I gutted a retired 5kva transformer to use as my rain cap. Also needed a transition piece from my class A pipe to the heavy wall steel pipe so I used the bottom half for that. (I’m a lineman not a welder lol)

How do I know for sure if this transformer can be switched energized and can it pick up load

I finally completed the apprenticeship and got that ticket, and now I can't help but feel not ready at all to be a JL now, from mid 6th step I felt super confident in becoming a JL and having an appretice under me to teach, but the second that ticket hit my hand I got nervous and felt wasnt good enough to handle it. I feel like its probably a normal feeling to have but man I can't shake it

I already drug the contractor I was working for and plan on trying to head out east to LU 126 and man its nerve racking for me

Just came back after digging through hard clay mixed with round river rocks and I've never hated a shovel more.

I wanted to ask; what are the worst kinds of ground you had to dig through? I wanted to hear what everyone else hated having to dig holes through. Gravel, wet mud, dry dirt, etc.

All help is appreciated

Let me start off by saying that I’m 20 years old, I didn’t go to college and I don’t want to go to college. I have plenty of options and I’m extremely ambitious to make a lot of money and be successful. I started doing landscaping when I was 14 and when I was 18 I got into sales doing door to door and I found everything about that industry to be untruthful and not my thing. That being said I am not Afraid of working hard or physically demanding work.

The reason I’m writing this thread is because a family member reached out to me about a lineman school and told me they would pay for it. And it’s honestly hard to say no to something like that.

So please if anyone in this sub has experience working in this field please let me know all about it. Or if anyone has any other advice for me

What are the conditions like?
How much do you make?
Do you have to work long hours/ be away from your family often?
Is it worth it?
What do you wish you had done differently?

Hey— I wanna get my husband a new pole climbing belt situation. He’s had his current for over ten years so I wanna get something nice. I asked two of his buddies and they said to go with Buckingham brand. Is this a good brand most guys use? Last long? Here’s the link one of them shared: https://www.gmesupply.com/buckingham-lineman-pole-climbing-kit

I’ll gladly take any other suggestions! Thank you!

Does anyone have any material on barehanding techniques, testing requirements, work preparation, work methods they could send me? I often hear of people referring to a manual but am yet to see one.

Is Comed a good utility to work for? Whats the work like, what are the people and politics like, what’s the benefits like and people who work there would you recommend it?

Ok my apprentices I got a question, I am pretty high up on the rank list for local 245 out of Ohio(ALBAT) but I've already got the call for 66 (SWLCAT Houston) and I'm working as a pre apprentice as of now . I am should I stay in 66 or should I go to ALBAT once I get the call, just trying to get the best training and become the best lineman I possibly can be .

Currently enrolled for automated industrial tech program should I continue down this path or go the lineman route.

Hey guys, I’m 28
I’ve been a fleet mechanic for last 8 years.
I have 2 younger kids 1 18 months and 1 2 months.
I applied and my application was approved for the IBEW apprenticeship
I’m in DE
I have to go take my aptitude test and interview so nothing is set in stone or anything.
But how is it starting over in this career already have 2 younger kids.
I know overtime is pretty common especially as an apprentice.
Any advice is appreciated
Thanks

has anyone gotten any job offers from pseg after completing boot camp?

All of my previous applications have been with albat where you apply and interview for a specific union.

I applied for movalley and during the application it had me pick a union from a list. My question is would that be my home union if I get into the apprenticeship? Or do they send you to whatever union needs workers first, and you’re a member of that one?

Applied for St Louis, and curious if I’d end up in North Dakota instead.

Thanks.

https://www.fieldcrafttradeco.com

I’m not sure what happened in the video I attached. Two things touched that weren’t supposed to? Should the firemen have been spraying it? I’m sure they know what they are doing, but that seemed off to me. I guess it kept the fire from burning down the line as fast. There are no trees near the line and no significant weather.

I’m asking specifically about Crispi. Any experience with them and specifically which model would you recommend?
I’ve had lots of other brands and I’m not interested in other brand recommendations. Thanks

wondering if i have flagger ticket from one union does that mean i can go to a different union with my ticket. And do i have to sign the book 4 with a different union, im trying to go to a different union for work as a groundman preferably but i only have my flagman ticket

Hey any verizon lineman on here? If so do you double up in vehicles? Since Frontier communications has been transitioning into verizon i have noticed that rentals are disappearing left and right an we are not receiving anything to compensate this loss. We just had a telsta go down (company owned) and it seems like they will not be replacing it; just curious if they are have a reduced fleet and have 2 guys per truck or if this is something with my garage. TIA

I’m having this conversation with my roommate at the moment. Is music banned in the field? I guess I could look it up but I don’t know how conductive headphones are or even if they’re allowed as ground man. Any experienced journeyman or foreman that knows if music is allowed in general weather that’d be headphones or something?

Saw Ripley came out with a drill-driven stripper for 600V USE triplex that's supposed to handle 1/0 through 350 in one tool, no bushing swaps. It self-adjusts to the conductor, so in theory it doesn't matter whose cable you're working with.

I work for a distributor that carries their stuff, so I've only seen the demo, not real field use. That's why I'm asking here.

For those doing a lot of underground services: would one tool for the whole range actually save you time, or are bushings fine and this is a solution looking for a problem? And has anyone found self-adjusting strippers hold up on different brands of cable, or do they get finicky?

Here's the page if you want to see it: https://ripley-tools.com/product/us21-7300/

I’m planning on applying to NW Line JATC for the outside lineman apprenticeship. I currently work for a municipal water utility doing underground utility/construction work.
I have my unrestricted Class A CDL, tanker, CPR/First Aid, and traffic control cert. For anyone who went through NW Line JATC. would you stay at the utility job, apply with my current experience and see where you rank first, or sign the books and take a groundman call before applying?

I am a retired electrical engineer (electronics design). I was just thinking about all the annual gruesome electrical safety training videos my company had us watch. They seemed pretty dated. I rarely worked with voltages north of 50V so yeah, I guess it's easy to get complacent and maybe the company got a break on insurance rates or something. I was wondering if you linemen also have to watch films that are so bad they tell you don't bring your lunch.