Do Most HI's REALLY understand Electricity

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by jallingham

They better have 2 phases or they ain't getting 240V.

John,

Thank you for your assistance in helping me prove my point in post #5.

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.

[Bruce A. King]

We may have some confusion in this thread about the difference in understanding electrical theory and understanding residential systems and wiring. The two are very different subjects and I know both.


Probably 99 percent of electricians do not really know electrical theory but they know residential systems and wiring.


About 99.999 percent of inspectors do not really know electrical theory.
Probably 40 percent actually know all about residential systems and wiring.


An inspector that is aware of the many different defects, safety issues and has excellent defect recognition skills along with report writing skills can be a good home inspector without knowing all of the theory and without knowing all of the code.


Knowledge is always a plus therefore home inspectors should try to learn as much as they can even if they already know enough to do a reasonable inspection to meet a SOP.

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by dedwards

I used to own a MGB made by British Leyland. It spent most of its life in the shop. MGs and armadillos; the only time you see one it's dead on the side of the road. Then I understood why the Brits drank their beer warm. NO choice.

That's true Doug, Lucas (Prince of darkness) couldn't make beer coolers hell they couldn't make reliable ignition systems either

BTW thats also why British cars were so frugal on gas, they didn't run that often!

Regards

Gerry

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by bking

We may have some confusion in this thread about the difference in understanding electrical theory and understanding residential systems and wiring.

No confusion on my part. Where's the confusion?

[Bruce A. King]

You are right on except the 50 percent number, its more like <1 percent if your talking about theory and maybe 50 percent if you are talking residential wiring practices.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by bking

You are right on except the 50 percent number, its more like <1 percent if your talking about theory and maybe 50 percent if you are talking residential wiring practices.

Bruce,

Where are you coming up with those numbers?

Did you perform Electrical testing for HI's?

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by dvalley

Bruce,

Where are you coming up with those numbers?

Did you perform Electrical testing for HI's?

I'd also have to ask where the numbers come from, I have been teaching electrical inspection to both members and new HI's fpr about 7 years now and I would suggest that around 20-25% have a good understanding of electrical theory, and probably 75-80% (if not higher) of inspectors have a very good practicle knowledge of residential wiring issues.

Regards

Gerry

[Bruce A. King]

My comments were based on the fact that electrical theory encompasses much more than residential systems. The original post referred to "how electricity works" and not specifically the small residential system.


I know that the full spectrum of electrical theory does not come near to applying to home inspections but wanted to make readers of this thread aware of the vast difference.

How many electricians and inspectors know the answer to "How long does it take for a capacitor to discharge?"


How much black board space would it take for an instructor to demonstrate the formulas involved with one AC voltage source applied to one resistor and one capacitor?

Now you see where this thread is off base.

[John Allingham]

Originally Posted by Kevin Luce

???

Maybe this will help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-phase Normally used for houses and small business.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_phase Never seen or worked on equipment that uses this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-phase_electric_power for larger equipement that requires more power (Example: commercial).

Learned something new about 2 phase.
http://www.bestinspectors.net/electr...vice-types.htm

So the two hots coming into the house are 180 degrees out of phase but it's called a single phase system. Go figure.

[John Allingham]

I think electrical engineers, electricians, technicians, technologists understand electricity when they graduate. I know I did when I left Caltech 40 years ago. Do I remember it now - no way. However, after some brushing up, I think I understand it to the extent that it applies to home inspection.

That was really the intent of my poll i.e. do you really understand electricity as it applies to home inspection.

[William J. Decker]

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.

Photons - quantum particles of light (electromagnetic radiation)

Notons - quantum particles of darkness.

I bees a physicist .

To the point, whenever I start discussing electrical theory when I teach, eyes glaze over. I keep getting told that "this isn't necessary of needed."

If they say so, but I teach it anyway.

Memorize situations and you are helpless in a new situation.

Learn the conceptual theory and you can figure out the answer for yourself.

Hope this helps;

[Jim Opie]

I always thought people that know everything were on television.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by jim opie

i always thought people that know everything were on television.

rotflmao

[Richard L. Bennett]

John

If they were 180 deg apart would they not cancil each other out and we would get (0) power?

I thought it was single phase because we only had three wires

I think we should mark replies that are not true in red or something so as to not mess over other readers

---

I think the truth of the matter is that one must have one conductor positive and one conductor negative at the same time to get a potential differenct so that current will flow if needed

Good thread

rlb

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by rbennett

John

If they were 180 deg apart would they not cancil each other out and we would get (0) power?

I thought it was single phase because we only had three wires

I think we should mark replies that are not true in red or something so as to not mess over other readers

---

I think the truth of the matter is that one must have one conductor positive and one conductor negative at the same time to get a potential differenct so that current will flow if needed

Good thread

rlb

Richard, I don't think you meant to confuse anyone because I know you know this stuff.

But the the two lines coming into a home are 180 deg. out of phase because they originate at opposite ends of the same transformer winding.

Some others may find THIS helpful to improve their understanding of transformers.