All references are based on the 2020 edition of the NEC.
Horrible Hotel Wiring
Gregg Sutton with TPC Training in West Virginia was kind enough to share this great photo with us.
“I found this in my room while teaching an electrical troubleshooting class at a well-known hotel chain in Mobile, Ala.,” said Sutton. “I noticed exposed wire nuts under the HVAC unit and investigated. This mess was shoved underneath, and I pulled it out (as shown in the picture). When I asked my students who were staying at the hotel to check their rooms, they found similar results. I showed the hotel manager, and I tried to get across how dangerous it was.”
I think many of our readers would also agree that this presents a dangerous situation. Section 300.15 requires a box or conduit body to be installed wherever conductor splices are made or outlets such as receptacles are installed when the wiring methods are flexible metal conduit (FMC), type MC cables, and other raceways or cable wiring methods.
Section 400.13 requires flexible cords to be installed in continuous lengths having no splices. Repairing hard-service cord and junior hard-service cord is permitted. This air conditioner most likely uses an SP-3 type power supply cord. The lack of continuity between the metal conduits and the equipment grounding conductors violates Sec. 300.10.
Car Dealership Debacle
Scott Chisholm, an electrical instructor and wire inspector from Needham, Mass., found this mess while inspecting a building at a local car dealership. All the debris being stored in the working space in front of these panelboards violates Sec. 110.26(B). Working space must be kept clear and cannot be used for storage. All this stored junk also hinders access to the overcurrent devices and is a violation of Sec. 240.24(A), as the circuit breakers are presently not readily accessible as required.
Storing easily ignitable or flammable material near these overcurrent devices violates Sec. 240.24(D). What might be the worst of all is that someone mistakenly thought storing gasoline here was a good idea.
In addition, the covers missing from the meter socket enclosure and panelboard increase the chances of a person making accidental contact with exposed energized parts and receiving a shock. This is a violation of Sec. 110.27(A). The metal wireway without a cover is a violation of Sec. 376.100(D). Using duct tape to cover the openings where circuit breakers would normally be installed is a violation of Sec. 408.7.
