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Ecmweb 4796 606ecmwwhpic1
Ecmweb 4796 606ecmwwhpic1
Ecmweb 4796 606ecmwwhpic1
Ecmweb 4796 606ecmwwhpic1

What's Wrong Here?

June 1, 2006
Hint: How's this for ingenuity?

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.

Find the Answer

We only had one winner this month. C'mon guys, send in those replies. There are free tools to be had!

Charles F. Morris, chief electrician, Prodeuce Farm, Hanover, Pa., sent in these comments. “The duplex Type AC armored cable ‘BX’ connector was misused here, and the screw is piercing the outer jacket and possibly the conductor insulation. This presents a risk of contact with an energized conductor. Fittings and connectors shall be used only with the specific wiring methods for which they are designed and listed. See 300.15.”

Kathleen McGloin, a Code enthusiast from Boston, added this to the mix. “The installer did not use an electrical box or other listed enclosure to transition from one wiring method to the other. The run is transitioning from flexible metal conduit to non-flexible conduit (at best), or, from armored cable to pipe (at worst). I believe the installation violates the requirements of 300.16(A) and 300.10.”

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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.

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