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  1. #1
    Randy Wienke's Avatar
    Randy Wienke Guest

    Default New Member from Southern California

    I have been an electrician since 1974 due to joining the US Navy as an Electrician's mate. After getting out, I worked for a great Electrical Contractor in the Mount Washington area of Los Angeles... his license number was only 5 numbers long (today CA contractors are in 7 digits). I had to leave him beings he could not offer insurance after about a year and a half; but he taught me so much that due to my military training and his, I applied for my state license in 79', then took the test and I passed the first time. However; I did not use it fully right away. Between taking the test and then hearing I passed, I was forced to get another full time job because I needed those benefits. So, I went to work for the Los Angeles Times in the Electrical department. After getting my license, I stayed with the Times... it was a great place to work with good pay and indoor work.

    I kept my license active for almost all of those years (only had a 3 year hiatus where I kept my license in reserve)... while I worked my way through the ranks and ended up as a supervisor in the Electrical department. The plant I worked at, closed, and due to the way it went down; I was laid off. I decided to go full time as an electrical contractor in 2006 and I am still going in this capacity right now... however; health is about to close my doors because my knees can not do the work anymore. I think my almost 40 years as a contractor has given me some rights to talk about the trade. I still remember my discussion with him in 1978 where he explained three different ways a home's three way lighting system can be wired up. We had to use one, which now I know is illegal; where you switch the neutral. But he also shared with me one from Europe; which is still legal in the US... but it is only a 3 way switching option; 4 way switches can not be added.

    In the early 80's, I ran across the European system on a project I was working on. I was asked to install a 4 way switch and because of the way the job went down; I did not walk through the house after it was installed and switch all 3 switches in several ways (I learned from that day to do this test several times). It worked as it should for the simple switching I did. That night, my general called me with the bad news that in one condition; the lights would either not go off or not come on. The next day, after a couple hours of looking closely at the wiring his words came back to me and I realized I had to completely re-wire the system to the standard three way switching. Once I did that, it worked great... and he was relieved that he didn't hire an idiot; but someone who just found something sort of unique in Los Angeles. He retired a few years back; and we are still in contact as good friends. We did a lot of jobs together since that job. His retirement was one of my dark days in my career.

    I have a lot of info in me... the joke I heard from one of my fellow workers at the Times seems to apply... I have forgotten more than most electricians will ever learn! Do you know the three - 3 way switching ways without using a search engine... even the illegal one?

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    Last edited by Randy Wienke; 12-12-2017 at 11:24 PM. Reason: Wording incorrect in one area
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Capistrano Beach, CA
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    MONTREAL QUEBEC-CANADA
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    Default Re: New Member from Southern California

    Great to meet you Randy.
    An electrician since 1974. Great.

    Looks like Captain Brian
    Hannigan piped you aboard the good ship InspectionNews endlessly traversing the open seas and provisioned you with some supplies to make your journey more comfortable.

    Looking forward to you answer to;
    Do you know the three, 3 way switching ways without using a search engine... even the illegal one?
    Got me wondering.


    Best regards.
    Robert

    Robert Young's Montreal Home Inspection Services Inc.
    Call (514) 489-1887 or (514) 441-3732
    Our Motto; Putting information where you need it most, "In your hands.”

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