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. Can you identify the specific Code violation(s) in this photo? Note: Submitted comments must include specific references from the 2014 NEC.
Hint: A hidden secret
Tell Them What They Have Won...
Using the 2014 NEC, correctly identify the Code violation(s) in this month’s photo — in 200 words or less — and you could win an Arlington Industries TVL508 Low Profile TV BOX. E-mail your response, including your name and mailing address, to [email protected], and Russ will select three winners (excluding manufacturers and prior winners) at random from the correct submissions. Note that submissions without an address will not be eligible to win.
MAY WINNERS
Our three winners this month were: Wade Wieding, a journeyman in San Jacinto, Calif.; Jeffrey Welch, a senior facilities engineering technician for Global Foundries in Malta, N.Y.; and Laura Vergeront, a retired journeyman and present day electrical instructor at the San Bernadino, Calif., IBEW JATC. Each one of them was able to correctly identify the Code violations in this safety switch.
For this 480V circuit, Sec. 250.97 requires the electrical continuity of metal raceways that contain conductors other than service conductors to be established by one or more of the methods specified for services in 250.92(B), excluding (B)(1). These bonding methods include: using threaded couplings or threaded hubs if made up wrenchtight; threadless couplings and connectors if made up tight; or bonding-type locknuts, bushings, or bushings with bonding jumpers. Standard locknuts or bushings shall not be the only means for the bonding. Where oversized, concentric, or eccentric knockouts are not encountered — or where a box or enclosure with concentric or eccentric knockouts is listed for use without bonding around the remaining rings — the Exception in this section of the Code permits standard locknuts and fitting to be used. In addition, the missing knockout seal violates the requirements of 110.12(A). Last but not least, the improperly attached foot lug used for connecting the two equipment grounding conductors violates 250.8 and 110.14(A) because it is only rated for one conductor.