I was at a new home today and saw this crappy installation of the branch wiring (17 to 20 splices all crammed at the top of the panel). Is this something that you would write up? What would be the wording you would use if so? I tried to attach the picture but it was to big of a J-peg. If you know how to condense a j-peg file let me know and I will add it.
It is not filling a significant part of the wiring space so it is “legal”. That sure looks like a screw up to me. They either left the wires short or had a copper theft and that was as high as the crack heads could reach.
We would be concerned that the fill was greater than 40% and would have to show that Table 4 in the NEC Chapter 9 was complied with along with Table 5. This mess should be referred to a qualified electrician
If it is a water pipe then all this other is for nill cause the pipe must be replaced which would mean that the complete installation would be addressed.
Also there should be a bushing on the end of the pipe which again would address the splices.
Joe, without knowing how long the raceway/nipple is I would not vote on fill yet. I would be more concerned with derating if this is over 24".
Is it sealed at the top, are the cables secured properly, where is the 6mm of jacket in the box?
Of all of these, derating is the most important. Just look at the picture Marc posted of the bundled Romex.
The thing about fill is you need to take an oval cable as a circle, using the widest dimension so it fills up a pipe pretty fast.
Joe
The first picture may not look pretty, but pretty is not a code requirement.
Pictures can be deceiving, so it is not easy to tell if the 40% fill has been exceeded…it may have been, I think it is a close call the way it looks to be filled, but a calculation would have to be performed.
Yes, a couple of the cables do not have the required measurement of sheathing, and the PVC fitting is missing a bushing, but this install looks like it may come pretty close to being compliant. The splices are close to being 75%, but how can one tell from the photo?
I would say the contractor may be able to slip a little more sheathing into the panel enclosure, that would leave only the bushing as an issue.
Remember, we do not inspect for personal taste, but minimum code compliance.
Not true! See 110.12 Mechanical Execution of Work.
Electrical equipment shall be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner.
FPN: Accepted industry practices are described in ANSI/NECA 1-2006, Standard Practices for Good Workmanship in Electrical Contracting, and other ANSI-approved installation standards.
… and all new fledgling inspectors must be aware of the possible hazards, a picture is certainly not enough, and if there was a field inspection I am sure we would find more problems.
The use of that “sleeve” is concealed is not allowed either and is not what the exception in 312 considers.
I’m no master electrican, but I have bent some pipe and pulled more than a few wires. When I see something like this I recommend the customer have the electrical system checked by a qualified electrican. My way of thinking is if the electrian did this there may be other problems hidden inside boxes etc… that go far beyond the scope of a home inspection. I do explain that thier may or may not be problems with the system but that what I see is a un professional installation.
Isn’t there anything on the number of twists that a conductor can have to??
I would think at some point the mechanical process of twisting solid wire with that number of turns would weaken them considerably as well.
Sloppy work to say the least.