1 00:00:29,839 --> 00:00:34,960 What up for everybody. Welcome to another episode of Let's Ask Paul, the 2 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:39,759 podcast where you can ask me Paul Abernathy anything you want about the National Electrical 3 00:00:39,759 --> 00:00:44,399 Code all things electrically related. On today's episode, we are going to be 4 00:00:44,439 --> 00:00:49,479 answering some questions that are submitted over at the Paul Abernathy dot com portal. 5 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:53,200 Now, if you're not familiar with that portal, it's a free service sponsored 6 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:58,479 by Wicks that allows you to ask me Paul Abernathy anything you want about the 7 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:00,439 National Electrical Code. Only thing you got to do is put your name email 8 00:01:00,439 --> 00:01:04,439 address, and if I get it, I will answer either back in an 9 00:01:04,439 --> 00:01:08,359 email or if selected, I will answer it on a podcast much like the 10 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:12,959 one today. So check it out. A free service sponsored by Wicks. 11 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,760 I thank you Wiks for the partnership. All you got to do is just 12 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:22,879 go to Paul Abernathy dot com and put in your question. All right, 13 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,760 So we have some questions that were submitted and we're going to go through them. 14 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,840 I will tell you there is a lot of questions that come through the 15 00:01:30,879 --> 00:01:34,359 portal, not just by people asking questions, but people ask about programs, 16 00:01:34,439 --> 00:01:40,480 our training programs, and one of the questions that constantly get asked to me 17 00:01:40,719 --> 00:01:45,439 is are we only exam prep? Is our code classes or the things that 18 00:01:45,439 --> 00:01:52,079 we teach only exam prep? That is not accurate because we have what's called 19 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,599 the Basic in the Enhanced program that we just launched a couple of weeks ago. 20 00:01:56,359 --> 00:02:00,879 Those are NEC learning programs that obviously are designed for learning the NEC. 21 00:02:00,959 --> 00:02:04,319 Could you use them for exam prep? Absolutely, we have the database of 22 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,199 exam prep questions, we have all that available. But it is truly an 23 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:13,719 NEC learning program. And one of the beautiful things about that new program is 24 00:02:13,719 --> 00:02:15,439 that I was able to drop the price on it and get it down but 25 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:23,680 actually give you more than our previous programs. So again I wholeheartedly recommend our 26 00:02:23,719 --> 00:02:27,400 Basic or our Enhanced program. Now, the difference in the two for those 27 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,520 that are asking, is that the Basic program is just our course material. 28 00:02:30,879 --> 00:02:35,159 You get to log in through our website, you have access to it, 29 00:02:35,159 --> 00:02:39,199 it doesn't expire. It does come with a database of code questions and its 30 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:46,360 own associated videos and quizzes and things like that. But there's the Enhanced version 31 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:51,960 that also gives you one year access to our video platform over on fast tracks 32 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,919 Tube. And I can tell you. There's some videos on there that are 33 00:02:54,319 --> 00:03:00,280 eight hours long and twenty not twenty eight hours long and twelve hours long that 34 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:06,000 pay for itself, whether it's grounding and bonding or it's full calculations. So 35 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:08,199 again, there's a lot of content, and we'll be adding more and more. 36 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:15,240 We're constantly adding more. And also we're going to be uploading here shortly 37 00:03:15,759 --> 00:03:20,639 recordings from our Wednesday Night sessions that I've recorded through the year, and those 38 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,680 are going to be available in their own little series over on fasttracks Tube. 39 00:03:23,719 --> 00:03:28,560 If you're interested in Fasttracks Tube and you're not a student of ours, you 40 00:03:28,599 --> 00:03:34,159 can still get access to Wednesday Nights and you still can get all those videos 41 00:03:34,439 --> 00:03:38,520 by just going to fasttrackstube dot com. We have a fifty percent off right 42 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:44,199 now, just fifty off all caps, fifty off, and you can get 43 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,240 fifty percent off your annual subscription. I can tell you right now that eight 44 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:53,080 hours video on electrical calculations is worth it in itself. You're talking like forty 45 00:03:53,159 --> 00:03:57,439 nine bucks for a year. That's with the fifty percent off, and you 46 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:00,960 get an eight hour video on nothing but calcum relations. But also you can 47 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:05,120 step up to the twelve hour video on grounding and bonding. Or you can 48 00:04:05,159 --> 00:04:10,639 even go watch the two hour webinar I did on secondary conductors and feeder conductors 49 00:04:10,719 --> 00:04:14,479 or feeder taps. Great stuff is available over on fast tracks Tube, so 50 00:04:14,599 --> 00:04:18,759 check it out. So great, great benefit and great value to you. 51 00:04:19,079 --> 00:04:23,199 All Right, today's question, the very first one that was that I'm going 52 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:27,560 to look at today, was submitted and it says, as per the twenty 53 00:04:27,639 --> 00:04:34,120 twenty three NEC Code, are ceiling lights included in the GFCI requirement. Okay, 54 00:04:34,199 --> 00:04:38,639 so there is a two part question of this because I didn't understand exactly 55 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:44,600 what he's asking. So in the basement, you're required under the twenty twenty 56 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,000 three edition as well as the twenty twenty edition that it's no longer dealing with 57 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:53,519 finished or unfinished basements. So if I have a basement and the basement is 58 00:04:54,199 --> 00:04:57,959 finished off, but it is a basement, then it's going to have to 59 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:02,439 have GFCI protection on the receiptles not going to be required for the lighting. 60 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:10,240 It doesn't matter whether the basement is finished or unfinished anymore. And that's in 61 00:05:10,319 --> 00:05:15,759 contrast to when you have a commercial building with the basement, then it's only 62 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,319 requires GFCI protection on the receptacles if it is unfinished space, not finished space. 63 00:05:19,439 --> 00:05:23,120 That seems kind of weird to me, but that's the way it is 64 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:30,240 in the code. So residentially speaking, that it's going to Is the lighting 65 00:05:30,319 --> 00:05:33,120 going to be on with the have to be on GFCI in the basement. 66 00:05:33,199 --> 00:05:38,199 Absolutely not. It does not have to. Now. As far as being 67 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:43,879 AFCI protected, yes, okay, And so that is a totally different thing 68 00:05:43,959 --> 00:05:46,600 than what he was asking in his question. So I did send him a 69 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,800 follow up and I'm said, be a little more specific in your question, 70 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:55,600 and he did exactly what I tell people to do. And though so kudos 71 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,519 for the individual that did this. He did follow up. He did let 72 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:03,759 me know this was in follow up to a previous request, and he went 73 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:09,279 in more detail. And so here's what response. He says, I'm sorry 74 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:14,600 I was not specific enough. What I'm trying to ask was referring to roughing 75 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:19,480 in a basement with two bedrooms, a bathroom, family room, and utility 76 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:26,879 room. And the twenty twenty three EEC Code requires GFCI protection and AFCI protection 77 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,480 for the brand circuits. I was wondering if the GFCI protection is for the 78 00:06:30,519 --> 00:06:38,399 receptacles only or should the ceiling lights be included in that GFCI protection. And 79 00:06:38,439 --> 00:06:41,360 the answer to that is no, you don't have to put the ceiling lights 80 00:06:41,399 --> 00:06:46,240 on GFCI. You can if you would like, but you're not required to. 81 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:50,920 But the receptacles, the brand circuits supply those receptacles absolutely, whether it's 82 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:55,519 a finished basement or an unfinished basement, whether I agree with that or not, 83 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,800 and to be honest with you, I don't necessarily agree with that. 84 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:02,560 My problem with it is where are we going to stop if you're in an 85 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,839 area that's in a floodplaine, are they going to require your living room or 86 00:07:05,879 --> 00:07:10,959 septacles to be GFC at some point? What about the bedrooms? What about? 87 00:07:11,279 --> 00:07:15,439 So again, be careful what we asked for. But in your question, 88 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:18,680 no, the lighting is not required to be GFC I protected. Okay, 89 00:07:19,199 --> 00:07:24,319 all right, so hopefully it answers that question. Let's see here we'll 90 00:07:24,319 --> 00:07:30,040 go on to another question that was submitted as well. All right, all 91 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,160 right, so let's go on and move on to the next question that we 92 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:36,680 have. This one was submitted and this was a while ago. I'm just 93 00:07:36,759 --> 00:07:41,279 catching up, so bear with me here. I might have probably already answered 94 00:07:41,279 --> 00:07:43,800 this one in an email, but let's go on and knock it out here. 95 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,120 It says, good morning, sir, if possible, I would appreciate 96 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:50,000 a response via email. Okay, So I'm sure I responded, as I 97 00:07:50,079 --> 00:07:54,680 have quite a few of your podcasts to catch up on. You have been 98 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,439 very helpful in the past, and I know you will have the answer to 99 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:03,560 my question. I am in the process of finishing your video de Rating Demystified 100 00:08:03,639 --> 00:08:07,639 two point zero. Okay for those that don't know that, I have a 101 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,639 video out there that talks about