ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (gfretwell), 32 guests, and 14 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#213021 03/07/14 10:33 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Guys,
Have a look at this install of a main breaker in a building.
I would tend to hope this failed an inspection.

[Linked Image from electrical-photos.com]

Hey, at least he got the colours around the right way. rolleyes

Trumpy #213022 03/07/14 10:50 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 7
Member
Interesting!! Long studs to help with the alignment, & reduce the bends required in the conductor??

Why the black tape around the white(center) conductor?


John
Trumpy #213023 03/07/14 10:50 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 368
M
Member
Saves time feeding the wire back to the bus bars.

Is that a factory wire job on the main (looks nice with the heat shrink tube) or did somebody in the field cut them to short as I have never seen a panel like that in Canada.

Trumpy #213024 03/07/14 11:16 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 787
L
Member
Let's see ...

Steel bolts that are smaller in diameter than the better conductors that are much larger in diameter.

Looks like three M8 steel fusable links.

grin

HotLine1 #213026 03/07/14 11:59 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Originally Posted by HotLine1

Why the black tape around the white(center) conductor?

John,
That isn't tape, it's just a poor heatshrinking job.

mbhydro #213027 03/08/14 12:14 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Originally Posted by mbhydro

Is that a factory wire job on the main (looks nice with the heat shrink tube) or did somebody in the field cut them to short as I have never seen a panel like that in Canada.

What caused this to happen is the breaker should have been mounted down lower in the cabinet and then this would give you enough room to actually land the lugs onto the busbars.
It is also considered good trade practice to centre-feed your busbars here to give better current distribution along the busbar.

This sort of wire has a tonne of strands in it and is really flexible.
I'd doubt that this was a factory install, it looks more like something that "happened" on site, no QC guy would ever let an abomination like this leave the factory, if they had any credibility.

The person that did this obviously had no idea what they were doing, irregardless of the fact that (as others have stated above) you have some M8 fuses in there, but you now also have a problem with galvanic corrosion as well, due to the dissimilar metals. frown

Trumpy #213031 03/08/14 05:40 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
They could have made this connection just by using longer wires.

I am guessing that white is an ungrounded conductor where you are?
What is neutral?


Greg Fretwell
gfretwell #213034 03/08/14 08:02 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Originally Posted by gfretwell

I am guessing that white is an ungrounded conductor where you are?
What is neutral?

Greg,
Yes, White is the B phase, it used to be yellow at one time.
Neutral is Black (or light blue if it's in a flexible cord).

Trumpy #213035 03/08/14 11:32 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
Quote
Yes, White is the B phase ... Neutral is Black



I guess if you are upside down all the time lots of things are going to be opposite. wink


Greg Fretwell
Trumpy #213036 03/09/14 11:13 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 7
Member
Trumpy:

Is that a Siemens breaker??

And, is it common to use color code heat shrink, as opposed to conductors with colored insulation?


John
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5