The worst place to go for proper electrical advice is one of the Home Improvement stores. In between jobs a year ago, I worked at a Lowes, and being an electrical type, they put me in there. ( Home Depot is the same). If they have someone in the zone that is knowledgable, he is likely the only one. And, he will not last long at $10 per hour, and he/she is good, will get bumped up the ladder. The rest are not likely to know much.

First, there are things that are not even allowed in the codes that they stock and sell.

Second, they will put anyone in those departments. They have training programs with level 1, 2 and 3 "pamplets" for advancing up the "ladder".

Third, they are dangerous because their pride (and pamplet certifications) will not let them admit that they don't know something.

Yes, there are some that do know a lot, but at less than $10 an hour, it is rare, and they don't last long.

Want a common outlet, there are usually 10+ types that mostly look the same. But, some are for alum., some for copper, some for 15 amps, some for 20 amps, etc...... They almost always sell the lowest cost one.

Want wire? Another nightmare. Then mix in the different types of conduit and the families of conduit, connectors and terminations. I could go on form a long time.

The biggest problem is that the people that need the most help don't know how to know if salesman knows what he is talking about.

In Boise, we have a chain of local stores that specialize in plumbing and electrical issues. They know the electrical issues. I suspect that most mid to large cities will have stores like this. You just have to know how to look and evaluate them.

Jim

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Jim Severine
Boise, Idaho