Results 1 to 22 of 22
  1. #1
    Joe Asta's Avatar
    Joe Asta Guest

    Default Reason for Joining This Forum

    I thought I should let the group know why I joined this forum.

    I am an engineer that designs products used in the building trade. (I didn't even end that sentence and I heard all the groans!!!)

    One of the things that I want to accomplish is to understand what happens in the real world with the products I design. This knowledge is very valuable to me. Unlike many of my contempories, I am not happy with just getting the job done and leaving it at that, I need to know that through out the life of the products I design that they perform as intended.

    By reading your posts, I learn something everyday. I will put forth my best effort to put that knowledge to practical use in future designs.

    Now that you know where I stand, if I post a response that doesn't make sense, it's because I lack the experience in the trenches that each of you experience everyday.

    Similar Threads:
    Member Benefits1

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Memphis TN.
    Posts
    4,311

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Asta View Post

    I am an engineer that designs products used in the building trade. (I didn't even end that sentence and I heard all the groans!!!)
    . .
    .
    Welcome Joe,

    What do you Design?
    .

    ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images
    It Might have Choked Artie But it ain't gone'a choke Stymie! Our Gang " The Pooch " (1932)
    Billy J. Stephens HI Service Memphis TN.

  3. #3
    Joe Asta's Avatar
    Joe Asta Guest

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Light fixtures.


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Memphis TN.
    Posts
    4,311

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Asta;89850

    Light fixtures.
    .
    ......
    .

    It Might have Choked Artie But it ain't gone'a choke Stymie! Our Gang " The Pooch " (1932)
    Billy J. Stephens HI Service Memphis TN.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia PA
    Posts
    3,177

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Asta View Post
    I thought I should let the group know why I joined this forum...
    I joined to meet girls, but, so far, no luck.

    Welcome to the board!

    "There is no exception to the rule that every rule has an exception." -James Thurber, writer and cartoonist (1894-1961)
    www.ArnoldHomeInspections.com

  6. #6
    Matt Vozzella's Avatar
    Matt Vozzella Guest

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    I joined for similar reasons - I work for a MEP engineer doing design for all the trades now, plumbing for about 10 years. It helps to see what's actually out there beyond the computer screen. Also, I sometimes do predesign inspections on existing buildings.


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Asta View Post
    Light fixtures.
    Cool.

    That was my business (not design, but selling, installing, layout, etc.) for 13 years.

    Even made several of my own and created my own disco ceiling and floor systems, before we got wise to fire, fumes, etc., so that was quite some time ago. I really had fun designing systems for discos. Questions usually went like this: "What can you do for me?" "How much money do you have?" When they responded "A lot. I want something no one else has.", I knew I had a live one.

    Okay, what kind of lighting fixtures do you design? All types? Recessed? Track? Chandeliers?

    Here is the biggest gripes I had back then and still have today: Sockets.

    First, they never stay tight and when the lamp gets stuck in them the socket (lampholder) unscrews - NOT GOOD.

    Second, aluminum base lamps tend to get stuck in sockets and the lamp needs to be broken out and unscrewed with long nose pliers - NOT GOOD.

    Third, those cheaper sockets which are plastic with paper around them, use only ceramic sockets.

    Fourth, probably beyond you as this would be a parts design and not a lighting fixture design, but how about a two piece socket where there would be some type of fastener on the outside holding the socket together, when the socket burned out, the center contact or outer shell comes loose (like they always do), the outer fasteners can be clipped off (say 3-1/4 turn retainers) and the bad part of the socket replaced - same if the lamp gets stuck in the socket, instead of tearing the socket up to get the lamp out, remove and replace the top part of the socket. Yeah, I know, I just gave my retirement away again, but I am only an idea man, I never seem to be able to make the time and patent things.

    You need an idea man on contract?

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Rockwall Texas
    Posts
    4,521

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    How about a retractable chandlier's? You see these always hanging from a second floor ceiling and some have 50 bulbs or more. No easy way to change the bulbs without risking your life on a ladder.

    Why not have the lamp somehow retractible so you could lower it and replace the bulbs from the floor level and then send it back up?

    Rick


  9. #9
    mathew stouffer's Avatar
    mathew stouffer Guest

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Sweet idea Rick. What about retractable can light for vaulted ceilings.


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
    Posts
    3,509

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Hurst View Post
    How about a retractable chandlier's? You see these always hanging from a second floor ceiling and some have 50 bulbs or more. No easy way to change the bulbs without risking your life on a ladder.

