Ecmweb 4856 406wwh232
Ecmweb 4856 406wwh232
Ecmweb 4856 406wwh232
Ecmweb 4856 406wwh232
Ecmweb 4856 406wwh232

What's Wrong Here?

June 23, 2004
Hint: What isn't wrong here?

 I ran across this panelboard at an open-air vegetable market. The loose connector, worn out and damaged receptacles, and GFCIs are all in need of repair. The receptacle covers are broken, and the presence of the old two-wire receptacle indicates a lack of maintenance, which seems to ignore the intent of the NEC.

Per 90.1(B) of the 2002 NEC, “This Code contains provisions that are considered necessary for safety. Compliance therewith and proper maintenance will result in an installation that is essentially free from hazard but not necessarily efficient, convenient, or adequate for good service or future expansion of electrical use.

“FPN: Hazards often occur because of overloading of wiring systems by methods or usage not in conformity with this Code. This occurs because initial wiring did not provide for increases in the use of electricity. An initial adequate installation and reasonable provisions for system changes will provide for future increases in the use of electricity.”

About the Author

Joe Tedesco

Tedesco served the industry in many roles during his career. He was a director, senior electrical code instructor for National Technology Transfer, Inc. and American Trainco, Inc.. He was also a codes, standards and seminar specialist for the International Association of Electrical Inspectors and an electrical field service specialist for the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy, Mass. He ran his own business as an NEC consultant and is a Massachusetts licensed master electrician and journeyman electrician and certified electrical inspector (one and two family 2A; General 2B, and Plan Review, 2C). Tedesco also wrote articles for CEE News and EC&M (Code Violations Illustrated and What's Wrong Here?) for more than 15 years and helped launched the Moving Violations video series.

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