Jim Katen

This was from a 13.5kw range. The installation manual said that it was supposed to be installed on a 50 amp circuit. The breaker did eventually trip, but it took a surprisingly long time. 

Erby's chart shows the aluminum ampacities way over on the right side. 

Both charts (and the NEC) allow  #8 SER cable to be used on a 40 amp circuit (you have to use the 75-degree column, which is fine if all of the terminals in the circuit are marked for 75 degrees, which they almost certainly are). 

On many ranges, the installation instructions will specify either a 40- or 50-amp circuit, even though the range is capable of drawing more than that. I suspect that the manufacturer figures you won't run all of the burners on high at once. 

Being the suspicious type, I've tested this several times on several ranges. The 40-amp breakers rarely trip, even when the amp draw creeps up above 40 amps for a while. 

That's swell. 

It's certainly unusual, but not really a mystery. It just distributes water in 4 different directions. You can find similar fittings here: 

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/6-Way-Brass-Crimp-Fitting-Pipe_60751866129.html?spm=a2700.7724857.4.14.235f20ee2LHeXA&s=p

http://www.temico.com/products/brass-fitting/5-way-connector-11035h

http://www.sanitarytek.com/fittings/press-fitting-F09B-305.html

I can see where it might be handy. You can run a pipe to a bathroom and, with one fitting, branch off to the toilet, tub, shower, and sink. It might be nice if the inlet barb were one size larger than the others, but it'd probably work fine as is. 

Looks like a little baby manifold. 

10 hours ago, Erby said:

For you, Jim.  That's very likely true.

But, I think that depends on who does the pre-listing inspection.  Someone like you, or Joe the new guy, or Jim the quickie guy.

Sure, there'll always be the exception - a fool who shouldn't really be inspecting at all. But in my area, those guys actually do very little work. 

In most cases, even a minimally competent inspector with some bark on his hide can find the big ticket items most of the time - and if he's doing a pre-listing inspection where he pretty much *knows* that another inspector will follow him, he does a job that's a bit more thorough. 

I've followed lots and lots of other inspectors and had the opportunity to review their reports. In most cases, I don't like the way that they report things, but I very rarely find that they miss the big "sue-able" issues. 

2 hours ago, Marc said:

I think that explains a lot of the contrary responses I get at a FB message board for HIs:  they seem to think that all HIs report with the same expertise.  How could someone be that naive?

I have no illusions about home inspectors all reporting with the same expertise, but in my little market, I just don't see the problems occurring that you seem to think are inevitable. 

Plus, when I look at two of the largest real estate markets in the country (LA & SF), where pre-listing inspections are the norm, I * don't* see "insurance premiums skyrocketing and inspectors leaving the profession faster than you can say lawsuit."

I said it before: ask the Cali guys about this - they're experts in it. 

On 5/27/2018 at 1:39 PM, Marc said:

Seeking comments about the rise in seller inspections and the advent of pre-listing inspections that could end up pitting seller inspector against buyer inspector in an arena not unlike the defendants and plaintiffs of a courtroom battle.  This, combined with generous E & O policies, would motivate a new cottage industry of attorneys seeking relief for damages to sellers for issues revealed by the buyer inspection report but missed by the seller inspection report.  Insurance premiums would skyrocket and inspectors would exit the profession faster than you could say 'Lawsuit'.

Anyone else seeing this coming?

I don't see it coming if the pre-listing inspector does a good job. 

We offer these inspections but only do a few a year. We do them exactly the same as we would for a homebuyer. I always tell the sellers who hire me that they should read my report, fix what they think they should fix, and just disclose everything else. Heck, leave my report on the table for the prospective buyers to look at. That leaves the buyer's inspector with nothing new to report. 

My browser still shows a link, which I have to download before viewing. 

I thought you were going to park the camera at the edge of the roof, hop up there, and do a soft shoe. . . 

You should get some input from inspectors in California. Particularly from LA and the Bay Area where pre-listing inspections have been the norm for many years now. 

Wait a minute. Why did they put an attic hatch on the floor? 

That all makes sense. Thanks. 

I did some poking around and found it interesting that the term "Atlas brick" always has the tm trademark sign next to it, but it seems to be claimed by at least two different manufacturers: Muddox and Interstate. 

Odd name. 

Are other bricks not structural? 

Does anyone know the name of this kind of brick? It's like a cross between a CMU and a brick - 8" deep with large hollow cores. I see them a lot in small commercial buildings, particularly professional buildings like doctor's and dentist's offices. 

It's required by the IRC in section 317.1

Sorry to hear it. 

Those orthopedic guys do some amazing things. 

11 hours ago, Denray said:

 On 4-20 I trip on our deck and slam my ribs into a metal chair. Too much fun.

 

4-20, eh? 

Perhaps there was something in the air? 

As John said, if only grounding wires landed on the bar, it would require no jumper. 

However, I see one neutral wire on it. Per 200.2(B), you're not supposed to rely on the enclosure to carry the neutral current. So they should either limit that bar to grounding wires only or run a jumper to it. 

I've wondered the same thing. They must cook it in a kiln with a very low oxygen atmosphere or something like that. 

Those panelized stone products are very similar to Castia Stone, which has a great track record in my area. 

I worked on a project that used Boral siding about 3 - 4 years ago and the installers had lots of problems with it. When they'd cut it with carbide saws, sparks shot out with the waste dust. They ended up getting the entire shipment of siding replaced and it worked fine after that. 

No curved windows? 

Where is that? 

10 hours ago, Chad Fabry said:

I had the TG5. It was too heavy and it was incapable of taking a photo of a data label in dark environment. I had to carry a Big Larry floodlight or the flash or LED on the camera would wash the label with too much light. 

I'm carrying ancient SW1030's- one of the original Olympus Tough cameras.  They were a thing around 2006. I buy them used on eBay for 20 bucks.

 

Try getting a ring light for the Olympus Toughs. It makes a vast improvement in the macro shots. 

If it has a closed-cut valley, the steeper side should overlap the shallower side. 

We presently use ISN, which works ok. 

We used to use Docusign, which worked great. The customers are, generally, already familiar with it because it seems like most realtors use it.