What does 2014 Hold for Electricians?

As we draw close to the end of another year, we tend to look back on the past and try and hope for a better future. 2013 was a tough time for many electricians I have talked to over the past year. At the same time many had a very good year an were able to recover from past losses. if I can share or pass on anything to my fellow tradesman it is to never give up. Those who were able to do better and have a good year continue to grow in knowledge and responsibility. Many tradesman work long hours for very little pay and easily fall into the group that is tired, complains and always looking for ways to ... well put it bluntly to get one over the rich boss or owner. This negativity is a very dangerous down hill spiral. The path down this road will lead to destruction for you and those around you. Though keeping the positive attitude is not easy, tell me who ever said success was. Look at Football teams, a team can have a loosing season yet still continue to play the best they can even with no hope of going to the play offs. Let alone the Super Bowl. The goal for 2014 should be to turn around that negative attitude and instead of condemning your boss or the company you work for strive to make your strife invaluable. Yes that means looking for ways to make the company mire profitable. Just think when you stressed out boss sees that you are making him look good to his boss, guess what he will be less likely to let you go. That is what I call sacrificial giving. You see it is not about what you do for you because you have no control over whether you keep your job or not. But when you do for others and make your self an asset than you create a valuable asset that it would not be wise for the boss to get rid of. The idea of it is better to give than receive is a concept that is hard to grasp yet when you help others succeed than they will be compelled to take you with them. So by staying positive in a negative world allows you as a person to continue to Surge Forward even though times are tough. Have a great 2014 and may God bless you all. Remember stay safe and keep surging forward.

What Electrical Code is Virginia Under?

While Teaching Code update courses I often get the question: What code are we under in Virginia? As of today The 2009 Uniform State Wide building Code is the reference that Virginia enforces the building codes. The newest 2012 Uniform State Wide building Code is still in process of being reviewed. The cycle is done by the legislation in Richmond. Also to keep in mind Richmond is pretty much the Authority have Jurisdiction and covers the Virginia cities regarding Electrical licensing and such.The 2009 USWBC provides the electrical industry to refer to the 2008 NEC for the guidelines to follow regarding the safe installations of electrical systems in Virginia. Base on some research I have done the 2012 USWBC may go into effect around march of 2014 this would refer electrical installations to the 2011 NEC. While many states adopt the codes much quicker Virginia is sometimes a cycle behind because of the time it takes to review the many changes in the code and to make sure they are in line with the Building codes already in place. So when you are faced with the choice of do I take a the 2008 or the 2011 code update course I would recommend the 2011 as we will be under this code soon. Both will count for your education requirements for your license renewal. Well thats all for now my fellow tradesman.
Remember Stay safe and keep Surging Forward  Have a great Holiday

Hello fellow electricians:
I hope everyone has been staying busy I ( working and making Money I hope ) It has already been a busy holiday season for me . The house is decorated with all the lights and 14 Christmas trees. And yes all my lights are on a GFCI outside. Speaking of Holidays I ran across some older articles that I had written about electrical fires,seems we have a lot more around the holidays. Please feel free to use the articles for you website all I ask is that you create a link back for me. Remember Stay Safe and keep Surging Forward.
and Remember for all your  Virginia code update needs see us at www.surgingforward.com
enjoy the article:

Electrical Fires

What Is an Electrical Fire and How to Deal With It

What is an Electrical Fire?

Any fire that is caused by electrical short circuits, overloaded circuits or faulty electrical equipment can be defined as an electrical fire. Anything that causes excessive current flow has the ability to create fire, including lightning - the number one cause of overloaded circuits. Make sure you don't have an outdated circuit breaker box by finding an electrician to come check it for you.
How do you Prevent an Electrical Fire?

The first thing you can do as a homeowner to prevent an electrical fire is to keep from overloading your circuits.