de rating conductors and how to deal with adjustment 102 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:16,399 and corrections. And it's over on fast Tracks Tube and it's called de Rating 103 00:08:16,439 --> 00:08:20,600 Dimistified two point zero. But good news, folks that are over on fast 104 00:08:20,639 --> 00:08:26,879 Tracks Tube are exclusive video platform. I also have a new edition called de 105 00:08:26,079 --> 00:08:33,240 Rating Demystified three point zero and it's been updated for the twenty twenty three edition 106 00:08:33,279 --> 00:08:37,080 of the NEC. So check that out if you're over there as well. 107 00:08:37,759 --> 00:08:41,840 It says, I know you prefer if we state which code we are in, 108 00:08:41,919 --> 00:08:45,960 so since I am in Texas, I would prefer twenty twenty three NEC. 109 00:08:46,519 --> 00:08:50,080 Okay, So my listeners are out there listening, I love it because 110 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:54,240 I always say, if you're going to ask me a code question, make 111 00:08:54,279 --> 00:08:58,679 sure you tell me what edition of the NEC you're working at. Why is 112 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,519 that important? Well, dude, I teach people all over the country. 113 00:09:01,639 --> 00:09:05,120 Most of you either know me on these social media platforms. But I do 114 00:09:05,159 --> 00:09:09,559 a lot of work with companies all over the country and I get calls constantly, 115 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:16,159 and I'm working on as a consultant to some contracting firms and engineering firms 116 00:09:16,919 --> 00:09:18,440 in other parts of the country. They might still be on two thousand and 117 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:22,519 eight. There's believe it or not, there is some questions. I still 118 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:26,360 get about two thousand and five a NEC. Can you imagine that? But 119 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:31,000 I do get the questions. A lot of times it's from attorneys or something 120 00:09:31,039 --> 00:09:33,480 that are doing research for a case and they need to go back. In 121 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:35,720 fact, the other day I was even dabbling for a case I'm working on 122 00:09:35,799 --> 00:09:41,320 even earlier than that, to give them some background on the code changes in 123 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:46,399 the ramifications for accepting and adopting codes and what can happen if you don't. 124 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,279 So I do a lot of that work as well. So I am very 125 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:52,320 sincere when I tell folks out there, please tell me what code cycle you're 126 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:56,519 on, because my head is wrapped around and I am not getting any younger, 127 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,320 and I do have trouble remembering things from the two thousand and eight, 128 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:05,279 two thousand and five, twenty eleven, two thousand and fourteen, two thousand, 129 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:11,360 in twenty twenty seventeen. Now they're twenty twenty three, and guess what, 130 00:10:11,919 --> 00:10:16,399 I am already starting to dabble in the twenty twenty six editions. So, 131 00:10:16,639 --> 00:10:20,159 dude, if you could get in this head right now, okay, 132 00:10:20,399 --> 00:10:24,639 I wish I could actually take a USB drive and stick it in my head 133 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:28,240 and download everything and give it to you, but I can't. So you've 134 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:31,120 got to be very specific on what code cycle you in, and I will 135 00:10:31,159 --> 00:10:35,360 do my best, and I research everything so I might know it off the 136 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:39,679 top of my head on certain things, but I like to verify, and 137 00:10:39,759 --> 00:10:43,480 if you're a customer of mine and i'm your consultant, you can bet that 138 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:48,080 I research it so that I know that I'm giving you the best possible answer. 139 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:50,639 Okay, So just bear with me, but always tell me what code 140 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:54,279 cycle you're on, because I got so many of them bouncing around in my 141 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:56,960 head that I just want to make sure. Okay, It goes on to 142 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:03,720 say, I was doing some test prep questions on adjustments and corrections for ambient 143 00:11:03,799 --> 00:11:07,639 temperature and number of current carrying conductors. So he was doing work on three 144 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:13,360 ten fifteen B one one and three ten fifteen C one of the National Electrical 145 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:16,320 Code. Okay, So in doing a little adjustment and correction work, says 146 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:20,200 one particular question, gave me a feeder load of eight hundred and fifty ampiers 147 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:28,200 non continuous load. Okay, it's XJHW DASH two aluminum conductors, ambient temperature 148 00:11:28,399 --> 00:11:33,840 ninety four degrees fahrenheit, four current carrying conductors. Okay, so already we 149 00:11:33,919 --> 00:11:37,799 know it's other than eight eighty six degrees fahrenheit. Okay, we already know 150 00:11:37,879 --> 00:11:43,960 that. We already know that it is a thirty degree of celsius thirty degrees 151 00:11:45,039 --> 00:11:48,279 celsius eighty sixtgrees fahrenheit. We already know that it's not that, so there's 152 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,399 going to be a temperature correction. And then it says four current caring conductors, 153 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:56,480 So we already know there's going to be an adjustment because we have more 154 00:11:56,519 --> 00:11:58,679 than three current carrying conductors in the equation. So he already knows that, 155 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,240 and he's identified that, so good job. You can tell he's a student. 