2023: Awesome Tools and New Companies to Watch Out For
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- One of the cooler things about being an electrician is the amazing amount of technology we get to use. Also cool is being able to see and use new tools and materials that are constantly being developed to make our jobs more efficient and safer. In the latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin visits a few booths at the recent NECA show and shows off some of the items that are coming to market soon as well as advances by well established companies already working within the electrical industry!
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Reciprocating saws are something that we use probably on a daily basis. A newer company called Spyder has developed a 3-sided recip saw blade that is awesome. In addition to the standard cutting edge on the bottom of the blade, they have patented the front AND the top side cutting edges. So, no more having to swap the blade around or the tool around to cut overhead or for bottom cuts. This will really improve efficiency for the user. In addition, their newer blades are made from a single piece of stamped steel, which results in a stronger overall blade further improving performance and longevity. Super cool stuff indeed!!
Milwaukee tools have been around for years and are definitely on the top tier of power tools. Their booth at NECA was showcasing the advances to their line of corded and cordless power tools. They have refined the anti-bind capability of their drills. The tool will automatically shut down in the event of quick torque/spinning that occurs when the tool binds when drilling thru a surface. This action can damage the users (us!!) wrists and arms. Milwaukee designers have advanced the tech within the tools to stop spinning earlier and with less moving action than other brands resulting in safer operation for the user. Among other new advances, they have also drastically improved the lighting for the cordless impact drills improving efficiency and safety.
Fluke has been making outstanding meters for years. But they refuse to stay stagnant and are developing new meters constantly. As we step more into renewable power sources, Fluke has designed new meters to assist the electrician in installing them. They have a meter specifically to help with the installation of solar panels allowing for ground checks and polarity testing or the panels themselves as well as being able to test to see the DC outputs of the system as well. A meter specifically for EV car chargers is also available allowing the electrician to really fine tune those systems as well. Fluke is also continuing to improve existing meters. One of them has a visible continuity function that allows the user to SEE the level of continuity in a noisy environment in lieu of the standard audible only!!
But the tech we see isn’t just limited to tools and materials. A company called Simplycount has developed a new software refines the ESTIMATING portion of the trade. This new software allows the user count devices by SYMBOL not just the text. Traditional estimating software uses text to search, but not ALL the devices on a drawing have text attached to them. It also allows the user to generate several different types of reports for verification, coding, review, etc. The software also can add color to any symbol and will save the marked-up version of the PDF to be able to be passed along to the field staff for easier, more efficient installation!
Loved that you went to different vendors other than what other UA-camrs do. Side note, I’ve worked with Aluminum and currently working with it now… it SUCKS pulling wire or simply fishing down Aluminum. Hopefully this company product really works. Great content.
I just wanna know if it still eggs lol
Thanks for your feedback. Historically, Aluminum EMT has presented wire pulling challenges to electricians. Penn Aluminum recognized this when we developed our EMT product. For those that do have wire pulling issues with Aluminum EMT, Penn Aluminum offers a UL Listed wire pulling compound service which is a coating applied at the factory to the interior of the tube. This service is called "Blue Lightning" which was showcased at the 2022 NECA Showstoppers in Austin.
Wow! Some really cool stuff out there! Ahh, to be a kid again...learning and working with all these amazing products! I hope you took home that awesome home- run device!!!
Great stuff! The barrels and coil packs are an awesome idea!!! By the way... Anyone else catch the signal at 20:02 to get some close-ups of the coil packs? The ABCs... Always Be the Cameraman!
Yep. The framing of the fingers. Lol. Saw the same thing. Good eye
Those Southwire barrels and packs were awesome.
goodmorning....ahhh do you like hamhocks or neckbones with your collard greens 🤔
💥
i thought they sucked haha
I really like the idea of the south wire grip it device but I wonder how well it pulls in a 90 degree bend?!? It looks kind of like it would be a little too long and would get hung up! Is the flat piece flexible?
This.
Yes it's flexible, if it wasn't no one would use it. Don't really need help pulling wire through straight conduit lol
Outstanding!! Lots of great products. Love the southwire coil packs and the barrels
I used the barrel of wire and the wire rack on many jobs as far back as 2017!!! good stuff
Thank you. I never knew of this seminar/event!