Follow these tips to prevent your circuit breaker from overloading:

* Identify the circuits in the breaker box. The breaker box usually tells the amperage of each circuit as well as the outlets serviced by the circuit.
* Maintain wires, appliances & electrical fixtures. Another thing to put on your list of things to do as a homeowner is to maintain your appliances and make sure the wiring in your home is updated. This may require the services of a qualified electrician.
* Appliances that malfunction may cause an electrical fire, so make sure your appliances are working properly. If you have an electrical appliance that you know is overheating or short-circuiting, shut off the breaker before you unplug the appliance. Electricity takes all paths to the ground, even if that means through you.
* Ask an electrician about installing ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in your home. GFCIs quickly shut off power when problems occur, minimizing electrical shock hazards.

What do you do in the Case of an Electrical Fire?

In the case of an electrical fire, make sure you do not use water to try to put out the fire. If the fire is small and confined, such as the case of an extension cord that you see is starting to smoke and catch on fire, turn off the circuit at the breaker, then unplug the cord and use an ABC fire extinguisher to put out any flames. If no appropriate fire extinguisher is available, you can also use baking soda to extinguish an electrical fire. Typically an overloaded circuit will flip a breaker. If you know a circuit is being overloaded but the breaker didn't trip AND YOU CAN SAFELY DO SO, you should turn off the breaker yourself - or flip the main breaker to the whole house. If you have had a fire, make sure you find an electrician to come evaluate what you'll need to replace and do to prevent another fire.

In general, don't mess around in the case of an electrical fire. Make sure everyone leaves the building and call the fire department or 9-1-1 right away.

  written by:
David Ballentine
of Surging Forward

PS if you would like to submit an article about the trades email the article to: electricalcodeupdate@surgingforward.com
And we will provide a link to your business on our website.
Stay safe and keep Surging Forward

Happy Thanksgiving to all fellow electricians and other Tradesman. Hard to believe the end of the year is almost here again. I have been doing some research and it looks as though Virginia may adopt the 2011 code by spring of 2014. I have been working on getting the 2014 Electrical code update course online, I hope to have it completed by Early 2014. I wish all of by fellow tradesman a blessed and happy Thanksgiving rememeber to count your blessing and remember those that are not as well off as you, reach out and give a helping hand
God Bless
Dave

Hello fellow electricians time to gear up for the Holidays. I have been busy teaching and working onsite as well as learning the new 2014 NEC which came out in October. Lot of additions and changes regarding some of the new technology. This is a good time to be in the trade with a lot of new opportunities arising. Make sure you are staying on the cutting edge. Yes I know that sometimes electricians are sometimes the unsung heroes but everyone needs us and so that is why staying positive is so important. We will have the new 2014 code update hopefully online by the new year. In the mean time Virginia should be going on the 2011 by spring of next year. Make sure you keep up with the new codes. Keeping up with the new codes not only helps you but it provides a level of safety for those you provide services too. Would you want a doctor working on you that was not in tune with the current technologies or changes. Well just remember there are more people terrified of electricity than those who work on it and it is up to us to provide safe installations.The more that we as license electricians require higher standards for those in the trade the more we will be in demand and thus higher wages. I hope that everyone out there has a safe and happy holiday and remember to give thanks for the blessing you have. No matter how bad you think things might be you still have the opportunity to succeed based on the choices you make.
Work safe keep alert for new opportunities and above all else remember stay  positive  in a negative world.

