What's Wrong Here?

Whats Wrong Here?

June 4, 2009

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.

Joe Tedesco

The Code allows conductors of AC and DC circuits rated 600V, nominal, or less, to occupy the same equipment wiring enclosure, cable, or raceway [300.3(C)(1)]. However, all conductors must have an insulation rating equal to at least the maximum circuit voltage applied to any conductor within the enclosure, cable, or raceway. If the thermostat wiring for this A/C condensing unit was run in the same raceway as the power supply conductors, which I believe it was, then we have a Code violation.

Find the Answer

The Fine Print Note (FPN) of 300.3(C)(1) refers us to Sec. 725.136(A) for Class 2 and Class 3 circuit conductors, which does not allow you to place Class 2 and Class 3 circuit conductors in the same raceway as Class 1, electric, light and power conductors.

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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.