156 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:09,360 Okay, all right, terminal ratings of seventy five degrees fahrenheit fair enough. 157 00:12:09,919 --> 00:12:13,720 Says I took the eight hundred and fifty amps, divided it by point 158 00:12:13,799 --> 00:12:18,279 nine to six per the nine degree column in table three ten fifteen B one 159 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:24,080 one, and divided again by point eight per three ten dot fifteen C one 160 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,440 for the four current current conductors. That gave me eleven hundred and seven amp 161 00:12:26,519 --> 00:12:30,519 years. I'm not gonna not say I don't trust him, but I gotta 162 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,120 do it myself. Y'all know how that works. So I'm gonna go do 163 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:43,679 hundred and fifty divided by point nine six divided by point eight. Okay, 164 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:48,480 so he's right. Okay, he just gonna verify that. So he's right. 165 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:50,320 So it's eleven hundred and seven. So it says, for example, 166 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:54,840 if I run a feeder and I have two parallels, I would need the 167 00:12:54,879 --> 00:12:58,960 conductor capacity for each to be at least five hundred and fifty four amps. 168 00:13:00,159 --> 00:13:03,600 That is correct, That is correct, he says. Now for my question, 169 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:09,039 now that I have the opacity of the conductor, am I searching for? 170 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:13,440 Now that I have the opacity of the conductor that I'm searching for. 171 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:18,480 Since the question gave me seventy five degrees C terminals, well will I be 172 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:22,639 searching for a conductor in the ninety degree C column or the seventy five degrees 173 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:28,840 C column? Thanks in advance. Okay, great question. Watch the d 174 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:35,159 rating demystified a little closer and you'll get your answer. But remember you use 175 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:39,679 the ninety degree values because the conductors were XHHW dash too. Right. So 176 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,360 when you went and looked at the ambient and got the multiplier, you were 177 00:13:43,399 --> 00:13:48,799 in the ninety degree column. Correct, yes, And when you went in 178 00:13:48,519 --> 00:13:52,639 the number of current current conductors that did matter. That was for so you're 179 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:56,840 using point eight. Okay. What's important is the value that you took the 180 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,759 for the ninety four degrees fahrenheit That point ninety six you took from the ninety 181 00:14:01,799 --> 00:14:09,639 degree column because the conductor's insulation is rated ninety. So since you're able to 182 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:13,600 take these values from the ninety you're going to go find those conductors that are 183 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:18,120 five hundred and fifty four amps from the ninety Okay. Now, once you 184 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:24,159 found that conductor in the ninety degree column of three ten sixteen. Then all 185 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:26,799 you're going to do is to check your math is you're going to use multiplication 186 00:14:26,919 --> 00:14:31,240 to work your way down. Okay, that's it, right, So that's 187 00:14:31,279 --> 00:14:33,039 all you're going to do. So you're going to be looking in the ninety 188 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:37,519 degree column. Now at the end of the day, you can exceed the 189 00:14:37,639 --> 00:14:41,480 value under the seventy five because of the terminal limitations. The only real reason 190 00:14:41,519 --> 00:14:46,039 you're going to ninety is because you did all the You did the actual ambient 191 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:50,039 temperature correction from insulation. It was rated ninety, so you get to use 192 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:56,399 the ninety And then what you're doing is making sure that after you apply the 193 00:14:56,399 --> 00:15:00,399 adjustment and correction that you still have a conductor that can handle them load. 194 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:05,960 That's a key, and your load doesn't exceed the value under the seventy five 195 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:11,240 degree column because you're limited to one ten dot fourteen c terminal and temperature limitations. 