Ecmweb 4624 Cw11011web
Ecmweb 4624 Cw11011web
Ecmweb 4624 Cw11011web
Ecmweb 4624 Cw11011web
Ecmweb 4624 Cw11011web

Whats Wrong Here? October 2011

Oct. 20, 2011
Hint: Lack of continuity

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

After stumbling upon this situation I informed the owner of the property about this broken threaded joint between an underground raceway and the coupling supplying this public street light. I also notified the fire department and even called the local citizen's hot line. However, my pleas for help continue to fall on deaf ears.

My concern here is the lack of a threaded connection. Without one, the metal raceway will not serve as an equipment grounding conductor. Connections using threaded couplings or threaded hubs on enclosures must be made up wrench tight with fittings that are made for this type of installation. Why? An approved connection will prevent sparking when fault current flows through the conduit system.

Check out the continuity requirements of 310.10.

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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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