Here's the situation,

Back when I was in business for myself my brother-in-law worked for me off and on for a couple of years. He wasn't an electrician but he helped pull wire, install receptacles, install light fixtures, etc... all under my close supervision.

Since I have been out of business, for about 2 years now, he decided to start doing electrical work "on the side". (He has a steady day job at a saw mill (not as an electrician) Since he is going to do it anyway, I try to advise him on jobs that I know about but he does work that I don't know about also. Thats what scares me. I know that he doesen't know enough to know what could go wrong. In other words, he knows just enough to be dangerous.

Just today I went out (for the second time)to inspect a 200A service that he installed.

First of all I met him there before he ever started the job to "advise" him on what to do. And I was pretty specific.

Went there the first time to inspect the job and there was a number of things wrong. (Clearance in front of the panel, Grounding, Bonding, color coding, etc.)

I made him move the panel, explained where the ground rods got connected to, (he had a #4 copper running from the ground rods to the water line), etc...

When I arrived today I seen that he did move the panel as we discussed. Corrected the color coding issue (you know, the "white is always neutral" thing)But when he ran his #4 wire to the water line he ran it diagnally across the basements open joists to about 10' from where the water line enters the house (to be within 5' here) and he used a 2" 90 sweep to enter the house from the meter socket outside.

The 2" PVC (not glued)came down on an angle from the meter socket about 3' then entered the house through the 90. ugliest thing I ever saw but electrically OK.(I did make him glue the PVC)

I am afriad that he is going to damage someones property by either a voltage problem or, God forbid, a fire and I pray that no one ever gets hurt.

What should I do? What would you do?

keep in mind that in this part of PA there is no licenses required. Anyone can do electrical work.

Ask the same question to the local building code/electrical inspector. Im sure he would give you some good words of advice.Here in Oregon he would would get a very large fine.
If the guy does not have a licence,he should stick to cleaning toilets.

Well, if a license is not required I guess you can't do anything to stop him. Make sure he has liability insurance and LOTS of it.

This is SW PA,

There is no building inspections.

A permit is not required, Yet...

I am the electrical inspector and I run across this situation a lot but it isn't just my brother-in-law.

There is no state certifications.

Is your BIL a reasonable man? Does he have both the common sense and compassion that would respond to the honesty you've just shared here? If so, tell him that you've waited until the right words might come but they rarely present themselves easily... the bottom line is that safety might be compromised as a result of work done which doesn't incorporate all the necessary safety measures. When safety is compromised there is a burden of liability and the possibility of regret that you'd rather him not have to face.

SW PA needs to take a look at changing there ways with inforcing electrical codes.
I would start with the chief electrical inspector.Or is there one?

Tell him you are concerned for his liability for things he may not be aware of. Find him a code course and strongly suggest that he take it. (or if he's got a Birthday coming up how about buying him a good book?)

Bill

66,
I realise that you are between a rock and a hard place.
Regardless, I'd just tell the guy, before he costs someone thier life.
As cold as it sounds, this may be the truth!.

Sign him up in night school.

If I'm not mistaken, you, as an inspector, have to be licensed (if all the mail I'm getting from the home office in PA is right) but the electricians don't?

That's about as good as here in the Mountain State where all 44 of us licensed inspectors have to go to continuing education classes. The electricians, most of whom don't own a code book, nevermind actually reading one, have no requirement for keeping their license other than coughing up $50 a year.

Anyhow, since he is your brother-in-law, it is probably impossible to charge him for every trip. That is how I usually get this point across.

Good luck, I think you'll need it.

Tom

... Just be frank with him,..he should understand,..that putting peoples lives and property at risk is no laughing matter.. Be firm, but not condescending.. Ask him to take on less technical jobs until he grasps the concepts related to the tasks at hand.."You gotta crawl before ya can walk"..If he's enthusiastic enough about the trade,he'll take the neccessary training courses to do so..If not...then he really shouldn't be messin' with it..There are many other ways to make an honest buck..
...Just my 3 cents worth here,...I'm done..

I knew a guy that had done some residential work for about a year and thought he was qualified to become an electrical contractor/journeyman. I went into my house and brought out my "American Electricians Handbook" and my codebook and suggested he invest in both of these. After browsing for about 15 minutes he said,"wow" I didn't realize there was so much stuff to know and decided to become a handyman instead.

Or a certified correspondence class.

Hi, master.
A picture paints a thousand words. You should show him some of Joe T's grapic photographs of electrocutions and burns, and then give him a quick lesson on grounding and overcurrent protection.
I'm outside of Philly, and other than the city, only one local town requires a test for an EC license.
The state legislature has repeatedly voted down statewide licensing similar to New Jersey's, and I can't imagine why.
Some (most) of the stuff I come across ranges from marginal workmanship to seriously dangerous.
I believe licensing would help things, but some philosophies disagree.

[This message has been edited by Redsy (edited 06-11-2004).]

If all out confrontation isn't your style, then maybe don't go so easy on him when he needs advice. When I work with guys that do stuff that they should know better, I can usually find a comrade(ish??-word?) way to say "come on, you don't know this stuff? you better get on the ball"

I'd be very careful about offering any advice whatsoever. If there are no legislated inspection requirements to fall back on, you, as the only qualified person within 100 feet of that job, could be hung out to dry if something goes wrong. I'd stay as far away from it as possible.