Ive seen those southwire grip it's at the supply house I usually go to and never knew what they were for but now I'm gonna get those for sure it makes making up the head so easy and fast,I need one!
That simple count will make estimating so much faster, easier and more accurate. That's worth a fortune to a contractor!!!
Oh man, I'm not far from Phila!!! Got to make sure I come to it for sure!😃
I wonder about the corrosion issue of connecting aluminum tubing to steel boxes. Do they offer some special connectors and couplings ?
My thoughts exactly while i was watchin that segment. I worked in the pharma industry for years we were limited to the types of connectors due to corrosive environments. I was also wondering about the conduit itself. Also outdoors with acid rain or around cooling towers etc.
@@billsilva7932 Aluminum is a naturally corrosion resistant metal. Beyond extremely corrosive environments, the only limitations stated in the UL 797A Safety Standard for Aluminum EMT is that it should not be directly buried in soil or encased in concrete unless coated.
Used my Gripit for the first time today. Love it! What a time saver!
how is it going around 90s and lengths of conduit with multiple bends in it? and if you don't mind how much was it?
I've been using it almost daily for the last 8 months, no problems whatsoever. I do solar, so it's usually just a 30ft pull with one 90° to get from the roof on down. I can't remember how much it was. I just told our purchaser to buy me two.
Simplycount is definitely something that I'm interested in.
NECA in Philly next year?! Deffinetly coming out for that!! That simply count software is beyond awesome, as an entertainment Electrician, we have so many different lights that we deal with, and counting out a rigg that can have as many as 500 fixtures can take a long time. Simply Count would cut all that time down to minutes!
My first thought was, "what about twist from pulling from the center of the coils?" I realized in production, individual round wires such as 12ga won't cause twisting issues when pulled through conduit because the wire is pulled the same way in production without twisting problems.
were twirled into and out of the baskets and then the wires were straightened as they were pulled through the production line. I think the NM being flat causes more of the twist so pulling through conduit
I used the coil pack today at work I didn’t even know it was a new product lol totally made the job easier
I’ve been trying to get more into estimating part of electrical, can’t wait to try out the SimplyCount software.
More stuff like this!
Thanks brotha! Love this channel
I wonder what the price comparison of blue lightning is compared to regular emt
And that will always be a factor......even of its a super genius idea if it adds x amount to a bid they will say no
Penn Aluminum EMT offers significant overall savings for electrical construction projects. The cost associated with the Blue Lightning UL Listed Wire Pulling Compound Application Service is minimal and will still support savings on projects.
Awesome
I hope to be there at NECA next time
That fluke smft 1000 was straight Jurassic park. Whoever designed it 👍
I'm interested in knowing how many pulls can you do until that coating on the inside of those aluminum tubes wear off. Also how does the coating do in an arching situation?
Wow lots of cool stuff coil packs look like the future also the plan software maby Dustin will make a video of the new fluke tec
What are your thoughts on the Aluminum conduit Dustin?? We have had a little experience with it and had mixed reviews. The product we used requires fiberglass fish tapes to not bind up in the interior ridges and also tends to kink if your form isn’t perfect while bending.
That southwire gripit I just purchased.
Awesome show 😊 thank you
Please do a show in your electrical tool bags.
0:27 Love that blade! Problem is only Lowe's stocks it...
no video of the Schneider booth?
I'm Philly next year? I'll be there
Can you retrieve wire back onto the coil pack? A lot of pulls require having more out than you need for the run, which can be put back on a spool
Yes sir, you can push right back into the pack and stick a bit of the tail into the notch on the pack so it’s ready to grab at your next pull. The packs are also stackable if you don’t have a cart. You simply pull the wire through the center of the pack above. 1,2,3, and 4 conductor options available as well as custom offerings.
My NECA
😂 This video was amazing! I was freaking laughing way too much. You could tell some of them had no idea what electricians actually do. But on a side note, Dustin, can I be Your Apprentice? 💍 (I tried to make it a brown ring but the emoji is only in white). I enjoy your videos and your work.