196 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:16,240 Okay, so yes, you were actually absolutely right. You're using division 197 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:18,960 because you know what the load is. You use division to work up. 198 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:22,720 Once you get up, you go to the ninety degree column, pick the 199 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:28,399 conductor that can handle the opacity, and then you use multiple multiplication with the 200 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:33,039 same values, right, same values that you had before the point ninety six 201 00:15:33,159 --> 00:15:39,080 and the point eight and now you multiply whatever it is under the ninety Now 202 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:43,000 you do multiplication and you come down, and now you're trying to see that 203 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:46,960 you still have a conductor that's at least good for what five hundred and fifty 204 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,399 four ams, right, because you still have to handle the load. Okay, 205 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:56,679 So anyway, definitely going to be using the ninety degree column, but 206 00:15:56,759 --> 00:16:00,879 you're not going to exceed the value under seventy. So for all intensive purposes, 207 00:16:00,879 --> 00:16:03,440 when we go through this little adjustment and correction thing that we do, 208 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:08,639 all we're doing is to make sure that even after those adjustment corrections, that 209 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:12,440 we still have a conductor that can one handle the load and two we're not 210 00:16:12,759 --> 00:16:18,679 exceeding the value that's given to us under the seventy five degree column. That's 211 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,679 it, Okay, So go back watch that d rating mystified video again. 212 00:16:22,759 --> 00:16:26,559 And I'll remind you that I do have a book. I can't say when 213 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:30,799 it's coming out, but it's going to be called Just Calculations, and it's 214 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:37,159 going to go and break these things down in extreme detail as well. So 215 00:16:37,279 --> 00:16:41,519 make sure you keep an eye out for that I am probably two thirds maybe 216 00:16:41,159 --> 00:16:45,679 maybe a little over half of the way through with that book, and now 217 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,960 I'm able to get more time to focus on it. So hopefully I'll get 218 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:55,200 that done here shortly and we'll get this out to you. All right, 219 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:56,879 hopefully I answered that question. I will now go on and see I there's 220 00:16:56,879 --> 00:17:00,799 another one. All right here, So we got another one. We're going 221 00:17:00,879 --> 00:17:06,920 to tackle. This one want to be really quickly easy to tackle. Here's 222 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:11,640 one that just came in. It says, I know you get this question 223 00:17:11,759 --> 00:17:17,039 a lot, but what is the best NEC book I can start learning with? 224 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:23,279 And where can I order one? Okay? So my advice here is 225 00:17:23,319 --> 00:17:27,839 you need to first find out what your state is testing on. Okay, 226 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:34,240 so there is no best anyc is find out what your state is testing on. 227 00:17:34,759 --> 00:17:40,400 If you have the hours to be able to test, then start with 228 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,400 whatever's current. If you still got a year or two, then you may 229 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:47,880 want to take whatever the state's on right now and go to the next edition, 230 00:17:48,279 --> 00:17:52,279 the next available edition. So for example, if your state's on the 231 00:17:52,319 --> 00:17:56,880 twenty seventeen and you're not going to be testing for two years, then the 232 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:00,640 book that you want to start learning is going to be the two twenty twenty, 233 00:18:00,839 --> 00:18:03,240 because there's a high probability that your state will be on the twenty twenty 234 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:08,440 by the time you get to your test date. Now, people ask me, 235 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,319 what if I do that, and they're happy to still be doing the 236 00:18:11,319 --> 00:18:17,319 twenty seventeen when and you're learned in the twenty twenty. What if they're still 237 00:18:17,319 --> 00:18:19,799 in the twenty seventeen when you go to test. How's that going to affect 238 00:18:19,799 --> 00:18:22,960 you? Well, it's going to affect you. But I still think that 239 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:26,519 the principles are the same, So I still think you won't have any trouble 240 00:18:26,759 --> 00:18:30,359 passing the exam. Some of the code references are going to be different, 241 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:36,279 but at the end of the day, I think that learning the code is 242 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:38,440 part of a process of learning how to maneuver the NEC. And there's certain 243 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:42,599 things that we add stuff to it, but there's the basics that tend to 244 00:18:42,599 --> 00:18:47,599 be the low hanging fruit on exams that just don't change. Right. We 245 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:52,839 don't write exams for nothing, but code changes, right. It's like I 246 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,799 tell people all the time, I was part of the code development for the 247 00:18:57,079 --> 00:19:02,400 for Texas during the twenty seventeen code. I was not for the twenty twenty 248 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:04,839 or even the twenty twenty three one. They wouldn't let me anymore because they 249 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:08,880 knew that I taught people. They were like, that's unfair, and I'm 250 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,440 like, well, dude, anybody that knows me knows I would never give 251 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:15,680 anybody the answers. I make a work for it. But anyway, that's 252 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,799 their choice. But I did, but I did. We'll tell you that 253 00:19:18,319 --> 00:19:22,480 they don't just throw out all the questions that they've had in the database. 