What’s Wrong Here? Hint: Dangling like the sword of Damocles
Hint: Dangling like the sword of Damocles
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Don’t look up! You might get the scare of your life. This luminaire is precariously dangling by its wires! The fixture stem has become dislodged from the connection to the plate secured to the ceiling box, and now the wires are stretched and straining to keep this luminaire from crashing down to the ground or onto an unsuspecting person’s head.
Sec. 410.30(A) requires luminaires to be securely supported. Electrical wires are not an approved means of support.
It also appears there is no equipment grounding conductor (EGC) connected to this dangling luminaire, which would be a violation of Sec. 410.42 if the luminaire is no longer grounded and bonded. This lack of grounding and bonding could also pose a shock hazard to a person trying to service this luminaire if the ungrounded conductor energized the metallic canopy, and there was no path for fault current to open the branch circuit overcurrent device.
We can also see that someone installed a screw shell receptacle adapter into the lampholder of the luminaire. Section 410.90 states screw shell-type lampholders shall be installed for use only as lampholders.
About the Author
Russ LeBlanc
Owner
Russ started in the electrical trade as an apprentice in 1985. He worked his way up to become a Journeyman Electrician and then eventually became a Master Electrician and Licensed Construction Supervisor. In 1999 Russ become an Electrical Instructor for The Peterson School of Engineering in Massachusetts where he developed his passion for teaching, and quickly became Department Head of Electrical Instruction. Russ has taught thousands of apprentices, electricians, engineers, inspectors, and other electrical professionals during his career as an instructor. He continues to provide electrical professionals with Electrical Code seminars, Arc-Flash Awareness training seminars and educational material through his LeBlanc Consulting Services in North Reading, MA whose specialty is educating electricians. He has been an active member of the NFPA Electrical Section and has authored hundreds of National Electrical Code proposals and comments which have become Code rules to improve the safety for the electrical industry. Russ is also an IAEI certified Electrical Inspector.
Please visit www.russleblanc.net for more information.