Bed bugs are small, colorless or rust colored parasites that feed on the blood of humans. Bed bugs were largely eradicated up until the 1970s due to the use of a toxic pesticide in agriculture. However, in 1972 the pesticide was banned in the US and multiple other international countries due to health hazards, which has led to the revival of the Bed Bug infestation. Researchers are saying it’s a pandemic more so than an epidemic. Some items to look for when searching for bed bugs are the fecal matter, blood smears, or the bugs themselves. It is recommended to have a qualified Pest Management Professional take care of the infestation if you have one.
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I chose the electrical panel for my essay. this panel is a Sylvania which is problematic due to the fact the bus bars corrode which creates an issue with the contact between the bus bar conductors. This panel has a 150 amp service which from the picture its completely full. This panel is also suitable for AC-CU breakers.
Inspecting this service panel, I found the AFCI breaker to be a G E brand circuit breaker. On the panel legend it reads that only ITE brand breakers are acceptable for use with this panel. Also I found the legend to be blank, no markings on the legend to indicate which breaker is for what area in the home. There are stickers on all the breakers accept the AFCI breaker that was replaced, leaving me to assume it is intended for the main bathroom.
Here is a picture of a properly labeled electrical panel in a 240v home. I tested multiple outlets and the legend provided appears to be correct. I did not see any signs of moisture, arcing, or improper use of breakers. Although I did not remove the dead front, I would feel fully confident in doing so to further inspect this panel.
Electrical Panel essay:
This is a electrical panel with the dead front removed. The entire panel seems to be undisturbed since the professional installation of licensed electricians. The one defect I would write up, is to have the AFCI blue test buttons checked for the recall notice. Everything else checked out satisfactory. No signs of homeowner wiring or double-tapping breakers.
Electrical Essay:
I chose to write my essay on the Ohm’s Law Calculator Wheel. Through my experience in construction and handyman businesses. I have always been interested in the electrical portions of homes. This chart/calculator can help you solve any problems regarding your electrical issues. If you have two or three parts of you equation you can always find the missing link. I cant imagine how much trial and error went into figuring out all the different ways to find the other portion of the problem.
After reading through the article [size=3]Electricity: Origins, Consumption and Costs, I have learned quite a bit on how our electricity is produced and consumed based on location. To my surprise the United States uses less than four percent renewable energy and a staggering forty percent of coal. I hope with the advancement of technologies we can greatly decrease the use of coal and increase the use of renewable energies in the near future.
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Here are a couple of pictures of the electrical panel in my
apartment is shows no signs of any visual problems all breakers are properly
labed, and door panel show all the proper specifications required for thiis system. This only a visual
This is a disconnect to the homes A/C unit. There are no fuses in it while it’s running. If I saw this on a home I would immediately let the home owner know to call an electrical contractor to find out why this disconnect is in this state. This could be a very serious problem
Just got done with reading about electiral panels from hell and let me tell you there so much that there is to learned about them and the safty to be taken in order how to be very carefull and alert to keep yourself out harm way but i’ve leaned alot but there is so much you can consume#-o
This outlet is next to a kitchen sink and upon first glance does not appear to be gfci protected. By using the test function on a gfci tester you can see that this outlet functions as is intended. The first outlet in this circuit is protected by gfci making the other outlets downstream protected as well. Just because an outlet does not have a test function does not mean it is not gfci protected. It could also be protected by a gfci breaker, which in this case it was not.
This is a photo of the breaker panel in a friend’s home. As you can see, the panel is located in a closet. There are several issues existing with the positioning of this panel. In addition to being difficult to access, there is an insufficient amount of space around the panel. The space does not meet the required 30 inch width, or 36 inch depth. The closet is also used to store combustible paper goods and is partially blocked by items in front of the door. I would recommend to the client that they consider having the panel re-positioned to a more accessible space, advise them on the dangers of storing combustible materials in the closet with the panel, and advise them on keeping the closet door unobstructed.
I have chosen to report on the article “Electrical Service Panels,” as it focuses primarily on the hazards and necessary safety precautions that need to be taken while inspecting a panel. Dealing with live electrical panels is perhaps the most dangerous aspect of an inspector’s job. There are a number of things that can go wrong while touching or removing a dead front. Special observation and caution should be taken before removing the front. The need for slow, deliberate movements is paramount, as is the need for adequate working space. The inspector should also take care to prevent the client from standing too near the panel while working, and under no circumstance, should the client be allowed to touch the panel.
Article: Common Electrical conductor types
There are many different types of electrical wiring present in homes, some of which may be hazardous. These are the primarily used in residential buildings that inspectors should be aware of, NM or NMC commonly referred to as Romex, is 2 or more insulated wires run in a fire and moisture resistant nonmetallic coating. NM must be protected and secured and is most common used wiring today. The next most common is AC or BX cable which is just like NM but in a metal jacket. The cable that inspectors should watch for is KT or knob and tube, which is present in older homes and can be easily identified by porcelain knobs and individual wires. Inspectors should note KT wiring in homes as a defect and have a licensed electrician examine the system.
In this attached photo you will see the Main Service line has been damaged when stripping the insulation off of the line. This has inherently decreased the diameter of the service wire, and in turn made it unsuitable to carry the load it was designed for. I recommended a qualified electrician evaluate and repair as needed to prevent a possible fire.
As I am going through this course I have learned a lot. One thing that I didn’t know much about was how AFCI’s worked. I didn’t know that they monitored wave patterns within the electrical current, and were designed to know the difference between a standard arc form a switch, and that of a hazardous one within the circuit. Handy little devices that can save your home from a structure fire!
I’m taking some time to write about how much I’ve learned about my own home in just a couple courses. Last night I just figured out that I could fix some issues around my house that I didn’t have any idea I could do myself. I replaced my main water line pressure regulator & relief valve which was really old and leaky and saved around $250 by doing it myself. Great stuff!
In the service panel, two wires were connected to a breaker designed for only one wire. This is known as a “Double-tap” or “Double lug” and is a defective condition. I recommend that a qualified electrician evaluate and repair or correct as needed.
Receptacle inspection:
When inspecting receptacles in a house, we usually use an outlet tester to test all accessible receptacles. But only a tester along may not tell the whole story. There could be defects behind the receptacle cover which is not visually accessible. So whenever in double, the best way is referral to a licensed electrician.
