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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Western Montana
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    261

    Default What's wrong with this picture?

    It took me a couple of minutes to catch this. While I have seen a lot of weirdness in this world, have never seen ALL the neutral wires wired to the breakers. I didn't pull a receptacle out of the wall to see how they were wired, but all the outlets test as reverse polarity. color blind or what?

    By the way. I have seen Square-D breakers in the past that were labeled as "2 copper or 1 aluminum". Do all single pole Square D breakers accept 2 wires, or are some not rated for that?

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Massacusetts
    Posts
    153

    Default Re: What's wrong with this picture?

    No discrimination here - equal opportunity for both Black and white wires

    In theory the breakers still work - was this a sub panel ?

    I am trying to figure out if the original work was done by pro but then I see that wire drop down into the same conduit as the main feed ?

    All I can say is - Shocking


    Quote Originally Posted by Terry Beck View Post
    It took me a couple of minutes to catch this. While I have seen a lot of weirdness in this world, have never seen ALL the neutral wires wired to the breakers. I didn't pull a receptacle out of the wall to see how they were wired, but all the outlets test as reverse polarity. color blind or what?

    By the way. I have seen Square-D breakers in the past that were labeled as "2 copper or 1 aluminum". Do all single pole Square D breakers accept 2 wires, or are some not rated for that?



  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Vilonia AR
    Posts
    13

    Default Re: What's wrong with this picture?

    I saw this one time on a new house that was built out in the county where "there are no codes". Anybody can tell black and white.


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Bennett (Denver metro), Colorado
    Posts
    1,461

    Default Re: What's wrong with this picture?

    An example of wiring dyslexia.

    If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: What's wrong with this picture?

    Quote Originally Posted by Dwight Doane View Post
    In theory the breakers still work
    "In theory"?

    The breakers have no idea what color conductor is attached to it and the current is going back and forth (ac = alternating) so the breaker doesn't know or care about that either.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
    Posts
    341

    Default Re: What's wrong with this picture?

    Maybe the homeowner was British...

    "Prior to 2004 all wiring was - Live - Red
    Neutral - Black
    Earth - Bare, with green & yellow sleeving.

    2004 to 2006 was a transisional period where the colours were changed to harmonise with other EU countries.

    Jan 2006 onwards you can only use the new colour code.
    Live - Brown
    Neutral - Blue
    Earth - Bare, with green & yellow sleeving.

    Critical Home Inspection Services
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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Western Montana
    Posts
    261

    Default Re: What's wrong with this picture?

    RE Joe's comment, this is in a rural area, minimal enformcement of code. Licensed electrician, almost never. As to question about main vs sub, that is a matter of definition.

    Did a house a few years ago where the panel was correctly wired, but EVERY single outlet was wired with reverse polarity. I checled ALL the outlets with my tester, not just a random sample. At first I thought my tester had gone bad somehow, but then I pulled about a half dozen outlets and verified that he had consistently attached the hot conductor to the 'white' terminal, and visa versa for neutral - and the back of those outlets were clearly marked and very easy to read.


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Ben Lomond, CA
    Posts
    72

    Default Re: What's wrong with this picture?

    Last time I saw something like this, it was wired by a computer guy who thought black = negative. All wires cut to exact length, 90 degree bends, stapled down 4-5 times per wire. Extremely neat, took hours of splices and reroute to correct.


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Md and or PA
    Posts
    137

    Default Re: What's wrong with this picture?

    What no comments about the conductor with the yellow tracer !!

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  10. #10

    Default Re: What's wrong with this picture?

    A possible (but unlikely) explanation: someone told me (who - I can't remember, so don't take this as spoken with authority) that the wiring in submarines (and I assume, other Navy ships) has the white wires hot and the black neutral. I recently did an inspection in Kittery Maine where there is a naval base and found the same condition as this. Given the other conditions at that property, though, I just don't think the owner knew what he was doing. Wrong, in any case...


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: What's wrong with this picture?

    Quote Originally Posted by jack davenport View Post
    What no comments about the conductor with the yellow tracer !!
    That was covered in-depth recently and, hopefully, all remember that is probably indicating that cable is Underground Service Entrance (USE or USE-2) and that USE is intended to be installed "underground" and therefore the insulation does not have the fire-retardant treatment required for conductors used inside, therefore the first use not permitted is 'inside' ... and that appears to be inside.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    1,970

    Default Re: What's wrong with this picture?

    I am surprised no one pointed out the flex cord being used.

    All answers based on unamended National Electrical codes.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: What's wrong with this picture?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Port View Post
    I am surprised no one pointed out the flex cord being used.
    That I didn't see, then again, I didn't look at what was in there very long either.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

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