Helping you Keep Surging Forward

Hello fellow tradesman ( and women ) summer sure has flown by. I have spent a lot of time speaking with many of you and answering emails. There are a lot of questions I get where people are just asking that simple question; "How do I get ahead and make a more money or even just make a difference."  well that is why I will be starting a series on just what does it mean to keep Surging Forward. Also what does it mean to stay positive in a negative world. Lets begin by asking you a few questions. Keep in mind there are no right or wrong answers all of us have different traits, desires, and goals. Finding that balance is the real key to being able to stay positive in a negative world.
First question: What is it about the trade do you really enjoy?
Is it simply making something work from scratch?
Is it fixing something that is broke?
Is it helping others and meeting new people?
Is it the money?
Understanding this basic question is the foundation that will help you succeed in any trade. Knowing what makes you want to do what you do , will help you when the job is not so easy and the goal seems so far away.  The answer lies within yourself , so all I am here is to give you some things to think about. Remember I said there is no right or wrong answers. with that in mind it will also help you see if your motivations are correct and if you have the basic foundation to even come close to reaching your goals. The foundation is important for any thing we do or build, If the foundation is not solid than when trouble comes and times get tough your whole career may come tumbling down. The Bible talks about two people I like to think of them as being in the trades. One took a lot of short cuts and built his house on the sand with little or no foundation. When the storms came and the winds blew the whole building came down. All the hard work was now laid to waste. On the other hand there was the wise man who built his house on solid ground he may have even use a bit of concrete. when the storms came and the winds blew even when the big hurricanes came through. His house stood. Simply because he had a firm foundation the house was able to with stand the elements. There are a lot of shortcuts we can take in our lives but be assured the short cuts we take can become over whelming in the future. Many times we forget how we even got into a particular problem.
The questions above can help you shape your foundation as to why you are even in the trades. They can also be a basic question on who you are personally and what drives your life.
If I may also shed a little light on how to be positive in a negative world. Think about those that you know that are always self centered and negative. Many of them brag on themselves and how great they are. How do they make you feel does this create a positive attitude? Not really many of these people have one goal in mind and that is whats in it for me. well if everyone had that kind of goal nothing would get done in this ole world. What do you think might be the alternative? have you ever worked under some that you highly respect? so much that you would go the extra mile just to make him look good. Maybe you never have, than what if you had a boss that always looked out for you and encouraged you, taught you new things, treated you with the ultimate respect. ( we will talk about respect in a later blog this always seems to be a big one) how would you like working for him. So it takes us back to the questions? If it is only for the money, ask yourself this simple question. If you were given the opportunity to be alone and have all the money you wanted and be alone or be dirt broke and have family and friends around, which would you choose. something to think about. It reminds me of an old twilight zone where a person was given a stop watch where he could stop time it was really cool until he decide to rob a bank. once inside he stopped the time and walked right into the vault. He than started to walk out with a boat load of money and wouldn't you know it he dropped the watch. The watch broke and he could not start time back up again. where are you in your life are you working simply for you and your goals or are you trying to make a difference it others. strange how that works. something else to think about until next time feel free to drop me a line or share your jobsite issues. and Remember Stay safe and keep Surging Forward.

Been a while

Well hello felow tradesman and tradeswomen,
It has been a while. This has been a busy spring and getting over the holidays. Sure has been going by quick. I have been spending a lot of time researching the code and teaching many one you how to pass the Virginia electrical license exam. so far those that have taken the test have done well and moved forward. I want to thank all of you for your emails and phone calls providing me valuable input on the needs of tradesman and woman in the Virginia and even the surrounding areas. Surging Forward has been very excited about the things to come. We are now offering the class room code classes at Ynot pizza giving you a chance to enjoy some good Pizza while learning the new additions to the 2011 code. Much thanks to Ynot for helping us out with there great rooms. We have a code update class coming up on May 13 contact us for details. Surging Forward is also expanding to the other Trades we are presently waiting for approval from VDPOR for our HVAC and Fuel gas code update courses online. We will also be working on a Plumbing code update course. So it has been a very busy 1st part of the year.but keep those questions coming , as we all stay positive in a negative world keeping us all surging forward. we are still looking for those that would be interested in taking an electrical exam prep class just contact us from our website at www.surgingforward.com We always enjoy hering your sucess stories as well as the troubles that you are having in the field also. We here at Surging Forward help with the tough times also giving positive encouragement during those tough trying times where we really learn the most.
Well by for now have to get back to studying the code and getting some house work done.
Yes my wife makes me do housework but shes worth it Great to have a great women by your side.
Tell next time.
Stay positive in a negative world and keep Surging Forwars
Dave

Are the CEU's really needed?

