Code Clusters 3: Lack of Overload Protection

Code Clusters is a fond look back at some of the most interesting and outlandish Code violations published in the pages of EC&M magazine over the past 15 years — the item below is the ninth in a series of 10. Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear your feedback! Post your thoughts in the box below. All references based on the 2005 edition of the NEC.

Joe Tedesco

Feb. 4, 2014

Ecmweb Com Sites Ecmweb com Files Uploads 2014 02 Nec Violations Overload

Code Clusters is a fond look back at some of the most interesting and outlandish Code violations published in the pages of EC&M magazine over the past 15 years — the item below is the eighth in a series of 10. Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear your feedback! Post your thoughts in the box below.

Lack of Overload Protection

All references based on the 1999 edition of the NEC.

Alan Barge, an engineer with Aero Systems Engineering, discovered this dangerous situation while inspecting a major air carrier’s baggage conveyer system at a large U.S. airport. Whenever the conveyer overloaded with heavy bags, the system would stop. This was because someone had defeated the circuit overload protection capability by installing No. 10 solid copper wires instead of approved protective devices as noted in Art. 430. This dangerous installation could have easily caused a fire if it had been left uncorrected.