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Ecmweb 4721 Img0010web
Ecmweb 4721 Img0010web
Ecmweb 4721 Img0010web

What's Wrong Here?

July 3, 2008
Hint: Installation doesn’t live up to this city’s nickname

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

"I saw this while checking out the Delta Queen this weekend in Pittsburgh," says Bob Oglesby of Bob Oglesby Electric, Eighty Four, Pa. "This was along the river walk. It fed lighting to an overhead roadway sign."

It looks like this damage may have been caused by vandalism, and not due to the way in which it was originally installed. This wiring method should have been installed in accordance with the requirements set forth in Art. 352 (Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Conduit: Type PVC). The junction box looks like it was secured to the wall, however, the weight of something (a big heavy foot?) may have caused the supports to weaken and break.

I hope the city fixes this soon before someone tries to get some extra spending money by stealing the wires.

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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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