254 00:19:22,559 --> 00:19:26,680 They continue to use them. The only thing that the code people do when 255 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,480 we go look at it when I was a part of it, is that 256 00:19:29,519 --> 00:19:33,279 we look and see if the questions are still relevant, if there's something that 257 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:37,599 has changed significantly that now makes that question not relevant anymore, and then they'll 258 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,880 toss it and they'll ask us to write a couple new ones each time and 259 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:47,079 just kind of replenish the pool of questions. That's what we know what we 260 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:49,160 do. But at the end of the day, we're not kind of they're 261 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:56,599 not looking to write questions that are all together just code change based type questions. 262 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:00,319 Right, it's just any C stuff. So if you're really good and 263 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:03,640 you practice and you learn how to navigate the NEEC. You use our principles 264 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:07,599 of the three wave method when you're taking the exam, then you're going to 265 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,880 have plenty of time and that's going to allow you to be more than comfortable 266 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:17,039 on the exam. Whether it's whether you're studying a twenty twenty and the test 267 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:19,880 ends up being on the twenty seventeen, I think you'll still have no problem 268 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:26,039 passing because it's all about the mental study, right, and if you're very 269 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:30,440 much into the code, it's not really going to matter that much. Okay. 270 00:20:30,759 --> 00:20:33,920 Now I can't say the same if you're studying twenty seventeen and then all 271 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:37,279 of a sudden you're testing on the twenty twenty three. Okay, there's enough 272 00:20:37,599 --> 00:20:42,400 bigger changes structurally moving things around that really could cause you a little bit of 273 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:48,000 a problem. But you know, there's still a high probability that you'll you'll 274 00:20:48,039 --> 00:20:52,519 pass because you learn the basics and the basics the six foot twelve foot rules. 275 00:20:52,559 --> 00:20:56,240 There's just some additional things that you're going to learn how to look that 276 00:20:56,359 --> 00:21:00,799 up in the code anyway, So prefer you to be study on the cycle 277 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:06,400 that you're testing on. So I prefer that's the best code to have. 278 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:10,480 If you're testing soon on the twenty seventeen, then you need to be studying 279 00:21:10,519 --> 00:21:12,119 the twenty seventeen. If you're going to be testing on the twenty twenty, 280 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,839 then that's the best one. Get the twenty twenty. Okay, So I'm 281 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,400 just giving you advice looking forward because I don't know where you are in your 282 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:23,200 journey. And then your next question is where can you order one? Well, 283 00:21:23,599 --> 00:21:29,839 there's two places that I recommend. One is that you can obviously go 284 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:33,319 get it from your local supply house, your local electrical supply house so typically 285 00:21:33,319 --> 00:21:38,319 have one and you help support the supply house there. I don't recommend Amazon. 286 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,720 I don't recommend eBay. You might save a few bucks, but you're 287 00:21:41,799 --> 00:21:47,400 liable to get a counterfeit copy and they are all over the place. It's 288 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:51,799 an easy document to copy and sell, and they'll sell them cheap. If 289 00:21:51,839 --> 00:21:56,880 it looks too cheap, then it probably is. So supply house is one 290 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:00,440 location. The next one location that I would say would be going to n 291 00:22:00,559 --> 00:22:04,400 f p A directly, so n f p A dot org and ordering it 292 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:08,119 directly and getting it that way. And if you're an n f p A 293 00:22:08,319 --> 00:22:11,720 member, then you can get a discount on it. There's a third method, 294 00:22:11,839 --> 00:22:15,680 and uh, I you know, I haven't verified these books, but 295 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:22,519 it seems like Jay over on TikTok uh the Basement King or based uh uh 296 00:22:22,599 --> 00:22:26,839 wackhack. You know he goes by whackack but it's h Jay Grunberg. He 297 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:30,960 also sells code books and he'll tab him out for you. So again that's 298 00:22:30,759 --> 00:22:37,359 you can check him out as well on uh wackcack code any what is he 299 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:41,519 code? Whack haack? I'm drawing a blink, but