Virgina requires that all electricians must complete 3hrs of CEU's before they will be allowed to renew their Journeyman or Master Electrical license. It is required that the CEU's be completed sometime during the two year period before the license expires. I have heard many people complain about this and that all it does is generate revenue for the state. This is far from the fact. First point the state does not receive any revenue from the courses. The course are offered through independent education providers that are approved by the state. Each of the providers may have a different cost for the courses offered.A list of the education providers is available at the Virgina Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations website. Click here for more info. The list is quite long and you have a wide variety to choose from. One of the main reasons for the education updates is to assure the public that license tradesman keep up with the code. These requirements apply to all of the major trades and also to many other license professions as well. Many complain that 3 hours is not enough. well again many other states require from 6 to 18 hours of CEU's.
You may ask why is this needed? The answer is simple in times past many tradesman simply past the test, got their license and worked the trade for years and never even read a new code book. Not to mention that the code makes some significant changes regarding the safety of  installations every three years. Many times tradesman were not aware or choose not to keep themselves updated. The requirement assures that those working are qualified and up to date with the current codes for their profession. If you are looking to take a code class many types are offered. The online classes require a test at the end so that their is a verification that all the material is reviewed and is sometimes a bit cheaper. The classroom classes have an instructor that gives the class and does not require a test. If your looking for a class click here for both types of classes offered So make sure you stay informed in today's world you cant afford to be out of the loop. Make an input, your experience does make a difference and we can all pass the trade down to others. Till next time work safe and stay informed.
Dave

Sorry Class Full

I was not expecting the response for the Electrical exam Prep course. Unfortunately  the class filled quickly.
Sorry for all those who cannot make it. I will be holding another 8 hour course in April or May.
Feel free to drop us a line from our website at www.surgingforward.com. I the mean time work safe and keep surging forward.
Dave

Virginia Master Exam Prep Class

Thanks for all of you that have been asking about a Master Exam Prep class. I have finally been able to secure a date and a room. For those of you that are interested ( or know someone that is ) check out the website at www.surgingforward.com for more details. The class will be in two 4 hour sessions starting Feb 22. The course is designed for the Virginia exam and allows for open discussion. Please feel free to post any questions you have about the test before the class. Remember to not stress over the test. Keep that positive attitude and you will keep surging forward. I look forward to helping all out there achieve their 2013 goals.
by for now hope to hear from you soon
Dave

Virginia online electrical code class

The new year has started and its time to get back to the grind. During the holidays one of the things I noticed is that many electricians waited till the last minute to take the required electrical code update course for renewal of their Journeyman or Master electrical license. Everyone is trying to save money yet if you wait till the last minute and your license expires you may have to pay additional fees. The best thing to do is be proactive. Virginia requires that the course must be taken sometime during the two year period. So you can actually renew you license in the month it expires than take an online electrical code class the very next month an be done with it.  Now lets look at which is best the classroom electrical class or the online course. well lets look at the two.
Surging Forward offers both so lets look at the pros and cons of each. The online course allows you do complete the course on your own time and you do not have to complete in one 3 hour setting. The course is self paced and you can review during the course. Here is a demo click Here. The online course is much less expensive and affordable than the class room and gives you the flexibility to complete over a longer time. Surging Forwards online class starts at $30. The down side is, yes there is a test required at the end. usually just a few questions just to make sure you went through the whole course and had a basic understanding. Surging Forward allows you to retake if needed and offers special one on one help if you need it. The class room electrical code course requires you to go to a building or class room at a specific time for the instructor lead training. Many like this because they can ask questions, yet many fail to realize that questions can be asked on our contacts page at www.surgingforward.com  at any time with or without a class. Some people also like the group setting and like to hear others questions. The biggest reason I think people like the class room setting is because there is no test. The instructor assures that you complete the full 3 to 4 hours. The downfall of the class room type is number one cost. Most cost from $80 to as high as $150 dollars. Surging Forwards classes run about $85 dollars. Not to mention the time spent away from home or after a long day at work.
The reason for the higher cost is room rental that is the big one and also you have to pay the instructors time and setup of equipment.
So I believe that the online class is a better option. Surging Forward also offers contractors a discount when they want to send 5 or more to the class. For individuals we show them a way that they can even get their class for free. Contact us to find out more on our website at www.surgingforward.com
Well that's all for now hopefully we have given you something to think about.
Leave us a comment below and let us know what you think