ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
UL 508A SPACING
by ale348 - 03/29/24 01:09 AM
Increasing demand factors in residential
by tortuga - 03/28/24 05:57 PM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (Scott35), 365 guests, and 16 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#67462 07/05/06 10:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 615
J
Jps1006 Offline OP
Member
With today's wire prices, my brother was asking me if I have ever seen a portable wire meter (like the ones the supply house uses for precut orders) used to measure length. He wants something he can measure #12 or #14 THHN off the spool as he pulls it off the wire caddy. Has anyone seen such a thing?

#67463 07/05/06 10:43 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
J
Member

#67464 07/05/06 10:47 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
Ask the supplier where he got his. If I get up to the Home Depot or Ace Hardware I will get the name and model off theirs


Greg Fretwell
#67465 07/06/06 12:01 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 615
J
Jps1006 Offline OP
Member
Joe,

Yes, something like that except small, and would work off a portable caddy with a spool of wire.

gfretwell (greg is it?),
good place to start. Who knows, maybe the full blown version would work too.

#67466 07/06/06 01:26 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 265
S
Member
I priced out a wire meter at my supplier and it was $500. Instead, my apprentice suggested weighing the wire. I bought a $35 digital bathroom scale, and set up a spreadsheet with conversion factors to meters for each wire size and length of spool. Full spools (or boxes of RG6, Cat 5, & speaker wire) are a pre-determined weight, and then we write on the side of the spool the weight that's left. The difference is converted and then charged to the customer. The weight that's left will also give us a length so we can be sure there's enough left on the spool for a particular run.

Once we got the system set up and got used to working with it, we found it saved us lots of time and is very accurate...way more accurate than pacing the runs off. The best part is it's CHEAP (like me [Linked Image] )! If you're interested in this send me an email and I'll forward the conversion factors I've worked out for the common spools we use.


Sixer

"Will it be cheaper if I drill the holes for you?"
#67467 07/06/06 01:50 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
I can't imagine why these are so expensive. It is just a reel counter with a wheel, pinch roller and a gear train that gets you to feet. Maybe you are paying for "legal for trade" accuracy/insurance.
You could probably cobble something up electronically cheaper than the mechanical deal. You just need a slotted disk with an opto detector and the pinch rollers. Getting that down to "feet" is just a choice of "divide by" counters. It could run on AA cells or a 9v.
I can't imagine someone doesn't sell that.
Call Greenlee, We could get rich.


Greg Fretwell
#67468 07/06/06 02:40 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,876
E
e57 Offline
Member
Why not count your sticks of pipe X 10', deduct scrap and multiply times the conductors = pretty accurate. Add some for in the box, or just for fun factor.

The model shown on that link is also for conductors 1"-2" diameter.

They have other smaller versions, may be cheaper. http://www.wemco-usa.com/45.html


Mark Heller
"Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason
#67469 07/06/06 05:43 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 680
W
Member
I've seen a meter where you look it up to both ends on the reel and it will tell how much is left?? not sure how accurate. You were supposed to be able to use it find a break in a wire also. not sure who made it, a ggogle search might find though

#67470 07/06/06 06:01 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,391
I
Moderator
Greenlee sells one it works with 16 AWG to 1000 kcmil.

It's only about $2000.00

I found another one by UEi for about $500.00

I like the $35 scale idea. [Linked Image]


[This message has been edited by iwire (edited 07-06-2006).]


Bob Badger
Construction & Maintenance Electrician
Massachusetts
#67471 07/06/06 10:22 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 2
Cat Servant
Member
I'd be happy, if only the fish tape had foot markings on it!

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5