Pictured below are service entrance conductors that are not properly protected. These conductors are not rated for exposed mounting purposes but there are large areas of the service entrance run that is not protected. Service entrance conductors need to be fully encased and protected by an approved conduit unless using a service entrance cable that is rated for exposed mounting purposes. The service entrance needs to be properly re-installed by a reputable licensed electrical contractor.
The example picture I decided to take for the Electrical Inspection is an image of my Service Masthead and the working parts of it. The physical structure of it is not worn or cracked and the drip loop is 12 inches, which is compliant with code. There are no causes for concern in regard to its stability to stand for the foreseeable future.
The article that caught my eye was on Elements of an Energy-Efficiant House. It interested me because it is a cause for concern in regards to how volitile and changing heating and cooling bills can be when the house is not properly efficient with how it heats and cools. I learned that the typical home loses over 25% of its heat through windows. That’s a lot! One way to combat this is to have your window not exceed 8% to 9% of the floor area. I also learned that metal window frames should be avoided, especially in cold climates and that the best-sealing windows are awning and casement styles, since these often close tighter than sliding types.
The main disconnect pictured shows signs of corrosion. This is a safety concern because rust is indicative of either past or current moisture intrusion. As an Inspector, I would defer further evaluation to an Electrician.
I read the article on AFCIs(Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters) . AFCIs are special types of electrical receptacles, outlets, or circuit breakers that open the circuit they are connected to when a abnormal waveform pattern is detected. I believe that older homes with wearing wire insulation, switches and outlets would benefit reducing fires.
I read the article, Electricity 101: Understanding the Service Panel.
The service panel distributes all of the electricity that comes into the house into individual circuits that are run throughout the house. Breakers are safety devices found inside the panel. Breakers allow only a designated amount of electricity to flow through each circuit. Breakers will trip, meaning they stop the flow of electricity, if there is a problem, such as too many appliances being plugged into the same circuit.
The pictures above is of a GFCI outlet being tested that is located near a sink. The first picture shows the tester in the outlet with a green light on. This means the outlet is wired properly. The second picture shows the green light is off. This is because I pressed the test button on the tester to see if the GFCI is working in case a ground fault would occur in the circuit. Since there is no power going to the tester the outlet is functioning properly and is safe to use.
The attached image is a dead-front on a General Electric service panel. Having checked the service panel cover to ensure it was not live, checked for signs of damage, and listened for any arcing I opened the cover to continue my inspection. My immediate reaction is to flag this panel as defective and recommend further evaluation by a trained professional, due to the lack of a correct legend. As there was no evidence of any unacceptable risk, I will remove the dead-front to continue my inspection of the electrical supply.
I reviewed a diagram titled “Service Drop Clearances”. This diagram is particularly useful when determining if the electrical supply lines have enough vertical and horizontal clearance before they enter the service mast. It is particularly important to be aware of how alterations to the house may affect this clearance. It is common to see flat roof extensions that are closer to the termination than the required 8 feet. On element, this diagram does not address is branches that may interfere with the utility company’s cables before they reach the service mast, taking into account that branches re heavy during the summer and if snow covered. It is recommended that any branches within 5-6 feet of the wires are noted.
I inspected this primary panel and found many issues. First off, I was surprised to find the service feed coming in from the bottom, was expecting it come through the top or the side. There is a mystery meter between the line feed and the primary disconnect, which appeared to be non-functional.
There are some double lugged connectors on the breakers.
There is no bushing on the knockouts for both incoming line or on the branch circuits exiting the panel. The bushing are not really required for the exiting Romex cables, but there probably should be considering there are multiple lines in each knockout and the edges of the opening appears very sharp. I would note that but not indicate it as a defect.
The neutral bus is hidden from view, not sure what to report there?
The aluminum conductors of the incoming feed appear to be stripped a little too far and there appears to be no anti-oxidant paste on the lugs.
I am in no way comfortable taking the dead front cover off this service panel. However for my visual mock inspection, I looked at this service panel. Everything was labeled and no signs of damage to unit. I would refer a homeowner to have the electrical system checked by an electrical professional. (until I have more hands on training and feel comfortable being able to remove fronts and inspect service panels)
Surge Protectors
I read the article concerning surge protectors. Since they are found in nearly every home in America, I thought it would be prudent to understand them better and be able to advice my clients about them.
