Brandon Whitmore Posted August 28, 2009 Report Posted August 28, 2009 Wow-- I found this today on a starter home I was inspecting. The electrical system was the only major system on the home that was done well, so I am pretty sure he was the low bidder. Click to Enlarge 72.85 KB Click to Enlarge 107.73 KB Click to Enlarge 43.67 KB Click to Enlarge 44.95 KB
Jim Katen Posted August 28, 2009 Report Posted August 28, 2009 Brandon Whitmore said: Wow-- I found this today on a starter home I was inspecting. The electrical system was the only major system on the home that was done well, so I am pretty sure he was the low bidder. Amateur workmanship. Tidy, but obviously the work of an inexperienced electrician. By segregating the white wires, he's setting the panel up for problems with EMFs. I don't care for the unnecessary close bundling of the wires. They won't dissipate heat well. By twisting his equipement grounds into cornrows, he's created a nightmare for someone who has to work on this panel in the future. Pretty, but impractical. - Jim Katen, Oregon
Brandon Whitmore Posted August 28, 2009 Author Report Posted August 28, 2009 Jim, What would you write in the report? Any code violations? The only thing I could think of that I could even write up would be the excess sharp bends in the grounded/ ungrounded conductors. I'm just impressed that someone takes some pride in their work, even if it creates a problem with future work in the panel. Quote By segregating the white wires, he's setting the panel up for problems with EMFs. Crap, I've got some more studying to do. Quote By twisting his equipement grounds into cornrows, he's created a nightmare for someone who has to work on this panel in the future. Agreed.
Jim Katen Posted August 28, 2009 Report Posted August 28, 2009 Brandon Whitmore said: Jim, What would you write in the report? Probably nothing. I'd just say it was ok. Quote Any code violations? The only thing I could think of that I could even write up would be the excess sharp bends in the grounded/ ungrounded conductors. That's not a violation. As long as you're under 600 volts, you can make the individual conductor bends as sharp as you want. The sharp bending issue applies to complete cable assemblies; you're not supposed to bend a complete romex cable that sharply. - Jim Katen, Oregon
Brandon Whitmore Posted August 28, 2009 Author Report Posted August 28, 2009 Here's a small article I found regarding EFS's for anyone interested: http://www.emwatch.com/HouseWiring.htm Quote That's not a violation. As long as you're under 600 volts, you can make the individual conductor bends as sharp as you want. The sharp bending issue applies to complete cable assemblies; you're not supposed to bend a complete romex cable that sharply. Ahh-- thanks. It may help me to remember this if I know the reason-- any ideas why?
Jim Katen Posted August 28, 2009 Report Posted August 28, 2009 Brandon Whitmore said: Here's a small article I found regarding EFS's for anyone interested: http://www.emwatch.com/HouseWiring.htm Quote That's not a violation. As long as you're under 600 volts, you can make the individual conductor bends as sharp as you want. The sharp bending issue applies to complete cable assemblies; you're not supposed to bend a complete romex cable that sharply. Ahh-- thanks. It may help me to remember this if I know the reason-- any ideas why? I believe that it has to do with thinning of the insulation on the outside of the bend as it's stretched around the wire. At 600 volts and above, there's enough voltage that this becomes a concern. At 120 or 240 volts, it's just not an issue. - Jim Katen, Oregon
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