Garage lighting - InspectionNews

John Stephenson · #1 (**permalink**) 06-26-2007, 10:48 PM

..........

Jerry Peck · #2 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Stephenson

Homeowner installed those horrible florescence lights in the garage.

What's so horrible about fluorescent lights in the garage?

I installed two 4-light wraparounds in my garage. Of course, though, I installed them in place of the existing incandescent lights at the lighting outlet boxes.

Quote:

He installed a cord -n- plug to the ligths and pluged the lights into a) the auto opener receptacle outlet b) the other light into those outlet plugs you screw into a light socket.

Allowed or not? I was thinking the lights need to be permanently hard wared , not cord and plug??

Could be okay.

*IF* they are not on extension cords.

*IF* their cords are NOT stapled or otherwise secured in place.

*IF* their cords were not removed and extension cords wired in place of the factory supplied cords (which are typically short).

"Could" be okay. Probably not, though.

imported_John Smith · #3 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007, 04:32 PM

I would write it up. Otherwise they will be trying to get you to pay for it later.

It shouldn't be a deal breaker and will probably never be fixed anyway. Usually I see them with a nice looking receptacle but when I climb into the attic over the garage, there is nothing but a bunch of wires spliced together with electrical tape. Thats the good installs. I have seen them spliced together with duct tape, masking tape or even no tape. And certainly no covered junction box.

I'm not seeing the "auto opener receptacle" though.

Tony Mount · #4 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007, 06:39 PM

I'm with Rick on all points. Reguardless of what Jerry is going to say.

Jerry Peck · #5 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

"Could" be okay. Probably not, though.

NOT!

Not really much right with that.

Jerry Peck · #6 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Eastman

Jerry,

I , I , I , I didn't think this was a problem either. What is wrong with it?

That's not a proper or 'legal' receptacle it is plugged in to.

The cord is stapled or otherwise help permanently in place.

That fixture looks like it has had a cord and plug added, in which case the fixture is most likely only listed for permanently wired installation.

While that appears to be a three wire cord with a grounding type plug, that receptacle does not provide a ground (must have a three-to-two wire adapter there), thus the fixture is not grounded, as is required.

That should do for starters.

Jerry Peck · #7 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Eastman

But why is it a problem to staple the cord?

Once 'permanently fastened in place', which is what staples do, the cord and plug is now being used as a substitute for permanent wiring, which it is not allowed to be used for.

Don't consider staples 'permanently fastening it in place'?

What do you use to 'permanently secure' (fasten in place) NM cables, if not staples?

But, you say, those are different kinds of staples.

Uh-huh, so you can now add 'improper staples' to the list of things wrong.

Thom Walker · #8 (**permalink**) 06-28-2007, 06:51 AM

Jerry,
You're such a nit picker. I'm sure they cut off the ground prong.

I'm wondering how much more or less time it would have taken to remove that light receptacle and have placed a grounded receptacle in it's place?

Jerry Peck · #9 (**permalink**) 06-28-2007, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom Walker

I'm wondering how much more or less time it would have taken to remove that light receptacle and have placed a grounded receptacle in it's place?

But ...

If they did it at night, they would need that light to work by.

Thom Walker · #10 (**permalink**) 06-28-2007, 03:29 PM

Not if they bought the nifty hat I got as a joke at Lowes and have wound up using every day. My 8 years old nephew came for a week, saw it, I got him one, and we took turns blinding each other.

Two lights in the brim. I've sold all my tools. I just show up with the hat and tell them I can see everything they need to know.