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Ecmweb 4793 605ecmwwh1
Ecmweb 4793 605ecmwwh1
Ecmweb 4793 605ecmwwh1
Ecmweb 4793 605ecmwwh1

What's Wrong Here?

May 1, 2006
Hint: Look at all those pretty colors — especially those orange circles.

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 had two winners this month.

Herb Short, P.E., an electrical engineer with Wright-Pierce in Topsham, Maine, offered up these comments in reference to the May photograph. “The junction box appears to be located on the side of a pier piling (assuming the yellow colored material is a foam boat bumper). Therefore, the rules of Art. 555 would apply to this installation. This JB is obviously not waterproof. Based on evidence of water entry (rusted-away cover screws and rusted box retaining screw heads), this is probably a violation of 555.9, and possibly 555.10(A) and (B). Wire congestion and splicing method would imply violations of 314.16 and 110.14(B).”

Gregg Shive, an apprentice electronic mechanic for Harley-Davidson in York, Pa., generated this list of Code violations.

  • 314.15(A), Damp or Hazardous Locations — “you must prevent moisture or water from entering the box.”

  • 314.40(A), Corrosion Resistant — “metal boxes are to be corrosion resistant.”

  • 314.41 — “covers are to be lined with firmly attached insulating material.”

Shive added, “I would also question the number of conductors in the box, according to the requirements of 314.16.”

> Try Another Quiz

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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