The Outlet: July 7, 2026
Hi there,
Welcome to this week's edition of The Outlet. Here are some sparks to keep you informed and entertained!
🔦 Fun Fact
The "80% rule" you use on continuous loads isn't the code being cautious for no reason. A breaker's rating is set for a device that heats up and cools down, but a load that runs three hours or more straight — think lighting circuits, EV chargers, big motors — never gets that cooling break, so the terminations sit hot the whole time. So the NEC has you size the conductor and overcurrent device to 125% of that continuous load, which is the same thing as only loading a standard breaker to 80%. It's not two rules, it's one idea looked at from both ends, and the exam loves to see if you know they're the same math.
😆 Laugh of the Day
Why did the journeyman refuse to argue with the 80% rule?
He knew he'd never come out ahead on a continuous load.
💰 The AI Buildout Is Pushing Electrician Pay Into Six Figures
A new Randstad analysis of more than 50 million job postings found demand for skilled trades climbing fast on the back of the AI data-center boom, and electricians are near the front of the line. The report notes some electricians on data-center projects pulling $240,000 to $280,000 a year, with construction roles up 30% since late 2022. The short version is the one every shop already feels: there aren't enough licensed hands, and the ones with a card are naming their price. If you've been wondering whether the exam is worth the grind, the paychecks on these jobs are making the case for you...
🧰 Milwaukee Tool Is Buying Tools for the Next Class of Apprentices
On June 10, Bring Back the Trades teamed up with the electrical training ALLIANCE and Milwaukee Tool to expand a tool-grant program aimed at the next generation of tradespeople. Starting this summer it awards two monthly grants worth at least $1,500 in tools each, open to public schools and registered nonprofits, with electrical programs getting a second shot through the etA. It's part of Milwaukee's broader pledge to put $200 million into the trades by 2030, after donating over $4.5 million in equipment to trade schools in 2025 alone. If you came up buying your own meters and benders out of your first paychecks, this is the kind of leg-up worth passing along...
📋 Colorado Just Tightened How PV Hours Count Toward Your License
Colorado's Electrical Board rolled out clarified licensing rules that spell out exactly how experience gets counted, and solar work is a big piece of it. Two hours of qualifying PV work now equals one hour toward electrical experience, capped at 2,000 hours, and only specific DC-side tasks count while AC connections have to happen under proper contractor registration. Journeyman applicants also need 288 hours of structured training in their last eight years, covering grounding, NEC changes, and OSHA. If you're logging hours in a solar-heavy market, it's worth knowing which ones the board will actually credit before you sit for the exam...
We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of The Outlet. Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, keep the current flowing! ⚡ 🔌
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