJoshuabristow
    @TheJoshuabristow Год назад +1

    Hey man! Love the videos! I’m around the Salem area and currently have a pretty good job. I make about 25 an hour and have great benefits. But I’m debating on making the change to electrical. Is there a way to start making around that at the beginning? Or are places pretty set on just paying 40% of journeyman wage?

    • @alexsanoff585
      @alexsanoff585 Год назад

      Hey, at IBEW 48, which is the local in Portland I believe 40% of the Journey pay, and your starting apprentice pay is right around $23.50 and that goes up pretty quickly, so I wouldn’t let pay limit your decision if you are interested in electrical.

  • @abanoubmelad2919
    @abanoubmelad2919 Год назад +4

    Bro thanks for video. I really want to ask u an important question. I see you have a juge map in your local 48, so is that mean u travel a lot? Should i avoid joining to the huge map? Or your 95% of the work is only in Portland area so u don't travel and u can reach your job location in less than 30 minutes?

    • @Dabe666x
      @Dabe666x Год назад +2

      it really depends on your local, they will show you a map of exactly how far your territory goes.

    • @abanoubmelad2919
      @abanoubmelad2919 Год назад

      @@Dabe666x
      Yes i know but I'm talking about local 48 specially. So if i live in Portland, do i need to travel more than 30 minutes in that local or the most of work is in Portland.

    • @Dabe666x
      @Dabe666x Год назад +1

      @@abanoubmelad2919 I cant say for Portland, I work out of local 351 in south Jersey and the furthest I've been is like an hour and 20ish, lately I've been pretty close to home though. I'd definitely go to you're local and ask some questions I'm sure they'd be happy to answer your questions and help you out

    • @abanoubmelad2919
      @abanoubmelad2919 Год назад

      @@Dabe666x
      Thanks for your answer. But what do you mean about 20ish? Sorry I'm not so good in English. I searched about your local and i found A HUGE MAP! so if i will forward my question to you, do u travel a lot? Do u spend around 1 hour every time?? Aren't the work foucsed in just 1-2 big cities in your area? Like if i lived in the biggest city in your local 351, will i found 90% of my work is in that city or i will need to travel a lot like 1 hour? Thank u so much

    • @Dabe666x
      @Dabe666x Год назад +1

      @@abanoubmelad2919 hey no worries, the current job I'm on is about 20 minutes away from where I live, but I have traveled a little over an hour before, I'd expect to travel a bit, but its usually nothing too crazy

  • @yoshi8pie123
    @yoshi8pie123 Год назад +1

    Question, I am considering this union, but I’m curious, did you have any time when you felt like there was no work? Or had times where you have to pay the union even though you weren’t making any money? Or is that not an issue

    • @alexsanoff585
      @alexsanoff585 Год назад

      I’m a Material Handler with LU48 and from what I hear the work is pretty consistent, especially at Intel where I’m working. Also, if you are a hard working and receptive apprentice you will not likely be the one getting later off.

  • @babasinistralisrex7713
    @babasinistralisrex7713 Год назад

    Thanks for making these, they have helped me so much in making the jump soon. But one question: i may possibly move from one county to another in the near future, can i start with an IBEW local apprenticeship in one place and continue my apprenticeship at another county with another IBEW local? Is this type of continuity possible?
    Thank you!!!!!

  • @jessegarcia5406
    @jessegarcia5406 Год назад +3

    new soon to be apprentice here hopefully ( in the process of it , waiting for letter for aptitude test) can anyone sponsor me or get me going with a job 😭 here in CA . Bay Area and surroundings. Or anyone who can help me with tips and advice

    • @actualperson9628
      @actualperson9628 Год назад

      I advise getting the hell away from Commiefornia.

  • @bensyoutubeacc
    @bensyoutubeacc Год назад +1

    This fall I am starting a 13 month program at a tech school to earn NCCER 4 certification for electrician, what do you suggest I do after that? I was thinking of getting journeyman's license or applying for a apprenticeship but I'm not sure what would make the most sense.

    • @stfuitsjuan7119
      @stfuitsjuan7119 Год назад

      Go to a pre apprenticeship try to get a cpr certificate or first aid etc some unions give u classes within to get higher pay and master ur craft

  • @infinitusomnia243
    @infinitusomnia243 Год назад

    Hey is there any other online course recommended to help get that first job??? All the beginners jobs ask for an apprentice who is already at the end of their apprenticeship. Thank you

  • @_Just_A_Comment_
    @_Just_A_Comment_ Год назад

    Hey do you recommend any books to read for someone who have no clue about how to become electrician? I have 0 background in the trade but I’m curious and want to learn.

  • @danielsantana9873
    @danielsantana9873 Год назад

    Hey @madelectrician are all journeyman a holes when it comes to teaching apprentices? I was working with a journeyman and I had just gotten to learning everything and when I would forget something he taught me he’d get mad at me and almost for everything he’d get mad at me I didn’t appreciate the fact that I was trying to learn and he’d make me feel bad for making a mistake as we all do when we’re learning something new, just wanted to ask if all journeyman are a holes and if they are why even bother to teach?

    • @igee1605
      @igee1605 Год назад

      Did you get in ibew? I'm over in the uk and our wages seem to be a lot lower so im reconsidering if an apprenticeship is right for me

    • @alexsanoff585
      @alexsanoff585 Год назад +1

      I’m not an apprentice but I meet journeyman at the job site as a material handler and many of them seem like good dudes who are happy to help and teach, probably just depends on the individual and work place culture. Might be able to request a journeyman change?

