What's Wrong Here? Hint: 1 EMT + 5 Cables = Fail
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 2023 NEC.
Hint: 1 EMT + 5 Cables = Fail.
Tell Them What They've Won…
Using the 2023 NEC, correctly identify the Code violation(s) in this month's photo — in 200 words or less — and you could win a 40-oz. insulated tumbler valued at $39.99, courtesy of ABB. E-mail your response, including your name and mailing address, to [email protected], and Russ will select two winners (excluding manufacturers and prior winners) at random from the correct submissions. Note that submissions without an address will not be eligible to win.
January Winner
I received several great email responses from our readers trying to cite the violations with this installation, so I randomly chose Bernie Lennon and Sean Beattie. They knew that red paint on this circuit breaker was problematic!
The manufacturer’s markings are completely obscured! Is this a 20A breaker or a 15A breaker? What is the AIC rating of this breaker? While the color red might be great for identifying fire alarm circuits, this is simply too much of a good thing. Section 760.121(B)(4) prohibits any red markings from obscuring the manufacturer’s markings. Another problem is the type of “breaker lock” installed to keep the breaker from being inadvertently turned off. Since a screwdriver is needed to loosen or tighten the set screw to remove the breaker lock, the circuit breaker is not “readily accessible” as required by Sec. 240.24(A). A break lock with a thumb screw would be ok.
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.