Carter Huddleston

Electrical Engineer at @PermitZIP. Making electrical systems make sense for CRE professionals. The Blueprint Tour Co-host ( Jiu-Jitsu.

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

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 of tenant types. Office, restaurant, brewery, multi-family

🔌 277/480V 3 Phase: A good option for larger buildings (20,000+ sq ft), speciality use, industrial spaces, and locations with high electrical loads.

As with anything, the answer on which service works for you is “it depends” but this is a summarized breakdown. Let me know if you have a specific use case and would like some input.

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

Most electrical issues don’t start in the panel.

They start with what you don’t notice in the field.

In this episode of Field Notes, we’re on site in D.C., walking a multi-unit building and documenting what’s actually there.

🔻 150A single-phase load centers in each unit
🔻 SER cable leaving the building
🔻 Limited wall space for a meter stack
🔻 Mostly three-wire… but one four-wire plus ground

Small differences matter.

Three-wire vs four-wire changes how you think about the service.
Meter layout changes what’s feasible.
Field verification changes everything.

If you work in MEP, you already know that existing conditions tell the real story.

Take a look at the latest Field Notes episode and see what we found.

#ElectricalEngineering #MEPEngineering #CommercialConstruction #ArchitectureAndDesign #MEP #SiteVisit

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

Awesome time in Vegas with the mechanical homies

[Kenny Shultz @PermitZIPhvac]

Not a bad place to talk construction with a few fellow nerds. #theblueprinttour #ahr #ashrae @PermitZIPelec

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

Most people walk past an outlet without ever thinking about what’s behind it.

But inside that wall is a small decision tree of power, safety, and intent.

In this episode of Site Unseen, we step onto an active jobsite and look at:

🔹 What “electrical rough-in” really means
🔹 Why two sets of cables land in one box
🔹 How a simple receptacle fits into a larger circuit
🔹 What’s happening before drywall hides everything

If you’ve ever wondered how power actually moves through a building, this one’s for you.

#ElectricalEngineering #ConstructionLife #MEPDesign #BuildingSystems #Construction #Engineering #MEP

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

Why is this labeled if the directory already exists? ⚡

That small detail often gets ignored.
But in the field, it matters more than people think.

In this #SiteUnseen episode, we look at a real panel on site and talk through why conductors are sometimes labeled right at the breaker.

🔻 What happens when the dead-front cover is off
🔻 How electricians quickly identify circuits
🔻 Why this helps during maintenance and additions

Nothing theoretical.
Just what’s actually happening in the field.

If you work around electrical systems or design them, this one will feel familiar.

Take a look.

#Construction #MEP #ElectricalEngineering #MEPEngineering #ConstructionIndustry #ArchitectsAndEngineers

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

Yellow, white, orange: what they actually mean.
Which gauges match which breaker sizes.
And where the NEC draws hard limits on small conductors.

Simple concepts. Common mistakes. Real-world context.

If you work in residential or multifamily construction, this one is worth a few minutes.

#ConstructionEducation #ElectricalContractors #MEPEngineering #BuildingDesign #RealEstateDevelopment #ResidentialConstruction

📘 The discussion in this video ties back to NEC Article 240, specifically 240.4(D) on small conductor overcurrent protection, along with 240.6 for standard breaker sizes.

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

Ever wonder what an engineer looks for inside an existing electrical room? ⚡

Out on-site, walking through the transformer, CT cabinet, MDP, and panels.
This is the kind of fieldwork that keeps projects accurate and designs grounded in real conditions.

A quick look at how we document existing electrical systems before any redesign. 👇

#Engineering #ElectricalEngineering #ConstructionTech #FieldNotes

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

Kicked off our first site survey using the Insta360.

A quick 360 walk-through video like this makes it much easier for our engineers to understand existing conditions without multiple trips on-site.

Fast to capture. Easy to review.
Simple upgrade. Big impact on clarity and coordination.

More to come as we refine how we capture field data.

#MEPEngineering #SiteSurvey #360Video #Engineering #Construction

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

Even something as simple as a single spare conduit or an unverified power feed can shift major design decisions. Your electrical design only stands up if it reflects what’s truly in the field.

The earlier you validate assumptions, the fewer surprises you face downstream.

#ConstructionEngineering #MEPDesign #SiteVisit #BuildingSystems

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

Spotted an open-delta high-leg service at an old gas station getting a full upgrade.

Two transformers on the pole.
208V to neutral on one phase.
Panel marked “high-leg.”

Catching this early keeps design clean and avoids costly surprises. ⚡

What field finds have you seen lately?

#ElectricalEngineering #Construction #MEP #FieldNotes

[Kenny Shultz @PermitZIPhvac]

No way I’m visiting SAT without checking in with @bethanyjbabcock and the homies.

Shout out to #UTSA!

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

@bethanyjbabcock @PermitZIPhvac Hook your favorite sweet potato-loving MEP engineers up

[Bethany | Commercial Real Estate @bethanyjbabcock]

Look who crashed out company Thanksgiving lunch! @PermitZIPelec @PermitZIPhvac !

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

@kevinkrone @RamJeffreyp @JasonKeyz here's the fire protection engineer podcast episode we were talking about

https://t.co/h0DJf7WiMo

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

@kevinkrone https://t.co/OpqdHxn9t4

@RamJeffreyp here is the NYC podcast that @PermitZIPhvac was talking about

[PermitZIP @PermitZIP]

Live with Restream, September 17 https://t.co/RkKXpc7suf

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

@AdamB1438 @ryanchandrapaul Gotcha - tag me if you ever need help with anything

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

@ryanchandrapaul @AdamB1438 Dang.. post was deleted. I was looking forward to nerding out over something

[Kenny Shultz @PermitZIPhvac]

@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.

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

@ChadGriffiths Congrats!! This is a cool idea

[Carter Huddleston @PermitZIPelec]

@ClarenceWongCRE @MultifamilyMad Walmart water! Very clean install