What is in this article?:
- What’s Wrong Here? Hint: Crank Up the Volume
- MAY WINNERS
Can you identify the Code violation(s) in this photo?
MAY WINNERS
Our three winners this month were: Gary Stoltenburg, a manufacturing plant electrician from Medford, Ore.; Carlos Vargas, an electrical trainee from Oxnard, Calif.; and Billy Townsend, a master electrician/owner of GenPower Services, LLC in Plant City, Fla. They all correctly identified violations in this “replacement parts” photo.
Section 110.12(B) notes the internal parts of electrical equipment, including bus bars, wiring terminals, and other surfaces “shall not be damaged or contaminated by foreign materials such as paint, plaster, cleaners, abrasives, or corrosive residues.” It goes on to state, “There shall also be no damaged parts that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment such as parts that are broken; bent; cut; or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action or overheating.”
Section 110.14(A) requires the connection of conductors to terminal parts be made in a manner to ensure a thoroughly good connection without damaging the conductors. The connection shall be made by means of pressure connectors, solder lugs, or splices to flexible leads.
408.30 requires panelboards to have an amp rating not less than the calculated load. It’s doubtful the small wire used to make the repair has the same amperage as the original bus bar.
Another thing to keep in mind is the short circuit current rating of this panelboard has been adversely affected by this repair. It may no longer match the designed short circuit rating. This would be a violation of 110.10.
