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 2017 NEC.
Hint: Dangling duplex cover
July Winner
Our lone winner this month was Daniel Prado, a reader from Altamonte Springs, Fla. He identified some of the possible Code violations associated with this installation.
Section 300.12 requires raceways and cables to be continuous between enclosures, boxes, cabinets, fittings, or other outlets. This one comes up a little short. Section 300.11(A) requires raceways and cables to be securely fastened in place. Again, this one comes up short in that department, too. Although it may be difficult to determine from the photo what wiring type is used here, it is, in fact, flexible metal conduit (FMC). Section 348.30(A) requires FMC to be secured within 12 in. of each conduit termination and again every 4½ ft thereafter. Per Sec. 320.30(B), AC-type cable would require the same support spacing. Section 330.30(B) requires MC cables of this size to be secured within 12 in. of each cable termination and again every 6 ft thereafter. This FMC has zero supports other than where it is resting on the water pipes. Because this is a raceway, Sec. 300.10 requires the FMC to be metallically joined to the enclosure to provide effective electrical continuity. That same section also requires metal raceways and cables to be mechanically secured to boxes and other similar enclosures.
‘Tell Them What They’ve Won...’
Using the 2017 NEC, correctly identify the Code violation(s) in this month’s photo — in 200 words or less — and you couldwin an Arlington Industries FLBT4400SS countertop box kit, which includes a stainless steel trap door cover and a 20A decorator-style, tamper-resistant receptacle. 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.