Jim Katen

I'm planning to be there and I'd love to meet you. 

8 hours ago, SNations said:

Would what we colloquially call the "neutral conductor" still be neutral if it wasn't grounded?

Steve

Before 2008, the XO point on your drawing would not have been considered a neutral point and the wire connected to it would have been properly called the "grounded conductor." There's nothing particularly "neutral" about that conductor (unless it happens to be part of a multi-wire circuit). However, *everyone* called it the "neutral" so the NEC decided to go with the flow and adopt the name in 2008. 

In a single-phase, 120/240 volt system that conductor must be grounded and it may be called the neutral. Of course, the presence or absence of grounding doesn't change it's "neutralness," which it doesn't really have in the first place. 

A better question might be why the ungrounded conductor is called a neutral when it's not neutral. (And the answer is: because everyone calls it that.) 

How do I buy Mike Lamb's hot sauce? 

1 hour ago, Mike Lamb said:

So the tied breakers in question are sharing the same neutral? And if one breaker trips you want both to trip so the neutral cannot be overloaded?  And the ties should not be removed?  And tying the two breakers together with something other than electrical wire should be done?

In your picture, each set of tied breakers (and some sets that aren't tied) form "mult-wire circuits" (MWCs). 

These save wire by using 3 wires (instead of 4) to serve 2 circuits. To do this, the 2 breakers must originate on different poles of the system, so their power is 180-degrees apart (for a single-phase system). In this way, the shared neutral only carries the difference in current between the two circuits. Long ago, there was no rule about having a simultaneous disconnect between the two breakers (or fuses). The danger of a system like this is that if you cut power to one half of the circuit you could still be shocked by the current on the neutral from the other half of the circuit. In 1981, MWC breakers had to be tied together only for those circuits where both halves of the circuit delivered power to two receptacles on the same yoke. (Often the dishwasher and disposer.). Then, in 2008, all MWC breakers had to be tied together. The ties are there to ensure a *simultaneous disconnect*, not a *common trip*; its still possible for the breakers to trip independently. 

The danger that Marc referred to is that someone might re-arrange the breakers in the panel, unaware of the presence of MWCs. If you were to move the breakers or wires such that two halves of a MWC originated on the *same* pole, then the shared neutral would not carry the difference in current, but rather the sum of the current. This could overload the neutral and cause it to burn. By installing formal handle ties, you also signal to future amateurs that these two breakers "go together." 

17 hours ago, Mike Lamb said:

But why?  And is it a bad idea?

With a multi-wire circuit, if you were to cut power to one breaker and not the other (or others in the case of 3-phase systems) and then attempt to work on the circuit, the live neutral could bite you. That's why the 2008 NEC began requiring a simultaneous disconnect at the circuit's breakers. (Before that you only needed a simultaneous disconnect when different parts of the multi-wire circuit fed two receptacles on the same yoke.) 

My guess is that this installation pre-dated the 2008 requirements but someone decided to try to make it safer anyway. (Maybe a home inspector told them to do it.)

It never tasted sweet to me.

I had a lead stegosaurus that I got at the Peabody Museum when I was a kid. I used to absentmindedly chew on it and it wasn't particularly sweet.  Of course, that was over 50 years ago. I'd be happy to try it again, but the stegosaurus is long gone and the only pure lead that might be nearby would be the sinkers in my tackle box - and I can't find it at the moment. 

Just one of many reasons why I don't participate in Facebook in any meaningful way. I don't like interacting with fools, I don't like seeing people that I respect behave like fools, and I don't like the prospect of acting like a fool myself, which seems to be the inevitable fate of the participants there. 

It looks like someone was trying to tie together the halves of multi-wire circuits. 

They missed a few and, of course, it would be better to use real handle ties. 

9 hours ago, greyghost said:

Jim Katen....if you dont know delamination of plywood reduces the amount of holding pressure on the nails holding the shingles, and increases the amount of expansion and contraction around them, creating lift to add to the weak hold....and state theres no way to determine if its state will effect the performance there of...your either incompetent or flat out lying.

