Short Circuits
Jun 1, 2005 12:00 PM
Everyone makes mistakes. Some are just funnier than others
False Arrester
I had just finished the electrical trim-out on a new Habitat for Humanity house and called for the final inspection when I noticed that I'd forgot to install the surge arrester on the outside distribution panel. I got to work wiring it in, and I finished just as the electrical inspector rolled up and asked me to hot wire the house from the temporary pole so he could check out all the devices. About two minutes after he started his inspection, we heard what sounded like a recoilless rifle going off. We ran outside to see what was happening, and there on the side of the house next to the panel was a large black spot where the surge arrester had been located — I forgot to wire in the neutral. The GC still hasn't let me live that one down.
Chris Randolph
Winter Park, Fla.
A Job Well Done
While cleaning the roof vents at a local restaurant, a cleaning crew inadvertently pulled down and disconnected some EMT that ran to a control panel and controlled four different ventilators. We were called in and instructed to get them running ASAP and then rewire the control panel. We successfully got three running, but when we connected what we thought were the start leads for the fourth vent, I started to hear a hissing noise. We soon realized it was the sound of the CO
Rich Kuklewicz
Turner Falls, Mass.
Got a story about a jobsite blunder? Send it to
electrical_group@primediabusiness.com. If we publish it, we'll send you a check for $25.
Illustrations by Clint Metcalf
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2008 Penton Media, Inc.
