Thread: Missing clamps in panel

Guys- This is my first post, need opinions please.

This is a 14 year old house with a finished basement. The panel is finished into the wall. The owner probaly did the work, he botched the wiring at some basement outlets.

I mentioned he did not use clamps on wires into the box and he doubled up wires in other clamps.

So it would be a job to retrofit, maybe have to tear up the wall. I told him that here was as much risk of damaging the wires trying to add the clamps but I will put it in my report reguardless.

Any opinions on reporting language?
Does anyone know of clamps designed to add to wires from inside the box?

Thanks for your time...

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You can buy some plastic pop-in clamps (more like bushings) that can be installed from inside the panel. You can buy them at the big orange and big blue box stores.

Not an Hi, but the clamps used are probably good for two cables. The locknuts appear to be missing from the lack of a gap to slide them into place. Both the lack of a proper clamp and the missing locknuts are electrical code issues. The open knockout is also an issue.

There are clamps made that can be retrofitted around the cables without pulling the cables out of the panel. IIRC Bridgeport makes one type. Arlington black buttons can also be used.

It is not your issue if cutting and patching needs to be done. You can just report that someone did not follow accepted or required procedures and corrective actions need to be taken.

Originally Posted by Dan Sandweg

Guys- This is my first post, need opinions please.

This is a 14 year old house with a finished basement. The panel is finished into the wall. The owner probaly did the work, he botched the wiring at some basement outlets.

I mentioned he did not use clamps on wires into the box and he doubled up wires in other clamps.

So it would be a job to retrofit, maybe have to tear up the wall. I told him that here was as much risk of damaging the wires trying to add the clamps but I will put it in my report reguardless.

Any opinions on reporting language?
Does anyone know of clamps designed to add to wires from inside the box?

Thanks for your time...

The beautiful part of being a home inspector is that we do not have to design the repairs. We just locate the problems, identify what it is and what can happen and then tell them to get it fixed.

When inspectors start trying to help and design the repair,this is where home inspectors tend to get into trouble. Sometimes the problem is more than what you are seeing or have found.

The best thing you can do is to report that several bushings were missing in the panel. Then tell your client that a qualified electrician should make any and all corrections and repairs.

That is about all you really need to do.

Originally Posted by Scott Patterson

The beautiful part of being a home inspector is that we do not have to design the repairs. We just locate the problems, identify what it is and what can happen and then tell them to get it fixed.

When inspectors start trying to help and design the repair,this is where home inspectors tend to get into trouble. Sometimes the problem is more than what you are seeing or have found.

The best thing you can do is to report that several bushings were missing in the panel. Then tell your client that a qualified electrician should make any and all corrections and repairs.

That is about all you really need to do.

Well said!

I tend to agree with Scott.

We all want to be as helpful as possible to our clients and I would certainly let them know that there is a problem in the panel and make sure it is well documented in your report. Also let them know that it can and should be taken care of pretty easily by a certified electrician.