anyway, it's whack 300 00:22:41,599 --> 00:22:48,119 hack Jay Grunberg over on over on TikTok check him out. He sells code 301 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:52,200 books as well. So those are that's three trusted resources that I would tell 302 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,200 you. You could get him from so supply House straight from n f p 303 00:22:56,319 --> 00:23:00,759 ah. You could also get them from bookstores, So I guess that's a 304 00:23:00,799 --> 00:23:03,200 fourth one. If the bookstore carries them, you can get them there, 305 00:23:03,759 --> 00:23:07,000 or you can get them from Jay over on TikTok. I don't sell codebooks, 306 00:23:07,279 --> 00:23:11,799 so get them from him this couple different ways. Okay, all right, 307 00:23:11,839 --> 00:23:15,799 So hopefully that answers your question there. But the best nec for you 308 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,920 to get and start learning is the one that you're going to be testing on, 309 00:23:19,519 --> 00:23:23,200 and that's the one that I recommend you get. So just check with 310 00:23:23,279 --> 00:23:27,559 your local test center and find out what your state is on right now, 311 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:33,640 and there will pretty much help you. Oh. Also, we do have 312 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:37,240 a resource that's available on our website. If you go look at any of 313 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:44,240 our products, like the Basic or the Enhanced exam Preps or the NEC Learning 314 00:23:44,279 --> 00:23:48,640 Course, there's a link in there to this NFPA site that shows you what 315 00:23:48,799 --> 00:23:52,519 the NEC that's adopted in your state. So that is a resource that we 316 00:23:52,599 --> 00:23:56,759 have on our website. You just got to go to the product that you're 317 00:23:56,799 --> 00:24:02,480 looking for, like twenty twenty NEC Basic or Enhanced, and it'll be in 318 00:24:02,519 --> 00:24:04,960 the description. You'll see the link and that'll take you and you can look 319 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,640 and see whatever state you're on, and it'll tell you what code cycle they're 320 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:11,920 on right now, that type of thing. So hopefully that answers that question 321 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:15,880 for you. All right, all right, So let's go on and get 322 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:19,480 to the last one on this episode. We have one that was submitted and 323 00:24:19,599 --> 00:24:26,759 says, Hey, Paul, quick question is there has anybody learned by now 324 00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:32,039 that there is no quick question with me that I just rattle on forever I 325 00:24:32,079 --> 00:24:34,480 can't seem to answer anything in a quick way. I just I've never been 326 00:24:34,519 --> 00:24:37,480 able to. Okay, I'm long winded. Most people say I just like 327 00:24:37,519 --> 00:24:41,920 to hear myself talk, and that's probably true. I am conceited like that. 328 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:45,440 Okay, I am sexy. Okay, all right, says is there 329 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:53,359 a requirement in the code when installing PPC encased in concrete on how far below 330 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:59,240 the top of the concrete slab it has to be? Reason I ask is 331 00:24:59,279 --> 00:25:07,119 because I know framers or handymen sometimes drill tap cons into the slab to fasten 332 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:12,039 treated wood, bifold doors, bottom rails, et cetera. I am wondering 333 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:21,279 if I'm wondering if they could hit the encased raceway. Okay, So raceways 334 00:25:21,799 --> 00:25:25,200 typically, if you're running a raceway under a slab, now, this would 335 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:27,240 be table three hundred dot five by the way, for those that are listening, 336 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:32,319 that's depth of cover. When you run it in a raceway under a 337 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:36,440 building, the cover is zero. Okay, on the table it's zero. 338 00:25:37,079 --> 00:25:41,359 Now. The reason it's zero is because typically the building slab is going to 339 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:47,160 be at least four inches now depending on the building. Obviously, bigger building, 340 00:25:47,319 --> 00:25:49,759 much more weight, building codes come in. Slab may be thicker, 341 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:56,599 but typically you've got at least a four inch slab. So usually the raceways, 342 00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:59,920 if they're running under the building, they're gonna be at least under the 343 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:07,240 four inch slab right in that scenario. So there is nothing that says that 344 00:26:07,599 --> 00:26:11,799 when they're putting tap cons in and all this kind of other stuff, that 345 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:17,920 they could hit an in case raceway. I mean, I guess they could, 346 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:22,240 but that would be one some long ass tap cons in. Two, 347 00:26:22,319 --> 00:26:25,279 if it's through wood members or framing members or whatever, then you've also got 348 00:26:25,319 --> 00:26:27,319 the thickness of the of the wood member or whatever the framing member is. 349 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,359 So I mean, it's not gonna typically going to go that far. And 350 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:34,839 I think the onus has got to be on the framer and it's got to 351 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:40,119 be on the electrician to know how they're routing their raceways through a building. 