I Warned about the Electrical Dangers Wood floor Sanders Pose . Now a new Danger Discovered

 Wood Floor Sanders I have always been worried about the way they are tied into Breaker Boxes  by workers but I recently learned of a new hazard they pose when a fire Broke out at Sunny Jim's Tavern and Restaurant on Camp Horne Road in Emsworth. I found out how it happened after talking to the owner when I went to bid some camera work.

They where getting the floors sanded down and refinished  when workers turned off the machine for the night and closed up and within a few hours the machine caught fire  But How? 

Well it ends up the bag which holds all the floor contents  Self Combusted  because all the varnish and wood shavings .etc. where not emptied from the bag .

Now many machines have a warning label to empty after use some do not and unless you know of this possible danger its like Russian roulette. 

Because these machines can be rented professionals are not always operating them who know you do not leave bug full of floor products. 

Its essential all machines and bags be marked especially Rentals . But time will tell. 

Unfortunately this is not first time sunny has had a fire having one years earlier which broke out in some refrigeration equipment but each time he has bounced back and still serves up a great meal,.

Passing of a Dear Friend who was a life Saver to many Truckers and other Motorists in Erie County Pa. area

 I meet Ceora Green in late 80s when it was at a Regional meeting of React Volunteers in Erie  as a Regional coordinator . She hosted the meeting and   lived in  nearby Wattsburg

REACT - Radio Emergency Activated Communications Teams 

Where a nationwide collection of individuals who Monitored CB - Citizens Band  Emergency Channel 9  in 70s thru early 90s before Cell phones and provided motorists with Directions and emergency assistance. Plus provided communications during emergency to communities and community events

Ceora during that time was President of the Erie Team and had  saved numerous motorists lives  during severe snow storms  and she was also a member of and Vice President of Unit 1 Communications for Long Haul Truckers 

All this while working as a traveling nurse taking care of many elderly patients in there home some very destitute or neglected by their children. Thou she started out as a Hair Dresser and still practiced it.

Couple times when I came to visit and discuss team issues with her she cut my hair. which she loved doing since I was blessed with nice thick hair . 

She was also an excellent cook and homesteader even raised her own beef cow at one time. 

She had to neither husband ever contributed their pays towards the family. Drinking or gambling it away.

 

http://www.thecorryjournal.com/obituaries/article_637c4c8c-56b7-11ec-a4c9-9f770a8eea1a.html

 

Ceora and 2 sisters grew up near by Union City where they worked hard in their parents Grocery Store and gas station on Pa 97 which was in a converted Serbian Social club known as " The bucket of Blood Club " for the many violent fights there . now a private residence

Her dad sunk an old Railroad tank Car in ground which he sold gas from and on weekends  they where only station open till 11PM that side of county and cars would be lined up both directions getting gas. 

So it was just natural Ceora would get involved with a group like REACT.

Ceora married a Mr. Reynolds who I meet one time and she did not talk much about and  had a Son David and Daughter Melissa , who she gave everything to to make sure they where feed and clothed and raised properly  and they turned around and shit on her and they became estranged from her.

She would go onto marry Jim Green  who was also a total Piece of Shit who left her dying from Stage 4  Breast Cancer  which she miraculously survived after having surgery but no chemo .

But again she would be shit on by a Robert Carnrike who first came to help her then ripped her off.  

I did what I could for her but being 3 hours away I only got there couple times a year. 

Ceora was always a giving person and got to meet and  worked with many politicians  including Tom Ridge with here charity work  even knew John F, Kennedy's Wife. and she even received a Volunteers award from President  Jimmy Carter 

Her good works would also be her undoing. While assisting Truckers from a Friends CB radio shop she realized Truckers where transporting drugs thru Erie County  Thru the shop and after reporting it to authority's things got dicey and she had to leave REACT behind as several members where tied with it.along with some higher level React Leaders  in criminal wrong doings . She was so worried for her safety when a regional React meeting was held in Punxatawney Pa. I brought along Noel McCarthy with me a Former Wrestler Jobber for WWWF and Deputy Constable  known by his Nick Name Grizzly to protect her . Those who threatened her all ended up paying for their misdeeds Karma can be a real bitch,

Even with everything she had gone thru she stayed true to her faith and she meet a congregation several years ago  United Pentecostal in Wattsburg where she meet the Rev.William Binganham  and the 2 became friends and both ministered to the various Nursing facility's thru out Erie and this was their Down Fall.

They both Contracted Covid 19 Pneumonia and died within hours of  each passing.  

I knew something was wrong when i could not reach her to wish her Happy thanks Giving and was getting ready to drive up and check on her when  Neighbor called who is her executor. 

She will be greatly missed and so many people have no idea all she did and lives she saved. 

But in the long run Ceora got the Last Laugh.