Are you going to make a best of show video at NECA
🚨🚨🚨Hey Brother, this Question is off subject but one thing that doesn't make sense to me is, why do they want us to derate a main load center breaker to make more amp space for the Solar breaker when the system amps exceeds the 120% rule for seizing OCPD.
Ex. A 200amp Main OCPD has to be derated to a 175amo or 150amp OCPD when installing a 60amp Breaker for solar system.
It is not like by subtracting a few amps of your Main Panel CB you get more amps on your panel.
Hope you can help me with this 👍
Be interesting to see how the aluminum pipe bends or if they will release a special bender
It sucks, you need a metal bender otherwise it’s going to kink
You can use normal emt hand benders, or rigid benders
So I work a lot with aluminum conduit when building MRI rooms. Not sure if it’s their brand, but it’s not great. Pulling wire through it sucks, bending it is easy until you have to fix the bends, it’s becoming true hell because the whole pipe wants to warp. Also you can’t use aluminum bender on aluminum pipe, metal bender only otherwise it’s going to kink like there’s no tomorrow
I graduated from RSI 2 years ago
Not sure what I'm doing in life but know I need to utilize my electric trade I worked to get. In reality I'm kind of lost and am looking for guidance
Was this place in Texas n where
The coil packs suck ive used them , plus tge storage of tgem takes up a whole room
Why is Southwire not sold at lowes anymore
Sold at my Lowe’s still.
@@jonahthomas5661 they have all ideal stuff here
Same with our lowes not carrying southwire anymore
It's cool that companies simply count is a new program, but bluebeam and live count have been doing auto counting for years - it's not a new thing at all.
Simply count is also done by Autodesk ProEst
TOOLS!
I worked in a wire factory in 1998-2001. For NM wire they coiled the wire into large baskets, just like those barrels. Then they would use those baskets to feed into the extruder. Welding wire also comes in square box/barrels. Barrels save production time but the factory will probably charge you the same or more.
There’s something with that aluminum guy.
Everyone and they're momma says they invented the double/triple side Sawzall or hacksaw blade
Man! What was that simpull easy-head doo-hickey??? 😅
As a third year electrician aluminum emt sucks. Groves don't help with pulling, links at end of pipe when bending, the only positive is that it's light. Only time I would consider using aluminum are pretty bent data sleeves
Kinks*
Yea I heard some guys try to bend 2" alum rigid pipe with a mechanical bender. Was getting egg kinks, meaning the opening from the bend would make it look like an egg.
Made sure they were using right shoe assembly to get it to work.
Forgot what brand the bender was. Think it was a Greenlee 555
So glad I saw you put spyder first. Their self-feeding paddle bits are unrivaled
2 Caution notes: Aluminum conduit great light product but have to be extra careful not selecting for some enviroments. Worked at a large slaughterhouse that had a hide cellar where they salted hides, stored thousands of salted hides and had a large salt pit. Sparkies before me ran a ton if 1 2" aluminum heavy walk conduit for luminares. Within a few years salt corroded holes in the aluminum and had to be replaced. Also had a piece of 3/4" aluminum conduit that went thru the floor of an office. The floor shopper that janitors used every month to clean floor eat holes in the aluminum conduit. #2 Watch cheapest meters that super rich Fluke made in cheating communist china. Never purchase or use SANY safety or test equipment, e!ectrical supplies , tools or parachutes from lying lack of quality control communist china. Your live & safety of others not worth the few dollars you might save.
I wonder how many of my kids I’d have to sell to get that fluke 1777
Lol bunch of gimmick
Because you are young and not a traveler.
Thank you 💥
I’ve got something similar to that Southwire puller, but it’s made by Rack-A-Tiers; I think they call it a snatch strap. They’re nice to quickly make up a wire pull, but you’re limited on your number of conductors because you have to fold them over; you’re essentially doubling the number of conductors in your pull. I’ve always use tape on the end, I’m too scared not to
My exact first thought when I saw a similar tool like it, anything which requires folding the wires over or uses a mechanism to grab individual wires will add bulk to the head.
Fine for pulling in empty conduit I guess though.
😀 𝐩яⓞ𝓂𝓞Ş𝐦