Main Service Panel
Main service panel in this home was located in the basement with conductors coming in from the top. Upon inspection, this did not comply with being 30 inches wide, 36 inches from front and 6ft 6in high rule. I would have marked this as a defect and recommend a licensed electrician to come out and move service panel to location with enough clearance.
The article I chose to write about is entitled “electrical terms.” The reason I chose to write about this article is because if you don’t know the electrical verbiage than you cannot express to your customer what is going on with they system and why you are there to check the electrical components of the home. This can make an inspector look silly if they do no familiarize themselves with the terms involving the electrical system. Get to know the terms and understand what they do and how.
lectric Service Panels,
Many people including experienced licensed electricians have been seriously injured and even killed while opening electrical panels. Inspectors should follow the following tasks before inspecting each service panel. Do i have an escape plan if unexpected issue arrises and you need to escape. Are the floors wet or water dripping from anywhere around you and does the panel appear to be wet or rusty indicating moisture. If answering these indicate a safety risk than a licensed electrician needs to inspect.
The image I chose is that of a diagram that shows the wiring for a gfci and other outlets. It shows how to properly wire the outlets, so that all the outlets function properly and are safe to use in a residence.
The image I chose is that of a diagram that shows the wiring for a gfci and other outlets. It shows how to properly wire the outlets, so that all the outlets function properly and are safe to use in a residence.
the attached phot of an electrical panel shows a Sylvania panel that has a GE 15 breaker on the bottom right. The GE breaker is loose and easily moved with a light touch. The breakers in a panel should only be the ones that are specified by the manufacturer.
All bathrooms are required to have GFCI outlets to protect near water. It works by measure the electricity flowing from the hot wire, through the electrical device and into the neutral wire. If the electrical device was to be dropped into the water and grounded out, the receptacle would detect power usage from the hot wire and recognize that the electricity is not returning to the neutral wire and would instantly trip the internal breaker.
A ground-fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is a device used in electrical wiring to disconnect a circuit when unbalanced current is detected between an energized conductor and a neutral return conductor.It is estimated that about 300 deaths by electrocution occur every year, so the use of GFCIs has been adopted in new construction, and recommended as an upgrade in older construction, in order to mitigate the possibility of injury or fatality from electric shock.
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters
The article mentions that early versions of GFCI’s were not reliable and would lead to many false or nuisance trips. Current versions of GFCI’s are much more reliable. All GFCI’s should be tested by inspectors to prove they work properly.
this electrical panel is properly wired, the correct gauge wires are going to the correct sized breakers. there are no double tapped wires to the same lug, there is no rust around the panel, the box is properly grounded, and there is no sign of arching anywhere.
I learned that holes drilled into studs must be at least 1 1/4" away from the edge of the stud If the hole is any closer than the edge of the stud the stud must have a metal plate over the edge to keep screws from damaging the wire.
This is a picture of knob and tube wiring. Upon first look I notice the discoloration around the connection points. These connections are so close together that it causes concern. There is black discoloration above the junctions indicating a possible fire at one point. Also the sheathing is black to a certain point and then shows yellowish. I would definitely recommend an expert have a look at this.
In the article titled “Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Detectors”, the author goes over specific things to look for when dealing with CO exposure and detector placement. CO detectors need to be placed near sleeping areas, all floors of the home including the basement, and in attached garages. CO exposure can be brought on by malfunctioning fuel burning appliances or they could be improperly installed. CO exposure kills people every year and most exposure goes undocumented because people are unaware they are possibly being affected.
Right away as I approach the service and sub panel, I can immediately see that there is a shut off valve directly above the panels and I can see water streaks which tells me they have had issues with water leaking on to the panel. It is extremely dangerous and will advise that they seek a licensed Profesional for the plumbing issue and electrical as well.
Chinese drywall. Used between 2004 and 2006 causing horrific sickness by out gassing from being wet and by its toxic ingredients. How are we not more careful to investigate these things knowing they will be used in our homes. It is my belief that China does this on purpose, and really have no morals.
Around one-third off a homes total heat loss is usually through windows and doors. Make sure all cracks around your windows are sealed with caulk, make sure they are insulated, a storm window over single pane windows helps as well, and if there is and damaged or rotten windows you should have them repaired or replaced.
This photo is of a GFCI protected outlet near a sink. The actual GFCI outlet is on the other wall (behind the photo taker). I tested both the GFCI outlet and the one pictured, and both work correctly. Notice there is a sticker on this outlet that says “GFCI protected outlet”
This is an image of an electrical main panel with a few problems with accesability. There should be a free and clear space in front of the panel at least 30" wide by 36" deep. The dead front panel is also difficult to remove because the screws are blocked by shelving unit on the left side. This panel with its limited access could be dangerous to service.
The illustration shows the importance of having the proper length downspout to direct water from the roof that is collected in the gutters away from the foundation of the home. By extending the downspouts 4’to 6’ away from the house with a properly sloped yard the water will be directed away from the home.
The article I chose to read was entitled “Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters”. The article detailed the history of the GFCIs. IT also listed the 2008 National Electric Code requirements for GFCI protected outlets in a house. Exceptions to the rules are also outlined, which are those which power burglar or fire alarm systems, those outlets that are not readily accessible to the homeowner (such as behind a refridgerator or other large appliance that is not moved easily), and those that are used for snow melting or ice melting operations.
