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. It's your turn to identify the violation.
Hint: “Free-air” splicing fail
Find the Answer
This installer created some dangerous conditions. The equipment ground wire in the SE cable coming out of the wall is just folded back and not connected to anything. This leaves the HVAC equipment un-bonded and ungrounded. This is a real shock and fire hazard.
Section 250.4(A)(2) requires this equipment to be grounded in order to limit the voltage to ground on this equipment. Section 250.4(A)(3) requires this equipment to be bonded in a manner that creates a low impedance ground-fault current path. Neither was accomplished by this installer.
Splicing the wires in free- air is a violation of Sec. 300.15. Splices for cables must be made in boxes, cabinets, or equipment enclosures.
Another problem is the lack of protection for these conductors. As required by Sec. 310.10, single conductors must be installed in a Chapter 3 wiring method such as cables or raceways.
One more problem I want to point out is the lack of a disconnecting means for this air-handler. Section 422.31(C) generally requires a disconnecting means to be installed within sight of this appliance. The only disconnect for this appliance was a circuit breaker in a panelboard located in another room. And there was no means for locking out the breaker.