Do Most HI's REALLY understand Electricity

[John Allingham]

Do you really truly understand how electricity works i.e. electrical theory. BE HONEST.

[John Allingham]

If you can't explain a multi-wire circuit or why the circuit to a central A/C has no neutral then you should probably answer "no".

[David P. Valley]

Let's put it this way....

the average HI will never know everything regarding electricity. Education is always crucial. I've performed over 3,000 home inspections and I'm still in the learning process from this MB and the many educational videos.

[John Allingham]

Originally Posted by dvalley

Let's put it this way....

the average HI will never know everything regarding electricity. Education is always crucial. I've performed over 3,000 home inspections and I'm still in the learning process from this MB and the many educational videos.

I don't quite agree.
I do agree that an HI will never see every conceivable wiring configuration.
However, it is quite possible to completely understand electricity i.e. electrical theory, insofar as it applies to home inspection. If you have the theory, then you have the ability to understand the wiring configuration, given adequate time.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by jallingham

I don't quite agree.
I do agree that an HI will never see every conceivable wiring configuration.
However, it is quite possible to completely understand electricity i.e. electrical theory, insofar as it applies to home inspection.

I'm willing to put money on it that 50% of the HI's out there are not completely trained in the theory of Electricity.

Gotta go....3:00 inspection.

[John Allingham]

Originally Posted by dvalley

I'm willing to put money on it that 50% of the HI's out there are not completely trained in the theory of Electricity.

Gotta go....3:00 inspection.

If everyone is honest, we may find that out.

[Kevin Luce]

I wonder the same thing about home inspectors when it comes to heating and cooling of a house.

Do other home inspectors know that an air conditioner does not add cold air to a house but only removes heat?

How about the basic concept of Brewing? I bet most home inspectors are not familiar with it.

http://forgottensea.org/medievalbrewers/tbconcept.html

More education is needed.

Right after I get done with this drink.

[James H. Bushart]

It seems like there is always someone popping up here and there who will declare that his (or some other) level of knowledge is the basic minimum required for all home inspectors. Sometimes electrical, sometimes HVAC, and sometimes related to a toy (aka "tool") they just bought.

Wouldn't it be great for our profession if, instead of saying "Such and such knowledge or tool is a basic minimum standard for a home inspector" we were to say "To have such and such knowledge and tool is what sets an inspector above his peers"?

When there are home inspectors in the field charging $149.....let them be the "basic minimum". "I charge more because"....will always be the more beneficial argument than, "He lacks the basic minimum skills/tools that I have".

[rmaday]

Originally Posted by Kevin Luce

Do other home inspectors know that an air conditioner does not add cold air to a house but only removes heat?

or perhaps that there is no such thing as cold air.

[acox]

Originally Posted by rmaday

or perhaps that there is no such thing as cold air.

It's getting very philosophical - Cold is the state of absence of heat... just as dark is the absence of light.

And a $149 HI is simply the absence of worth.

[rmaday]

Originally Posted by acox

It's getting very philosophical - Cold is the state of absence of heat... just as dark is the absence of light.

And a $149 HI is simply the absence of worth.

Well said !

[Kevin Luce]

Originally Posted by rmaday

or perhaps that there is no such thing as cold air.

I disagree, I think −459.67 degrees Fahreheit (0 Kelvin) is cold air.

It's defind in a dictionary so it must be.

Cold
1 a: having or being a temperature that is uncomfortably low for humans <it is cold outside today> <a cold drafty attic> b: having a relatively low temperature or one lower than normal or expected <the bath water has gotten cold> c: not heated: as (1)of food : served without heating especially after initial cooking or processing <cold cereal> <cold roast beef> (2): served chilled or with ice <a cold drink> (3): involving processing without the use of heat <cold working of steel>

I need a cold beer now.

[rmaday]

Originally Posted by Kevin Luce

I need a cold beer now.

LOL I need a beer with a serious lack of heat too!

[kpierce]

Originally Posted by rmaday

LOL I need a beer with a serious lack of heat too!

LOL Too freakin' funny!

[relliott]

I think the whole point is how much electrical theory do we really need to call out safety issues?

I can call out lack of GFCI in a kitchen with out knowing how to manufacture one.

I can also drive a car and know when the battery is dead with out understanding how 12 volts is connected to my car .

We need to know enough to call out Health ,safety and financial issues.

If we became leading experts in everything (not that we don"t try) we would be charging a heck of a lot more.