Carter Huddleston

Here's a quick breakdown of the 3 most common types of electrical services: 🔌 120/240V Single Phase: Mostly residential, but can power light commercial spaces like small offices or retail shops. 🔌 120/208V 3 Phase: The go-to for most commercial spaces, suitable for a variety…

@PermitZIPelec and I finally got our business cards ordered. We haven’t had them since 2020, back when the whole office went fully remote. Now they’re here...gold chains and all.

If you avoid AI because it sometimes makes mistakes or “hallucinates,” ask this: how often would a human make the same mistake? And if challenged, who is more likely to correct themselves? AI has no ego. It adjusts. Humans often resist or avoid admitting mistakes.

A look at what I like to call "the Walmart meter mod" I like to call this setup the Walmart meter mod because it trades compactness for practicality. In multi-tenant buildings, we often see modular meter stacks, a compact and standardized way to meter and distribute power to…

Landlords: just like engineers don’t tell you how to handle your finances, don’t tell engineers what’s required by code. We’re adding electrical load to a tenant space that shares a service lateral with three other tenants. By law (NEC 220.87), we have to prove our added tenant…

AI is this century’s calculator. If you’re not using it, you’re already behind. Before calculators, math was done on paper and giant whiteboards in a room full of mathematicians. Then the handheld calculator showed up, and the reaction was predictable skepticism: “Is this thing…

Inside of a 100 amp fused service disconnect on a recent @PermitZIP survey in Henrico, VA. Three 100 amp fuses, and #1 AWG AL conductors mean this is a fully rated 100 amp / 3 phase system (NEC table 310.16). Never trust a nameplate on the outside. The inside of the…

Engineers aren’t trained to sell, but we should be. The “I’ve done it cheaper” crowd keeps winning trust. So now I just say: “If you take their advice, sign here saying 85°F and 85% RH is an acceptable indoor condition.” Nobody ever signs. I wonder why?

Unpopular opinion: If you're blasting out a bunch of unstructured emails with scattered thoughts, random attachments, and forwarded threads without context — and the recipient misses something, that’s on you. Don’t expect people to piece together what you didn’t take the time to…

Our buddy Nick Heim, PE, was in our backyard today (Washington, DC) so we swung by his hotel room for a quick chat and ended up recording an awesome conversation. We covered construction, AI, industry optimization, old hats, new hats... and everything in between. A great episode…

Think a 200A panel is maxed out because it has ten 20A breakers? It's probably not. One of the most common misconceptions in electrical design is assuming the connected load is the sum of the breaker ratings. That might make sense at first glance—until you realize what breakers…

Talk about being a pro & and a crazy nerd , if you are not using @PermitZIP then: 1. You missing out and probably loosing money on your designs 2. You are overpaying In fact @realEstateTrent just posted about a survey guy, all strip malls should be remodeled only with the…

Step-down transformers don't always need to be on the floor. Here's what to consider: In warehouses and high-ceiling spaces, we often see transformers suspended from the structure or mounted high on walls – like this one from a recent @PermitZIP survey. Pros: Frees up valuable…

Unprotected service conductors inside a building? That’s a fire waiting to happen. If you see conductors running from the meter straight into the building, you better hope there’s a main breaker right where they land. Otherwise, those conductors are unprotected — meaning there’s…

Ever wonder what those little “bug-eye” lights on the wall are for? They’re not just there for decoration — they’re one of the most important life safety systems in the building. 💡 Emergency lights — we call them “bugeyes” — automatically turn on if the power goes out, whether…

Ever hear someone mention the rule about “six disconnects”? That magic number comes straight from the NEC, and there’s a good reason behind it. 🔌 A service disconnect is exactly what it sounds like: a way to shut off all power coming into a building. “Service” = the main…

“Just give me code minimum” for outlets may mean only two in the entire space—unless the occupant speaks up. In commercial buildings, the NEC has very few requirements for general-purpose receptacles. So while engineers can make educated assumptions based on layout and…

Your 2000A breaker may be lying to you. Here's why: This is an adjustable trip breaker - notice those dials at the bottom? Unlike typical breakers, these let you fine-tune the trip characteristics. Problem is, they ship from the factory turned all the way down. If these settings…

If your building is on the opposite side of the street from the power lines — you’ve got two main options to get electricity to your space: 1. Overhead jump (faster, cheaper) 2. Underground bore (slower, pricier) Watch this quick breakdown from a recent site in San Antonio ⚡️🏗️

Think the 3-ft panel clearance rule always applies? Not with 277/480V ⚡ NEC 110.26 requires up to 4 ft in some cases.....and many miss this! Don't get caught off guard. Watch this quick breakdown👇 #ElectricalSafety #NECCode #Construction #SiteUnseen #MEPDesign

This kid has been talking his Dad’s ear off for the last 30 minutes telling him everything he learned today while sitting in class taught by @PermitZIPelec and @PermitZIPhvac He said “Engineers are hilarious!”