Ecmweb 4638 4 7cwweb
Ecmweb 4638 4 7cwweb
Ecmweb 4638 4 7cwweb
Ecmweb 4638 4 7cwweb
Ecmweb 4638 4 7cwweb

Whats Wrong Here?

April 6, 2011
Hint: Misused box

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, 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

Although it's very hard (if not impossible) to see in the photo, the old Type AC armor clad cable (BX) on the left is abandoned and does not connect to this plastic box. However, someone did add the new Type AC cable on the right to serve an outlet about 10 ft away. The keyless lampholder was originally supplied power via the nonmetallic sheathed cable.

The first problem with this installation is this type of nonmetallic box is not designed to be used with metal armored cable assemblies. Even though there are exceptions (noted below) that offer ways in which metal raceways or metal armored cables can be installed in nonmetallic boxes, this box comes equipped with entries for nonmetallic cables only.

Here is the requirement as outlined in 314.3.

"Nonmetallic boxes shall be permitted only with open wiring on insulators, concealed knob and- tube wiring, cabled wiring methods with entirely nonmetallic sheaths, flexible cords, and nonmetallic raceways.

"Exception No. 1: Where internal bonding means are provided between all entries, nonmetallic boxes shall be permitted to be used with metal raceways or metal-armored cables.

"Exception No. 2: Where integral bonding means with a provision for attaching an equipment bonding jumper inside the box are provided between all threaded entries in nonmetallic boxes listed for the purpose, nonmetallic boxes shall be permitted to be used with metal raceways or metal armored cables."

Thanks to Robert Pagliuca, an electrician from Watertown, Mass., for sending in this photo.

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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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