Remembering an Alarm Industry Legend Alan ( Al ) Colombo who never got the recognition he should have

 Alan passed at the age of 71  on December 3rd ,2021 

https://www.cantonrep.com/obituaries/pwoo0109258

https://www.sdmmag.com/articles/100241-allan-al-colombo-sdm-contributor-and-former-staff-member-dies-at-71

 

 I first met Alan when he was writing for AID  Alarm Industry Dealer  magazine which became SS&I Security Sales & Installation  where he authored articles under the synonym Albert Sloan    and shared tips and ideas with him I ran into or developed  in those early years to help other dealers some of my ideas  which Alan  featured in his articles he wrote including his book Kinks and Hints 

.Before Alan became a legend in Publishing and Writing  He was like all the rest of us small alarm dealers which he sold and then became a full time writer and journalist

He owned Interstate Alarm  which he started in early 70s   which was located in North East Ohio area and did a little bit of everything learning as he was going  along just like I did when I started in late 70s 

 

There where no schools and very few classes it was read the install manual and do it.  motion sensors where very expensive and size of toaster and Silver Foil Tape was used everywhere.

 Alan then moved on to SDM Magazine  and He came into Pittsburgh in 80s  to one of my customers to learn about a new wiring technology I was installing  cat 5 wiring and token ring   and he was interested in how eventually computers would become integrated into Fire and Security work.

He was right the technology took off like a rocket and Alan always tried to present the best news on upcoming technology. 

Many don't know but Alan helped bring Hik Vision Cameras into US Market and also  Persuaded AES to open its Radio transmitters to public market  at time they where only selling it to military. 

He started a weekly News letter sent over the internet  when most people where using Dial Up Modems  and Prodigy and Compuserve  ISP  where the providers back then It was called Safety and Security which myself and many others contributed articles to and was read world wide.Al even back then was active in technology groups

I still get people who contact me to use those articles from 80s.

When the internet exploded in growth and web pages developed  he started T Promo also known as  Thunder Promotions  and several web pages  which I contributed  articles  to which Included the Giant Killers  a controversial web site which questioned government activity's , Safety&Security news and even a web site full of veteran information for troops to provide help to them even thou he was not a veteran.

He also developed web pages for businesses and organizations  

Alan was also a talented musician playing several different horns plus guitar  and playing with different small groups at social occasions and clubs 

Plus he was an Amateur Radio Operator like myself. I remember the day he showed me his new 6Meter radio which he was so proud of.

When Alan left SDM Magazine he became an Installation Manager for Abbott Electric  a large Ohio Contractor .

While still working for Abbott I meet Alan for lunch  one day after having gone thru stage 4 colon cancer and was recovering  and had some free time at last as it took everything I had to drive from Pittsburgh to canton only 2 hours away   and he drove me down to Gnaudehuten Oh. where I got to see My 5th Great uncle Moravian church named after him and see the Indian mound and the story of he day of shame in Ohio as it became known .

 Since Alan was a musician  and Moravian's are world renown known for their hymns and music they sgave him one of their music booklets which I know he cherished.

I also  spoke at the local Rotary  for him where he was a  past president  and Paul Harris Fellow and discussed all the hardships I went thru with cancer  and trying to keep my business running during that time

 Alan also worked for Secure Pro ? Security  near Canton  in a similar role  and ended up after several years back into publishing . Doing piece meal work here and there for Lock Smith Ledger and others 

and while doing this he  married his 2nd wife Linda he he was school mates with and moved to Columbus Oh with her so they could both  pursue their careers  when Linda Retired they moved back to the Canton Area . Where Alan continued writing and maintain many Websites and Facebook groups  including Giant Killer technology,

Alan and I would get together  at the Canton McDonald's his favorite  or  local VFW Club or restaurant for lunch couple times a year to discuss articles we where working on  it was always a good time and got to meet some of his friends ,We planned on meeting up in January and I will still stop at the McDonald's as an honor to him/.

The Security Industry will never be the same with out Alan and so many disregarded him and his contributions.

https://tpromothegiantkillers.blogspot.com/2022/01/welcome-to-kiant-killers-organazation.html

There is a Go Fund Me page to help with his funeral arrangements

Volunteer Fire Chief who owns a Fire Extinguisher business caught Red Handed doing a tag and run at an Oil business .

 Nothing pisses me off more than those who do not do their jobs especially when it comes to life safety equipment inspections.

I was recently at an Oil Customers Warehouse in Warren County Pa.  when I witnessed  a Fire Extinguisher Tech who owns the company and is a volunteer fire chief do whats known as a Rag and Tag 

Where he just changes the tag on an extinguisher and never checks it. 

This is 2nd time I have caught a fire official who owns their own company doing this First time was  Fire Marshal who covered 3 different  towns  doing it at my customers in Allegheny County.

