Hint: Terrible terminations
Joe Sanwick, the owner of One2one Electric in Elgin, S.C., shared this photo with us. He was called to this location to address a tripping main breaker. A close look at the bottom main lug will reveal some lousy workmanship and an overheated connection. The installer barely got a few strands into the terminal, which caused excessive heat and a tripping breaker. The wires being doubled-up in these terminals certainly did not help the situation. This is probably a violation of Sec. 110.14(A). I would also cite the poor workmanship as a violation of Sec. 110.12. In addition, there is a neutral conductor under the same terminal as the green conductor. This arrangement is a violation of Sec. 110.14(A) and Sec. 408.41. Generally speaking, each grounded conductor terminated in a panelboard must terminate in an individual terminal.
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.