352 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:45,559 But ultimately, I have not seen a big issue of this being a problem 353 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:49,319 of raceways being penetrated. Could it happen, Absolutely, it could happen, 354 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:55,200 but I have not seen it. Typically, again, these raceways under a 355 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:59,920 building will be under the slab or laying in the in the they will lay 356 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:03,400 them down before the slab is poured, so again, usually have at least 357 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:07,680 four inches of slab on it for most buildings. So I have never known 358 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:12,559 this to be a problem at all. So I think I did email this 359 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:17,960 gentleman and said, if you've encountered any of these situations where raceways and I 360 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:21,039 don't know how we would know, unless, of course, there's conductors in 361 00:27:21,079 --> 00:27:25,240 it, and then somebody drives a tap con or something long down in there 362 00:27:25,279 --> 00:27:27,279 and then it faults out and then they find out that's what's wrong, and 363 00:27:27,319 --> 00:27:32,039 somebody has to chisel it up, and that's when they find it. I 364 00:27:32,079 --> 00:27:34,960 don't know that you've ever seen that. I certainly haven't seen that, and 365 00:27:36,039 --> 00:27:40,279 so I would say we just uer products of dumb luck that we've never run 366 00:27:40,319 --> 00:27:45,599 into it. But I typically think that they're not long enough to get down 367 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:52,079 through the slab and also get down and then penetrate through the raceway. I 368 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:55,920 just don't know that to be the case. But again, again we have 369 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:00,200 to install raceways and everything where it would not be damaged that type of scenarios. 370 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:03,720 So again a lot of the onus is going to be on the installer, 371 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:07,519 and there are plenty of blueprints available that show you how the walls are 372 00:28:07,519 --> 00:28:10,440 going to be done, where they're gonna be, where you're going to rout 373 00:28:10,519 --> 00:28:12,279 your your race ways and all this kind of stuff. And if it's a 374 00:28:12,279 --> 00:28:18,119 big commercial building, maybe they already have a plan that shows in the slab 375 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:22,160 because usually you've got stub ups and things like that, so you kind of 376 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:26,119 got to know where things are running. So usually that's kind of planned out. 377 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:30,319 But I guess it's possible. But no, I'm not aware of anything 378 00:28:30,319 --> 00:28:33,680 in the code other than the normal depth of cover that's in table three hundred 379 00:28:33,759 --> 00:28:36,920 dot five, So I don't know if that can help you or not. 380 00:28:37,599 --> 00:28:40,920 But that's the best I've got for you. Okay, all right, folks, 381 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:44,720 that's going to be it for two days episode of Let's Ask Paul. 382 00:28:44,839 --> 00:28:48,599 Remember you can always reach out to me by going to Paul Abernethy dot com. 383 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:51,240 You can submit questions to me. All you got to do is put 384 00:28:51,279 --> 00:28:55,079 your name in and put your email address and then post your question. It's 385 00:28:55,119 --> 00:28:57,880 all sponsored by Wicks. Won't cost you a dime. I either respond to 386 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:03,319 an email or if select, then on an upcoming podcast much like today. 387 00:29:03,839 --> 00:29:06,759 Also, by the way, make sure you get our free mobile app. 388 00:29:06,759 --> 00:29:10,799 It's a free mobile app that gives you access to these podcasts as well as 389 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:18,119 a bunch of online calculators, motor calculators, adjustment correction calculators, a bunch 390 00:29:18,119 --> 00:29:21,799 of good stuff. And I even have a link to a great flat rate 391 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:26,839 pricing program as well that you can use. It's all in the mobile app 392 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:30,039 and it's free. Where do you get the mobile app on our website? 393 00:29:30,119 --> 00:29:33,319 Go to fasttracksystem dot com. That's f A S T T R A X 394 00:29:33,759 --> 00:29:40,359 S Y S T E M dot com. Or you can go my shortcut. 395 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:45,640 You can go to www dot n E C C h A T dot 396 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:48,960 com and download it from nec chat. If you'd like to get our mobile 397 00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:51,960 app, trust me, I won't put any garbage on your phone. It's 398 00:29:52,039 --> 00:29:55,039 just a link, that's all it is, and a nice little icon. 399 00:29:55,519 --> 00:29:59,079 Everything else is in the cloud. We also have a neat little chat now 400 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:03,440 feature on there so you can chat with other mobile members. It's pretty cool, 401 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:04,960 all right, All right, folks, till next time, Stay safe, 402 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:30,720 God blessed. We'll catch you on another episode of les as Paul B.