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What's Wrong Here? October 2011

Oct 24, 2011 4:07 PM

How well do you know the Code?

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. Can you identify the Code violation(s) in this photo?

Hint: Someone needs to check his aim.

August Winners

We had three winners this month: Victor Comeau, a maintenance technician with the USPS in North Haven, Conn.; Peter J. Hall, a senior electrical engineer with STV, Inc. in Douglassville, Pa.; and Bruce R. Frank, an electrician with Comet Electronics in Tiburon, Calif. Each one of these readers had some interesting observations on this sign installation.

The unsecured liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit (LFNC) is a good starting point. Section 356.30 requires the LFNC to be secured within 12 in. of an enclosure and every 3 ft when the overall length of the LFNC exceeds 6 ft. As noted in 356.12, LFNC shall not be used where subject to physical damage and installed where any combination of ambient and conductor temperatures are in excess of its design limits.

We can also cite a violation of some general wiring requirements. As noted in Art. 300 [see 300.11(A) and (C)], the conductors should be securely fastened in place, and cables can’t be used as a means of support. Section 300.12 deals with mechanical continuity of raceways and cables. The installer should also have taken note of the requirement in 314.15 and mounted the 90° liquidtight fitting on the pole-mounted box in a face down position so there would be no chance for water to enter the enclosure.

In addition, from this photo, it doesn’t appear that an externally operated switch or circuit breaker is available to disconnect power to the sign. This would be a violation of 600.6.

‘Tell Them What They’ve Won...’

Using the 2011 NEC, correctly identify the Code sections that show 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 joseph.tedesco@yahoo.com, and we’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-in. insulated side-cutting pliers, 10-in. insulated tongue-and-groove pliers, and a 0.25-in.  6-in. insulated screwdriver. (* Please allow six to eight weeks for delivery of tools.)

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