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. Joe Tedesco, who has a knack for finding shoddy electrical work, did the dirty work and found this mess. Now it's your turn to identify the violation.
Find the Answer
Robert McCullough, director of the Ocean County Construction Inspection Department, Toms River, N.J., correctly identified the following Code violations in this photo.
“110.14 Electrical Connections — improper connection of dissimilar metals; 110.14(A) — The terminal is not approved for more than one conductor, although it appears that the aluminum EGC doesn't even terminate in the lug; 408.20 — The installation requires a terminal bar; 250.12 — It looks like the paint wasn't removed from the panelboard enclosure to ensure good electrical contact; 250.8 — The screw attaching the lug appears to be a sheet metal screw; 250.119 — A bare EGC seems to be coming out of the yellow wire nut spliced to a black wire going to the lug. Because a washer is placed under the screw, the screw may be smaller than the hole in the lug and thus would not be a secure connection. Finally, the term ‘subpanel’ is not recognized in the NEC.”
