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You ain’t kidding. I worked an elevator reno in a public housing project. Elevators were rotting away because they make a great urinal for the scholars hanging out drinking all night. As do the stairwells. Nasty nasty nasty, I don’t know how people live like that
Please for the love of God don't run pipe on the floor of the pit. Hydraulic elevators leak fluid. Some more than others but all of them leak eventually.
🤣🤣🤣 Seriously?!? The elevator guy TOLD me to run it on the floor. I was going to run it about 10” above the floor (since the bottom of the strip lights are 18” to bottom) since there are no sprinklers in the pit. Detail on the job calls for compression coupling/connectors but when it come to corrosion, the fluid would be an issue. Should have trusted my better judgement. I know elevator code and electrical code differ so I tend to side with whatever is more strict but I just went with it. Definitely will make sure it’s ran above finish floor for now on. Thanks!
Around here we run everything 18” high, no pipe can run behind the pit ladder, the pit GFCI has to be red (so we know it generator backed up?) cannot have more than 6’ of a cable assembly in the top of the shaft, if more than 6’ it has to be junctioned. They want a non fused disco at the top of the shaft and another non fused disco next to the panel that feeds the elevator(stupid) They want 3 pairs of 18 awg between the elevator controller and the ATS, only ever use one pair. And every elevator installer says different things are required, such a pain.
sounds like you’ve done an install with schindler.
last one i did was really cool because we did our shit to the exact spec they gave us. then their PM told us the 1/2” conduit going up the shaft for the lights was wrong because it was 16” from the opening and it needed to be 14”
then the actual installers ended up making us move the conduit back to 16” from the opening because it’s supposed to be at 16”, not 14”. fun times
Sounds like ours, we put all the shit they wanted, and didn't wind up using a number of things, and then the fire Marshal got into a pissing contest with them for some reason and we were caught in the crossfire because we were also doing fire alarm so we had to redo our fire alarm devices in the shaft like three times until everyone was happy and we had it in a place where the elevator wouldn't destroy them the first time it went to the first floor.
Why did my brain decide you were installing disco balls at the top and at the panel? Must need more coffee, but that would be one happenin’ shaft with disco balls…
I too have drawn this duty this week. Mine has been a miserable experience pulling 4/0 through (2) 2inch LBS…. I was ready to kill someone by the end of the day.
A tip I've found for that is to mock up where your wire will bend through the conduit body, and put as close to a 90 in that wire as you can before you start feeding. Once you reach the point where ther wire is all the way through, you don't hit the other side of the pipe and have to smack it in the rest of the way. Works like a charm
I wouldn't want to be an elevator tech but it's nice to work in the shaft occasionally.
Even more fun working on top of the cab 20 stories up installing the smoke detector, light, maintenance receptacle, and occasionally a fan.
I hear ya. It’s nice having a little break and doing a little bit of everything especially when you get to build out the elevator machine room but for me, it is a nice break from VAV’s and Fire Smoke Dampers.
Where's the fuse box for those? Troubleshooting the main light in there this past week at a hotel. Had no powe, only at main light. Maintenance guy had no key for hatch to try to see where wire ran to. Waiting for call back with key 😝
Keep in mind many states now require a licensed elevator mechanic be present when working in a hoistway, pit or machine room/space.
And don’t work below us, we like to drop things!
**ATTENTION! READ THIS NOW!** **1. IF YOU ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN OR LOOKING TO BECOME ONE(for career questions only):** **- DELETE** THIS POST OR YOU WILL BE **BANNED**. YOU CAN POST ON /r/AskElectricians FREELY **2. IF YOU COMMENT ON A POST THAT IS POSTED BY SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN:** -YOU WILL BE **BANNED**. JUST **REPORT** THE POST. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/electricians) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Work that shaft sparky
Like a champ!
Dont forget to cradle the balls
I always keep my socks on
Work them like an IV bag while your at it.
Umm and to drink the gravy…
dickhead elevator guy will tell you its a HOISTWAY
More like a moistway lmao
putting the moist in moistway
Kinda wanna slip singles down the door into the shaft for them.
Better yet, work two shafts at once using the middle-out system.
I was lucky enough to get this task a time or two.. it is quite nice. Even better when the safety guy doesn't know you're there
Haha. I’ve climbed out of the pit a couple of times without my hard hat and glasses.
Not like I've ever been held by my belt over a 22 story railing for a duct smoke.
New elector pits are great to work in. Old ones on the other hand are beyond gross.
