On Thu, 4 Jan 2018 22:27:41 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 1/4/2018 6:01 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 4 Jan 2018 13:01:34 -0800 (PST), Its Me
wrote:


That's because electricians are schooled on the mechanics of wiring, but not theory. If a device's tag says it draws 30 amps, they know what size and type wire for the run to it (or where to look in the NEC book to find it), breaker size and type, conduit or not, etc. I'd bet close to half don't understand that the two legs are actually 180 degrees out of phase. Their exposure to theory is very brief, then it moves on to mechanics. Nothing wrong with that. The book tells them what size neutral, too.

That was true in places where training is left to the unions but
places that get actual continuing education for the new guys (and the
old guys) will be exposed to a lot more theory.
Union training is basically the old guys dribbling out what they know
to the new guys over 4 years. Very little new ever penetrates that
cycle.
I remember trying to explain triplin harmonics to a bunch of union GSA
electricians and having them tell me how long they had been wiring and
how I was just a snot nosed kid who didn't know ****.
A week later when their neutrals were burning up, the manager told
them they needed to listen to me.
Nobody had ever seen electronic ballasts and switching power supplies
before the 70s and 80s but they learned.



I am sure some electricians do learn theory however I agree with Its Me.
When new stuff comes along the code is just rewritten in terms of how to
wire for the new stuff. The code tells them when arc suppressors are
necessary, for example, but the electrician doesn't necessarily know why.

I have a fairly solid understanding of electrical wiring and power
distribution. However, I am totally ignorant of what current building
codes are. I wouldn't even consider doing a new residential service or
even a major renovation of an existing service myself. I'd hire a
licensed electrician.

I can't speak for the mobbed up union states but I changed from the
inspector trade association (IAEI) to the contractor group (ECF) many
years ago and I talk to those guys a lot. (they are more fun) They get
a lot of basic theory in their CEUs these days and I have never met
one of them who was confused by neutral loads. It is dealt with
extensively in NEC articles 215 and 220. These are generally the
license holders but we also see a lot of journeymen.