There is a difference between power spikes and power surges. Spikes are very short duration elevations in voltage where power surges are prolonged escalations. Common spike would be caused from a lightning strike, where a surge protector would offer light assistance. More common spikes and surges would be caused by a device demanding more power than is delivered or faulty wiring.
The things to note for the home owner would be the following:
- Not all power strips are surge protectors, the home owner should read the product label thoroughly.
- Surge protectors do not last forever. After repeated protection cycles, they will become less effective.
- They will not work at all on ungrounded devices.
They are highly recommended where sensitive electronic devices like computers and other costly appliances.
Research Exercise: “Electrical Service Panel”- Nick Gromicko
This article reiterates the points from the course on how to safety inspect an electrical service panel. First is always to make sure that it is safe to inspect a unit, if it looks dangerous or you hear loud buzzing, feel excessive heat, you should make sure it is seen by a professional. The basic things to look for are clearance, aluminum branch wiring, sharp point or screws, proper sizing of unit, signs of oxidation and corrosion, water damage and for over current protection. Even after studying this course, I feel I still need a few hours of hands on training to get a grasp of everything.
This is a panel I inspected that was loaded with reported defects. I actually have several photos of this panel but here’s a couple of the better ones.
In the first photo you can see that a couple branch circuits come into the picture at the right thru the same knockout with no bushing and several other knockouts available. They have also not been stripped back to the point of entry. Also, the yellow circuit that is stripped has it’s ground wire passing right across the neutral lug easily within an inch. And there’s obviously a couple open knockouts at the bottom and left in the photo.
In the second photo is the only ground wire coming from this same panel. In the background you can see the wire attached to the joist, then wraps around the cold water pipe and never touches or attaches with a clamp or any type of grounding electrode. This is also nowhere near the first 5 feet of in coming water piping.
I read the article on Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) since I never heard of them until I took this course.
The AFCI breaker detects changes in the wave pattern that are characteristic of a dangerous arc. This means that the breaker will trip and shut power off to that circuit before it can become a large arc causing a fire. the National Fire Protection Association has records showing that arcs are responsible for thousands of fires a year causing death, property damage and millions of dollars of damages. AFCIs are also known to give false activation where there is no sign of a problem and shutdown power when it did not have to. To help reduce the amount of “nuisance tripping," an electrician can check:
- That the load power wire, panel neutral wire and load neutral wire are properly connected.
- Check wiring to ensure that there are no shared neutral connections.
- Check the junction box and fixture connections to ensure that the neutral conductor does not contact a grounded conductor.
According to the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC) new construction of homes requires that AFCIs be installed within bedrooms. AFCIs are a very important first line of defense against an arc becoming a fire hazard.
This is a very interesting article (though a little older at this point) about fraud and abuse of the energy star approval program.
It explains that the “Government Accountability Office” (apparently a real thing) did a nine month study where they created four fake companies that submitted products for energy star approval which indicates the products consume 10 to 25% less energy than the federal standards. The study found that none of the products submitted were ever tested for qualification of the program and several couldn’t be tested because they were totally absurd products that didn’t exist, even though they were approved!
The article is quite hilarious and well worth the read which is why i posted a link. I did laugh out loud when i read “Government Accountability Office”. I have never heard of that.
Main service panel safety issue. Missing service panel cover open electrical hazard. Extreme amount of dirt/dust covering interior of panel and electrical connections. Needs to be cleaned or replaced by qualified licensed electrician. Service panel requires replacing missing panel cover or replacement of entire service panel if parts not available. 
In the library of inspections, I have learned that aluminum wire to feed outlets is no longer code. There are several ways to safely reconnect in outlets but must be completed by an licensed electrical contractor. Service lines can still be used if the proper anti corrosion paste is used to eliminate oxidation.
Upon opening the main electrical panel right away the inspector noticed multiple ground and neutral conductors lugged together. As this may over stress the lugs it was pointed out to the client during inspection. Also if you look directly to the left you will see a double tapped breaker inside the panel, again this immediately was conveyed to the prospective buyer.
Peak Performance Home & Building Inspections.
Located in Maine, we do many inspections on homes that are anywhere from 250 years old to new builds, the common is the latter. We see many homes with knob and tube wiring as this is very easy to identify, we also come into homes with what appears to be aluminum wiring. The reason I say “appears” is because so many homes have tinned copper, this is very common. The paragraph describing the difference between rubber or soft sheathing and plastic sheathing over the wires was and is a great way to recognize the difference.
Thank you Nachi for all the education.