You ain’t kidding. I worked an elevator reno in a public housing project. Elevators were rotting away because they make a great urinal for the scholars hanging out drinking all night. As do the stairwells. Nasty nasty nasty, I don’t know how people live like that
Yep absolutely nasty
Tax dollars at work!
Take your ladder out when you leave! Even if it’s the weekend 🫡 Don’t ask me how I know
Please for the love of God don't run pipe on the floor of the pit. Hydraulic elevators leak fluid. Some more than others but all of them leak eventually.
🤣🤣🤣 Seriously?!? The elevator guy TOLD me to run it on the floor. I was going to run it about 10” above the floor (since the bottom of the strip lights are 18” to bottom) since there are no sprinklers in the pit. Detail on the job calls for compression coupling/connectors but when it come to corrosion, the fluid would be an issue. Should have trusted my better judgement. I know elevator code and electrical code differ so I tend to side with whatever is more strict but I just went with it. Definitely will make sure it’s ran above finish floor for now on. Thanks!
Around here we run everything 18” high, no pipe can run behind the pit ladder, the pit GFCI has to be red (so we know it generator backed up?) cannot have more than 6’ of a cable assembly in the top of the shaft, if more than 6’ it has to be junctioned. They want a non fused disco at the top of the shaft and another non fused disco next to the panel that feeds the elevator(stupid) They want 3 pairs of 18 awg between the elevator controller and the ATS, only ever use one pair. And every elevator installer says different things are required, such a pain.
sounds like you’ve done an install with schindler. last one i did was really cool because we did our shit to the exact spec they gave us. then their PM told us the 1/2” conduit going up the shaft for the lights was wrong because it was 16” from the opening and it needed to be 14” then the actual installers ended up making us move the conduit back to 16” from the opening because it’s supposed to be at 16”, not 14”. fun times
Sounds like ours, we put all the shit they wanted, and didn't wind up using a number of things, and then the fire Marshal got into a pissing contest with them for some reason and we were caught in the crossfire because we were also doing fire alarm so we had to redo our fire alarm devices in the shaft like three times until everyone was happy and we had it in a place where the elevator wouldn't destroy them the first time it went to the first floor.
Funny how many people forget the ATS wires until the tower is done 😂
Why did my brain decide you were installing disco balls at the top and at the panel? Must need more coffee, but that would be one happenin’ shaft with disco balls…
And collect water if they’re outside.
I have been to no less than 4 service calls where an elevator pit had flooded with more than 2' of water. All indoors. Living on a floodplain is fun.
I too have drawn this duty this week. Mine has been a miserable experience pulling 4/0 through (2) 2inch LBS…. I was ready to kill someone by the end of the day.
A tip I've found for that is to mock up where your wire will bend through the conduit body, and put as close to a 90 in that wire as you can before you start feeding. Once you reach the point where ther wire is all the way through, you don't hit the other side of the pipe and have to smack it in the rest of the way. Works like a charm
Normally that would work great but the space we had to work in dictated otherwise plus them being in the middle of the run. Was also no bueno.
I wouldn't want to be an elevator tech but it's nice to work in the shaft occasionally. Even more fun working on top of the cab 20 stories up installing the smoke detector, light, maintenance receptacle, and occasionally a fan.
I hear ya. It’s nice having a little break and doing a little bit of everything especially when you get to build out the elevator machine room but for me, it is a nice break from VAV’s and Fire Smoke Dampers.
Elevator work is great but you have to be okay with stairs
I hear it had its ups and downs
But it can be good on so many levels.
Damn bro you getting service in the shaft?
Until someone knocks a jar of 3/8 nuts off their ladder 3 floors up and half of them rain down the shaft.
No flying roaches yet?
I just finished up an elevator. Had to add a 3 way up top and a single pole at the bottom...2 stick lights down low and then 2 more up top.
Never tell anyone when life is good. It’s the fastest way to lose it. Just STFU and count your blessings.
Where's the fuse box for those? Troubleshooting the main light in there this past week at a hotel. Had no powe, only at main light. Maintenance guy had no key for hatch to try to see where wire ran to. Waiting for call back with key 😝
Take a nap!
Ya it’s a good duty. My favorite part is dropping boxes 17 stories, to the bottom.
Remember, when working the shaft, be sure to give it that hawk tuah.
When I was on the shaft crew we had to do all rigid. Surprised they let you do emt. Are you on a scaffold?
Work that shaft and ride the gravy train
It has its ups and downs
Get up to speed on article 620…
Keep in mind many states now require a licensed elevator mechanic be present when working in a hoistway, pit or machine room/space. And don’t work below us, we like to drop things!
That curtain has saved me from a “two check Monday” once or twice.