Ecmweb 4855 407ecm15pic1
Ecmweb 4855 407ecm15pic1
Ecmweb 4855 407ecm15pic1
Ecmweb 4855 407ecm15pic1
Ecmweb 4855 407ecm15pic1

What's Wrong Here?

July 1, 2004
How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify himself? 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

How well do you know the Code?

Find the Answer

John Dennehy, lead electrician, ABM Engineering, Plainsboro, N.J., correctly identified several violations with this installation. “I see a violation of 250.97 for assured bonding for a 480V circuit,” he wrote. “There is a ringed knockout present, which means that a bonding jumper based on 250.122 is required. I would also cite 110.12 for a violation of neat and workmanlike installation. I would also mention 110.10 for maintaining a low-impedance path and 250.4(A)(5) for an effective ground fault path.”

Paul Dunphy, electrical and compliance inspector, engineering and utilities, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., offered this comment. “The raceway for the 480V circuit violates 250.92(B),” he wrote. “Standard locknuts shall not be the sole means of support for bonding required by this [installation]. 250.92(B) is referenced by 250.97, Bonding for Over 250V.”

Steve Schilling, master electrician, Chesapeake Smart Homes, Stevensville, Md., also weighed in. “According to 250.97, for circuits of over 250V to ground, electrical continuity of metal raceways and cables shall be maintained by methods approved in 250.92(B) and the Exceptions listed in 250.97,” he wrote. “This would mean that an ‘approved fitting with shoulders that seat firmly against the box’ should've been used. Or if the enclosure is approved for the purpose, there would need to be a ‘bonding bushing’ with a bonding jumper run to the can to maintain a positive ground path. (It appears that neither of these measures was taken.) The Article states that standard locknuts or bushings shall not be the sole connection. In this picture, it appears that the concentric knockout is close to coming apart, which would leave no reliable raceway ground path.”

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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