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Patrick talks to Bill about electrical devices, technology upgrades, and how to know if your house needs electrical work.

Getting to Know Bill Grande: Please describe Leviton and their products. What do you do for Leviton? Please explain how you got into this line of work? How many employees work at Leviton? Did you have an interest in electrical devices and electrical work when you were young? Any family members who are electricians or in trade work?

Question 1:

I know you’re an expert about AFCI and GFCI receptacles. Can you please explain to listeners what both of those are and what they’re protecting against? What are the most-common ways people get the installation of these devices wrong? Do you think GFCI and AFCI circuit breakers are as good—or better—than receptacles used for the same types of protection? I’ve heard nuisance trips can be a problem with both types of device. Any ways to prevent them?

RELATED STORIES:

• Safer Ungrounded Outlets
• Wiring AFCI and GFCI Receptacles
• GFCI Receptacles vs. Breakers

Question 2:

People ask Fine Homebuilding all the time what they should do about their old wiring. What should people do? How can they tell if things should be upgraded? What are some really dangerous conditions that you would address right away?

RELATED STORIES:

• Is Your Old Wiring Safe
• Improving Old Wiring
• Working with Old Wiring

Question 3:

There’s a huge initiative worldwide to electrify the economy, including space-conditioning and vehicles. I’m guessing you’re expecting this to be a boost for business? Do you see any potential problems with these efforts? Do you think we’re ready? What about the numbers of electricians and other technicians? What about people to make the electrical equipment?

RELATED STORIES:

• Electrifying Buildings
• Eight Myths about Electrification
• Planning an All-Electric Home

Question 4:

During the Covid outbreak, there was—maybe there still is—a shortage of electrical panels and other electrical devices, especially meter sockets, as I recall. Can you please talk about what happened in your industry? Do those shortages still exist for some products?

RELATED STORIES:

• Electrical Equipment Shortage
• The Basics of Electrical Panels

Question 5:

I think you’d agree that when products work well, we don’t give them a lot of thought. In my experience, electrical devices are very reliable. Do you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing for your company? Put another way, outside the DIY sector, do consumers even know about your company? I’m guessing everyone who does trade work is familiar with your brand?

RELATED STORIES:

• Quick-Connect Receptacles and Switches
• Materials for Electrical Rough-In
• Trouble-Free Electrical Devices

Question 6:

Can you talk about how Leviton goes about developing new products? You might have a better example, but I was thinking about electrical outlets with a USB charger built in. I have a couple, which are super useful. You had to test these outlets all kinds of ways before they went on the market, right? What does that process look like, and how long does it take? Testing is also done by a third party, right?

RELATED STORIES:

• Install a USB Receptacle
• Updated Load Center

Question 7:

Can you please tell listeners what’s on the horizon for electrical devices? Are there changes to the NEC that you expect will affect electrical devices? What about computer networking and lighting controls? Any advice for someone planning a build or electrical upgrades? What about LED light fixtures?

RELATED STORIES:

• Planning and Installing an Electrical Service
• Code-Required Receptacle Locations
• Installing Low-Voltage Lighting

Question 8:

I’m guessing you notice electrical devices and electrical work everywhere you go. Do you like what you see? Did you ever just walk out of a place you thought was a fire trap? Have you noticed a difference regionally or in the type of building affect the quality of electrical work?

RELATED STORIES:

• 10 Common Wiring Problems
• Safely Air Sealing Can Lights
• Electrical Code Violations

Question 9:

Are electrical devices the same at the box store as they are in the supply houses?

End Note:

Well, unfortunately, that is all the time we have for today, Thanks to Bill Grande for joining me and thanks to all of you for listening. Please send your electrical device questions to [email protected] so we can forward them along to Bill for his answers. And please like, comment, or review us no matter how you’re listening—it helps other folks find our podcast.

Happy Building!

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