Both of these facility's it is critical to check extinguisher for leaks ,rust and blocked hoses because of spiders webs getting in them. 

 

and once again rules where not followed . The tech never even bothered to wipe them off and one was in need of recharge 

Well needless to say this latest company will be doing no further work for my customer. 

and since this is rural Pa. there is no one to complain to who can or will do anything about it. 

Pa. needs a real Fire Marshal with real teeth not a fire Official with no powers. 

 

Think your saving money buying materials from a Big box Hardware and hiring a tradesman to do install or doing it your self think again your getting ripped off.

 So you watch one of those home remodeling shows and it looks easy enough to do small electrical or plumbing project no problem go to the big box hardware buy what you need and install it  and it looks good but your neighbor hires a tradesman to do same job and when you go to see what neighbor has done the quality of his parts he bought especially the electric lights and plugs thou same manufacturer are of a better quality at same price you payed the big box for lesser quality . So what the hell is going on.

That's right you where ripped off by the big box selling you a consumer grade product instead of a professional product the tradesman bought at a local supply house.  

The problem the Big Box store can not buy a professional grade product then mar-kit up enough to make the desired profit they must make on each product they sell. 

Take this supposed   Commercial spec grade switch 

Its really Not this is a  Consumer Grade  Switch  they sell to big Box and hardware store who sells them for around $6.00  a piece retail

 

 

Now look at a real spec grade switch I buy at supply House twice the weight back wire capable  heavy duty construction.

which would not fall apart like one above.

This switch I buy wholesale at $6.50 is  $15.00 retail well above what average consumer would pay for a wall switch so the buy this piece because It looks like a much better switch when it is not. 

This goes on with many items you buy at Big Box and Hardware stores you are not getting for your money what you think you are getting.  

Shop at a retailers outlet stores same game is being played you think your buying overstock  1st qualty or items than had small flaw.

Not the case at all at one time that was true but now manufacturers make a lesser quality item and pass it off at outlet stores as 1st quality take a good look your getting ripped off. 

You really need to read specs on items compare them before you buy them or you will get ripped off. 

 

.

A disturbing trend of Young Electricians using Impact drills to tighten screws on outlets and switches which is damaging them

 Back when I was a rookie electrician  there was no concern for Wrist Injury's and Carpal Tunnel Disease .everything was done by hand  oh there where fancy twisting screwdrivers that helped but for most part it was all hand and wrist work.

But that's not the case today most young electricians carry and use a small battery powered screwdriver or drill .

That's fine it does cut down on wrist injury's but it has also caused another issue . over-tightened switches and outlets which cause them to fail and break creating a  shock and fire hazard.

Take this gang of supposed spec grade  switches installed everyone broken or cracked after being installed only a year ago. 

To make matters worse some of these compact drills have an impact setting and if your not careful or lazy you see the above result every switch in that gang switch is cracked and damaged. 

luckily the worker operating the switch was not hurt when switch collapsed into box ,but this is not always the case .

The only way to make this stop happening is for supervisors and inspectors to crack down on bad job habits or outlaw the drills all together.  

I have one of those small drills and I have never cracked or broken a switch. its called take your time and do it right. but too many employers are all about speed and speed gets you killed.

A very Big Mistake by Lighting manufactures which allows High output T5 fluorescent bulbs to be used in Normal Output T5 fixtures and Fire danger it imposes

 I have a customer where they installed T5  high efficiency lighting in their office space  and down the street they installed High-bay T5 lighting  in their Warehouse.

Now the T5 high Bay Lighting has worked very well never an issue turn it on in morning it comes on and have to change an occasional bulb when it burns out after a couple years.

 

The office on the other hand has been a Nightmare .they installed offset 4x8 lay in lights and they constantly blow bulbs and transformers. 

They where mainly changing the bulbs themselves then I took over doing it and that's when I discovered a major problem.

I went to change out a ballast and had to do a retrofit as the smaller ballast in picture  was not available and when I started matching up numbers to get something to work that's when i also looked at bulbs and realized what was going on.

The supply house was supplying the wrong bulbs.The office fixtures use a 28 watt cool white bulb  normal output bulb . while the supply house was sending them 54 watt High output Bulbs  

T5-54 watt bulb 

 

T5-28 Watt  bulb

Which is why they sometimes worked and fixtures where overheating and sockets burning up. in essence they where creating the problem of the old  Edison based conventional light bulbs where socket maybe rated 60 watts but people where putting 100 or 150 watt bulbs in them .

But this should not be possible T12 and T 8 bulbs which are normal out put and High output have different ends to prevent this but T5 do not . How could Underwriters Lab  UL and NFPA allow this to happen. If these T5 fixtures are installed close to combustible materials and wrong bulb put in the overheating fixture could easily cause a fire. 

Once again someone asleep at the switch .