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What's Wrong Here?

Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Joe Tedesco, NEC Columnist

Can you spot the Code violations?

How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify? Here's your chance to moonlight as an electrical inspector and second-guess someone else's work from the safety of your living room or office. Joe Tedesco, who has a knack for finding shoddy electrical work, did the dirty work and found this mess. Now it's your turn to identify the violation.

Hint: No more chances.

November Winners

Ryan L. Kruse, P.E., an electrical engineer with Black & Veatch International in Cary, N.C., submitted these comments in reference to the November 2007 photo. “Besides the obvious (that the tree will continue to grow and ultimately deteriorate), this already questionable installation violates a basket full of rules in Art. 356,” says Kruse. “Liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit is not allowed to be installed in many locations, and this is one of them.”

Skip Hammond, an electrical technician with Plains Pipe Line in Santa Maria, Calif., added this to the mix. “410.16(H) allows the support of luminaires by trees,” says Hammond. “225.26 disallows the support of overhead conductors on ‘vegetation such as trees.’ But I think the section that specifically addresses this picture is 300.5(D)(4), which says, ‘Where the enclosure or raceway is subject to physical damage, the conductors shall be installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, Schedule 80 rigid nonmetallic conduit or equivalent.’”

Dennis Clark, director of buildings and grounds, Church of the Brethren Home, Windber, Pa., was our third winner this month and included almost all of the same comments.

‘TELL THEM WHAT THEY'VE WON…’

Correctly identify the Code violation(s) in this month's photo — in 200 words or less — and you could win something to put in your toolbox. E-mail your response to Joe Tedesco at joetedesco@comcast.net, and he'll select three winners (excluding manufacturers and prior winners) at random from the correct submissions. Winners will receive a set of insulated hand tools from Ideal Industries, Inc. valued at more than $125.* The set includes 9.25-inch insulated side-cutting pliers, 10-inch insulated tongue-and-groove pliers, and a 0.25-inch × 6-inch insulated screwdriver.

* Please allow six to eight weeks for delivery of tools.