Cables entering distribution panels
posted on May 16, 2008 10:02:19 am
What are the requirements regarding number of cables entering a panel (per entrance). Five cables were jammed in this single entrance.

Exterior GFCI's
posted on May 14, 2008 08:57:39 pm
Can someone tell me when exterior outlets were required to be GFCI protected? Thank you, Chris

Switched Outlet w/out GFCI under sink
posted on May 14, 2008 08:37:50 pm
New construction. Island in kitchen. Single bowl sink with a garbage disposal installed. The switch for the garbage disposal is inside the cabinet. The switch is in a two gang box and operates the outlet in the same box. The garbage disposal is plugged into the outlet. The only time the outlet is hot, is when the switch is operated. There is no GFCI protection. The outlet is within 6 feet (much less) of a water source. The switch will likey be operated by people who are chopping veggies, rinsing hands and then turning on disposal. Seems like it would require a GFCI. Looks like NEC 210.8A7 would cover this defect. Just trying to cover my anatomy if get resistence from the builder.

extension cord or not
posted on May 14, 2008 06:58:24 pm
Do not have a picture but will try to explain best as possible. In the kitchen there use to be fluorescent lighting in a tray in the ceiling hidden by etched plastic ceiling tiles. During the remodel they removed the fluorescent lights and installed a crown molding around the bottom edge of the tray. The question is that an outlet was installed be behind the crown molding and Christmas lights were plugged into the outlet. The outlet was operated by a regular switch. This just does not seem correct?

What happened to this lightning arrestor?
posted on May 14, 2008 04:47:46 pm
Found this on todays inspection. The housing for the lightning arrestor was seperated and a clear goo had oozed out. I don't know much about the internal components of these devices. Can someone fill me in on what this is and a possible reason why it happened. Thanks! Chris

Fused main
posted on May 14, 2008 03:10:37 pm
This house had a fused main. Each was was rrated at 300 amp. The main panel was rated for 400 amp max. The two non service panels next to it each had 200 amp breakers. The main is over fused correct?

Fire suppression light
posted on May 14, 2008 08:57:41 am
Inspected a small bakery yesterday. Found this new fangled lighting system. I think it is so you can see the fire suppression system control in the dark. Have a great day. Jonathan

Pushmatic questons
posted on May 13, 2008 09:52:29 pm
I've seen plenty of "standard" Pushmatics, but this bus arrangement is new to me and I want to make sure I understand and report it properly. Is appears to me that what we have here is two separate 100A 240V buses, with each "section" controlled by the 100A breaker at the top of the buss (a sort of "split buss" equipment, as it were). However as I can't see the entire mechanical arrangement of the buss bars and their connections to the SEC's I'm not 100% certain. Is anyone here familiar with this panel?

New "tamper Resistant Receptacles"
posted on May 13, 2008 08:56:37 pm
Pass & Seymour sent me a sample of their new "Tamper Resistant Receptacles" yesterday, along with a 2-3 prong adapter and a paper clip to test it with. Sure enough, try to insert the paper clip into either slot and it will not go in. But try to plug the plug in and it goes right in. Great! Err ... except if you try to insert two paper clips, one into each side, they also go right in ... OOPS! :D

AFCI false trip
posted on May 13, 2008 08:50:04 pm
I noted this afci breaker was indicating that it was tripped but it was not and was operating. Ever seen this? Is it a problem? I wrote it up as a defective afci breaker. I have seen this several times, but did not know how to address it.

multiple taps at main
posted on May 13, 2008 08:26:24 pm
this looks like it was made for two feeders but not three?

Denergizing Panel Requirement
posted on May 13, 2008 09:15:45 am
Does anybody have an idea how long it has been required for service panels to need no more than 6 throws of the hand to denergize the entire panel? I saw an older split bus panel yesterday that needed 10 throws to shut it down.

Door Opener Box
posted on May 10, 2008 12:23:19 pm
I wrote this receptacle up as being inappropriate and needing to be replaced. Note the romex is secured to the ceiling but can't be to this type of receptacle. Did I overreact?