    Why not have the lamp somehow retractible so you could lower it and replace the bulbs from the floor level and then send it back up?

    Rick
    Somebody beat you to the punch on this idea Rick. I've seen a couple of these in houses.


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Rockwall Texas
    Posts
    4,521

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Ostrowski View Post
    Somebody beat you to the punch on this idea Rick. I've seen a couple of these in houses.
    {tearing up request for information on a patent idea}


  12. #12
    Joe Asta's Avatar
    Joe Asta Guest

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    The company I work for makes all types of lighting from undercabinet to parking lot fixtures.

    I myself work mostly with recessed and track fixtures.

    We use ceramic sockets. Not worth saving a few cents on the part that the customer interfaces with.

    Company practice does not allow us to skimp on sockets, trims and finishes.

    Sorry guys, we don't make chandeliers.


  13. #13
    Matt Vozzella's Avatar
    Matt Vozzella Guest

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    You guys get into LEDs for parking/site lighting yet? Big cost up front but huge savings in operation.


  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Hurst View Post
    How about a retractable chandlier's?
    Already have them.

    They are hung from a winch with an electric motor in the attic, lowered and raised with a switch downstairs.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  15. #15
    Joe Asta's Avatar
    Joe Asta Guest

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by Matt Vozzella View Post
    You guys get into LEDs for parking/site lighting yet? Big cost up front but huge savings in operation.
    We have hundreds of LED projects in my area and I wouldn't be surprised if the parking lot guys have some too in development.

    FYI - It sometimes takes years to get new fixtures to market. Agency testing alone takes several months.


  16. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    195

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Rick,

    Cheer up. Maybe you could design one that works. I was involved in an interesting insurance investigation on one of these several years ago. The 6' diameter chandelier fell about 30' to the floor. The owners and their lawyers were blaming it on the installer. It turns out that the cleaning service held the "down" button on too long, so the winch lowered the light until all of the cable was unwound and then it started to wind the cable back up as the winch continued to turn. The cable was then wound slightly around the winch the wrong way, so the down button now raised it and the up button now lowered it. When they finished cleaning the chandelier, the raised it back up using the down button (the buttons aren't labelled; they just pushed whichever button made it go up). The problem was that there was no stop mechanism to prevent it from being raised too high, because the winch thought it was being lowered. When it was fully wound, the tension tore the chandelier off of the cable.
    I'm not sure how the case turned out, but I believe that the installer was off the hook.


  17. #17
    Joe Asta's Avatar
    Joe Asta Guest

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    The engineer could of caught that one in the DFMEA (Design Failure Mode & Effect Analysis). Saved my rear end many a times.

    Requirement in automotive, aerospace and military industries but rarely do I see them required in other industries.


  18. #18
    A.D. Miller's Avatar
    A.D. Miller Guest

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Disco Jerry Peck. Now that is a true visual!


  19. #19
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Rockwall Texas
    Posts
    4,521

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Disco Jerry Peck?

    Now that scares the Bee Gees-us out of me.

    rick


  20. #20
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    195

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Here's a link to the installation instructions. It's a bit off-topic, but it's interesting, in case you happen to run across one. Take a look at note h and i. Aladdin Light Lift, Inc.

    Is it just me, or is it a problem when a chandelier can fall if you operate the switch for too long? I'm sure that the cleaning company wasn't handed a set of instructions before they cleaned the chandelier.


  21. #21
    A.D. Miller's Avatar
    A.D. Miller Guest

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Frederickson View Post
    Here's a link to the installation instructions. It's a bit off-topic, but it's interesting, in case you happen to run across one. Take a look at note h and i. Aladdin Light Lift, Inc.

    Is it just me, or is it a problem when a chandelier can fall if you operate the switch for too long? I'm sure that the cleaning company wasn't handed a set of instructions before they cleaned the chandelier.
    SF: It looks like page 9 of the standard installation instructions is suggesting we act like real sparkies and hack up the ceiling joists.

    ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Reason for Joining This Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by A.D. Miller View Post
    Disco Jerry Peck. Now that is a true visual!
    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Hurst View Post
    Disco Jerry Peck?

    Now that scares the Bee Gees-us out of me.

    rick
    Hey guys!

    I never danced (disco or otherwise - I can carry a tune and a beat if you put it in a wheel barrow) just designed, built and installed whatever disco lighting systems they wanted and I could think up.

    Dance? I trip over my own three ... er ... two feet.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •