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: Wet location woes
October Winners
I received a lot of reader responses on this photo, but I could only choose three winners. They are: John E. Skog, a licensed professional engineer with Maintenance and Test Engineering LLC of Olympia, Wash.; Keith Cagigas, an electrical occupations instructor with Columbia Montour Area Vo-Tech in Bloomsburg, Pa.; and Paul F. McDonald, an electrician from Holyoke, Mass.
Based on the voltage shown on the meter, this 125V-rated receptacle is clearly in violation of Sec. 110.4, which does not permit equipment to be installed on circuits where the nominal voltage is higher than the equipment rating. Using this receptacle at this voltage would also violate Sec. 110.3(B), since it is not designed or listed for this voltage level. Similarly, Sec. 406.4(A) requires this receptacle to be installed on a circuit of the voltage class and current for which it’s rated.
One reader pointed out that this may have been a result of the installer inadvertently using the high-leg of a mid-point grounded delta system along with the grounded conductor to supply this receptacle outlet. While that could happen, in this particular case, the installer mistakenly connected a 12/2 NM cable to a 2-pole, 20A circuit breaker to supply power to this receptacle.
