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#106454 04/11/05 04:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
Quote
These photos are from an inspection 2 days ago. I could not believe my eyes. They include a receptacle tied into the Service lateral in a CT cabinet (3/0) wire ahead of the main, and you will notice the conductors are wrapped around the lock hasp of the cabinet for the "ground/ neutral connection. The real mess is this is "bell wire - 18 gauge.

Pcbelarge


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]

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#106455 04/11/05 07:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 806
N
Member
Well, at least the PoCo can be assured that they couldn't have been stealing TOO much power through that setup....

#106456 04/11/05 08:20 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 680
W
Member
One couldn't even make that crap up. Unreal!!

#106457 04/11/05 08:33 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 399
A
Member
Former city inspector in Chicago [Hogan] told me years ago the only thing he didn't understand about electricty was why more people didn't die from it each year.
Alan


Alan--
If it was easy, anyone could do it.
#106458 04/12/05 10:42 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 642
N
Member
There is an old sarcaastic saying " God looks out for fools and idiots"
When I see junk like this I believe it more and more.
The bad part is that so many get away with stuff like this and that make too many joe fly by nites lowball the rest of us who work to code.


ed
#106459 04/14/05 08:40 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 134
R
Member
I don't see a problem. The 18 gauge wire is the fusible link. [Linked Image] yikes!!

We owned a rental house some years ago. We later discovered the last batch of tenants had added some outlets. Yes, you guessed it. All 'new' circuits were wired with 18 gauge doorbell wire.

How come you never find anyone that accidentially goofed up and ran 1/0 on a 15 amp laundry circuit. Oh right. There's that price thingy....

I've heard that the NFPA is relaxing their bonding/grounding techniques and requirements...but I think that's gone a bit too far. [Linked Image]

RSlater,
RSmike

#106460 04/14/05 01:27 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 806
Member
Anyone else notice that the 12(?) guage leads coming off that recept are connected white hot, black nut?

Fusible link, good one, RSmike! [Linked Image]

I'm also surprised that the lock hasp provided an adequate path for neutral/ground. No signs of arcing that I can see.


Stupid should be painful.
#106461 04/14/05 03:14 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 745
M
Member
That nice piece of cardboard in the first pic. helps to eliminate those nasty arc-fault-to-ground events. [Linked Image]

What is the AIC rating of doorbell wire, anyway...? [Linked Image]

"fusible link..." - thats a zinger! [Linked Image]

Mike (mamills)

[This message has been edited by mamills (edited 04-14-2005).]

#106462 04/17/05 06:54 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Member
Wow Pierre!,
That's a beauty you've found there. [Linked Image]
Mike(mamills),
Quote
That nice piece of cardboard in the first pic. helps to eliminate those nasty arc-fault-to-ground events.
Yes I agree, a nice cheap bushing against those nasty sharp panel edges.
BTW Pierre,
What was underneath that red and yellow tape conglomeration, in the top pic?.


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