All references are based on the 2017 edition of the NEC.
Outdoor Atrocity
Believe it or not, I actually found this while walking along a pier. Yes, that’s NM type cable feeding the motor. According to Sec. 334.12(B)(4), NM cable cannot be used in wet locations. Yet this installer thought it would be just fine to use it to wire this motor, which is located outside. Wrong! The NM cable is just stuffed into the box through the remnants of a liquidtight connector with no means of secure support. This violates Sec. 314.17(B), which requires the NM cable to be secured to the metal box. The installer also paid no attention to covering the box either. Not installing a cover on the box leaves the splices exposed to the elements, and now this box could easily fill with water during a rainstorm. That would greatly increase an already dangerous shock hazard. The missing cover is a violation of Sec. 315.25, which requires covers, canopies, faceplates, luminaires, or lampholders to be installed on boxes in order to complete the installation. To make matters worse, I could not find a disconnecting means for this motor. Lack of a disconnect at the motor location would generally be a violation of Sec. 430.102(B)(1).
HVAC Hack
I’m not sure who completed this installation, but I sure hope it was not a “qualified” electrician. Perhaps it was the HVAC technician. Whoever did it needs to brush up on some Code rules. The first problem I see is the white PVC plumbing fitting attached to the pipe coming out of the ground. Using plumbing parts for electrical installations is a violation of Sec. 110.3(B) because the plumbing fittings would not be listed for use on electrical installations. According to Sec. 110.8, “Only wiring methods recognized as suitable are included in this Code.” You would be hard pressed to find plumbing fittings in the NEC. The next concern is the broken or separated raceways. Due to all of the tape covering the fittings, I can’t tell if the fittings are broken or merely separated. Wrapping them with tape was not the correct fix. If the raceways or fittings are broken, it would violate Sec. 110.12(B) because the damaged parts could adversely affect the safe operation of this equipment. In any case, it is a violation of Sec. 300.12, since the raceway is no longer continuous between boxes, cabinets, or enclosures.
