Ecmweb 4786 Dsc00514web
Ecmweb 4786 Dsc00514web
Ecmweb 4786 Dsc00514web
Ecmweb 4786 Dsc00514web
Ecmweb 4786 Dsc00514web

What's Wrong Here?

Aug. 14, 2006
Hint: Something seems to be missing here.

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 Tedesco, 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

Tim Butler, owner of Butler Electrical Service in Graham, Texas, found what was left of this panel on the side of a house at Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas. “The homeowners are watering their yard with lake water, which you can see has lots of minerals in it,” says Butler. “Just thought you might have some comments about it.”

Requirements for the protection of equipment against corrosion and deterioration can be found in 300.6 of the NEC. Basically, the rules state that you shall install equipment that is suitable for the environment in which it is being placed. 300.6(A) focuses on ferrous metal equipment, 300.6(B) on non-ferrous metal equipment, 300.6(C) on nonmetallic equipment, and 300.6(D) on indoor wet locations.

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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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