  • @wurlabyscott
    @wurlabyscott 10 месяцев назад

    I sleep right thru the alarm once I hit a deep sleep

  • @iiGladious
    @iiGladious Год назад

    hey its kinda hard for me too say this, but im not doing very well in school and when i say that i am doing horrible and not sure what i am going to be doing in my future, i was thinking on either becoming a plumber or an electrican. Do you have any suggestions on what i should do? Thanks

    • @sportydoubledee
      @sportydoubledee 10 месяцев назад +1

      I've been doing it for 5 years since I got out of high-school, highly recommend it. I am able to provide for my family and pay all the bills while my wife goes to nursing school. If it wasnt for electrical I wouldn't have the life I do, I am thankful every day for my choice of career

    • @iiGladious
      @iiGladious 10 месяцев назад +1

      @@sportydoubledee thats nice to hear, btw im from Australia and is it hard studying to be an electrician because im not great in maths

    • @sportydoubledee
      @sportydoubledee 10 месяцев назад

      @@iiGladious I'm not great at math either but it is a vital part in many aspects of the job, a good calculator that you are familiar with will go a long way, cheers from nevada

  • @tedr4526
    @tedr4526 Год назад

    There was no competent journeymen on the job?

    • @MadElectrician
      @MadElectrician  Год назад

      These were all over the course of 5 years in very specific situations. There were definitely competent journeymen around, just an apprentice making the occasional stupid mistake (myself).

  • @mrmrodonnell
    @mrmrodonnell Год назад

    I appreciate this dude but never feel like he’s speaking to me. He’s like doing storytelling with a few warnings thrown in but I wish he’s be a little more direct in terms of what his advice is

  • @Sparky272
    @Sparky272 Год назад +1

    I always show up 30 minutes early and wake up at 330 every morning. I do not enjoy being rushed and like to take my time and ease my way into the day.

    • @MrJahka
      @MrJahka Год назад

      When do you go to bed??

    • @Sparky272
      @Sparky272 Год назад +1

      @@MrJahka if everything goes well around 8 when my insomnia kicks in. 11 sometimes

    • @MrJahka
      @MrJahka Год назад +1

      @@Sparky272 well whatever works for you but just saying that cheating yourself of sleep over time is awful for yourself

    • @Sparky272
      @Sparky272 Год назад

      @@MrJahka eh I enjoy waking up early. Keeps me primed for hunting season so it’s not so horrible to wake up. Plus I always feel better after 4 or 5 hours than I do when I get 8-10. But I do sleep in til like 5 on weekends. Sometimes even til like 7

    • @MrJahka
      @MrJahka Год назад

      @@Sparky272 well I guess you know your body. for most people getting that little sleep will cause a lot of damage over time but honestly you do you I was just curious

  • @shadygunshow
    @shadygunshow Год назад

    This stuff blows my mind. How do you make any money by doing a “tug test” on every single wire of every single joint that you ever do? Why wouldn’t you just know how to make a joint up right period? And every single circuit turned off? Why not just kill power to the whole block while your at it? Or the whole city? I tried union work, it’s not for me that’s for sure. Actually, it’s more than that. Union labor pisses me off to no end. The fact that y’all get paid anything is infuriating to me. We should get work done in a safe and TIMELY manner. There is no reason whatsoever to do a damn tug test but it makes sense bc it sounds gay af. And dude, the gloves and the 120 story here, I don’t think you were wearing gloves. I ain’t never seen Ppe that protects you a “little bit” from electric shock. If that current hit you then it hit you. If you had a hole in your glove I would think you’d say that, and at that point the glove is more dangerous than no glove at all. If it couldn’t stop 120v from piercing through its resistance then don’t wear them for a false sense of security. Sorry for the rant, I’m ending the video now since I’m so damn triggered over this. Thanks.

    • @MrJahka
      @MrJahka 10 месяцев назад

      You have zero idea what you’re talking about dude. Shut up and pay attention to your JW, you might learn something

    • @zomgkb
      @zomgkb 3 месяца назад

      Bro is actually delusional

  • @fisforfriendship6093
    @fisforfriendship6093 Год назад

    dum..b?

    • @MadElectrician
      @MadElectrician  Год назад +4

      D U M because it’s the dumb way to spell dumb. As in, I’m so dumb that I spell “dumb” “DUM”.

  • @Hatim.13
    @Hatim.13 Год назад +5

    It is insane to me that you were only bitten once by 120V, I am in the trade for more than 2 years (About 1.5 year non union and 10 months IBEW) and in my non union days I have experienced Electrical shock (120VAC 240VAC, 277VAC, and more than 350VDC on a roof while doing solar)
    I ve been lucky enough to get away with it and even get a little bit complacent with 120Vac which is a very dangerous attitude of course!
    Thankfully since I ve joined the union, I started understanding that getting shocked doesn't have to be part of our day to day as Electricians, and that we re responsible for our safety and we should do our best to make it home safely to our families everytime!
    The pseudo-machismo "get it done" culture of the trades is toxic and obnoxious, thankfully it's dying off with some of the old heads retiring!

    • @MrJahka
      @MrJahka Год назад +1

      I’ve been in the trade for 6 years and have been bit only once. Definitely should not be a regular occurrence..

  • @DailyElectrician
    @DailyElectrician Год назад +3

    PFH!

  • @JackElectrician
    @JackElectrician Год назад

    Awesome Video