Could be.

But here's the rub: my opinion is based on observation and experience. Those have shown that there's really no way to predict what effect this will have on the future performance of the shingles. You can build a convincing-sounding train of logic to argue it either way, but the shingles can't read and will do what they do on their own.  

Is your opinion based on observations and experience or are you just arguing theory? 

37 minutes ago, Tom Raymond said:

Don't eat mold? There goes most of my diet. Dry cured meats, cave ripened cheeses, fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, bread, beer.

Aside from the cheese, those are generally bacteria & yeasts. Sure, some molds are good to eat, but if a mold is going to harm you, it's going to happen when you ingest it, not when you breathe it. 

On 10/29/2019 at 8:44 PM, lakoma said:

Well, thanks for all the feedback! Cladosporium is the results that came back. And yes, agreed. There is a lot of information on mold out there but what amazes me is the LACK of knowledge about the affects. I guess, just a work in progress.

If the test came back with only one type of mold, either the collection procedure or the test was poor. There are always multiple crops growing in places like this. Don't worry about it, though, really. 

I presume you mean "effects." There really isn't a lack of knowledge, its just that in the real world there aren't many effects. If you're allergic, sure. If you're immune-compromised, probably. If you're a healthy human - just don't eat the stuff. 99% of the hype that you hear about in news reports is pure, unadulterated bullshit. 

Have a Coke and a smile and get back to dealing with things that matter. 

2 hours ago, Jebo77 said:

From pic it appears to be coming away from structure. Is there a footing at the base that could be settling? Is the crack a different width (wider) at top than bottom? 

You realize that this crack is at the top of a six story building, right? 

It allows you to crank up the temperature of the water heater, giving you, in effect, a greater volume of 120-degree water than you would otherwise be able to store. 

Kind of like those cans of orange juice concentrate. 

53 minutes ago, John Dirks Jr said:

So,  if the older window was smaller than today’s egress requirements,  this new replacement makes the condition worse.  

Unless you replace an old double-hung, single-hung, or sliding window with a new casement window, in which case, the open portion of the window is made substantially larger. 

31 minutes ago, TAH said:

I’m hoping my sponsor will get me to the point where I’m basically doing the inspection and he’s there to correct my mistakes and catch my misses.

A simple ride along is one thing. It helps you to see a home inspection from inside the engine compartment and decide whether or not it's for you. You shouldn't have trouble finding people who'll allow you to do ride alongs. 

If you're planning to have them *train* you, that's a whole different box of chips. It involves a significant investment in the trainer's time and resources and, I would hope, a significant fee from you in exchange for the education. 

I can't even imagine what it would be like to inspect that place and I know I wouldn't like working for anyone who would want to buy it. 

Thanks, that's probably it. I found a good description in this 1920 Sweets Catalog. 

Possible, but unlikely. 

How about this one? Sent to me by another inspector. Used as backer for plaster in a 1908 Masonic Lodge. Looks like an organic predecessor to Tectum. Anyone familiar with it? 

It looks like an "ood" from Dr. Who. 

It think it's just the white coating shrinking and cracking. 

10 hours ago, John Dirks Jr said:

Whats the effect differences between changing the gas pressure and actual volume being delivered to the burner?  I assume a smaller orifice would not reduce pressure, but it would reduce volume.  Am I right?

I don't know much about fluid dynamics, but it seems to me that you want to have a way to "dial in" the flame, not make incremental changes. I'd look at installing a needle valve upstream of the burner. 

That looks like a nicely balanced gas flame. Perhaps when you put the ceramic logs in place, the flames will cool as they impinge on the ceramic? 

Good grief! 

Of course it's mold. So what? 

45 minutes ago, Marc said:

Aren't they bushing bearings?  Can't replace them because you can't locate new ones.

Never seen a bearing that I couldn't replace.