Is a circuit breaker defective if it doesn’t have an amperage rating label?
If you turn the breakers Off, you may see the amperage marked on the side of the handle.
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Probably marked on the side of the breaker which you can’t see when installed. Not your job to determine the ampacity of breakers. Why would you fail it?
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If you cannot determine the size of the circuit breaker how can you determine if the conductors are the correct size? Would you just note it in the report?
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9 times out of 10 they are labeled incorrectly. So how would you know anything about that circuit anyway? You can refer it out, but diagnosis is beyond the scope of the home inspection. Is it performing?
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I thought that ensuring that the circuit breaker and the conductor size are correct is part of the SOP?
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Try reading it! Note that the Maryland SOP on the left is essentially ASHI.
Combined SOP.pdf (584.0 KB)
I didn’t know that Adam was in Maryland. Here in NJ the home inspector is required to check the conductor and the size of the OCPD. I’m sure that the same SOP exists in other jurisdictions.
i) When inspecting the electrical system, a home inspector shall:
- Inspect:
v) Over-current protection devices and the compatibility of their ampacity with that of the
connected wiring
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No, it would not be defective just because the HI could not verify its ampacity due to missing or inaccessible label. However, as the homebuyer, I would want to know about this condition so I could decide if I want to have an electrician look at it, upgrade it, etc… let the electrician decide if it’s defective or what to do about it.
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Not sure if I would fail it. That’s why I’m asking.
However, the InterNACHI SOP requires me to inspect circuit breakers.
I’m in Colorado, so I just follow the InterNACHI SOP.
If I was the homeowner I’d consider turning the breaker off to verify the ampacity. As the inspector, I won’t be turning it off, though.
I’ll take that as referring the condition to a qualified electrical contractor for further evaluation. Thanks!
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It appears that Maryland SOP requires the “inspector [to] visually inspect…the general condition of visible branch circuit conductors that may constitute a hazard to the occupant or the structure by reason of improper use or installation of electrical components” and “inspect…Overcurrent protection devices”. I would take that to include verifying that the conductor matches the breaker.
If I could not verify the breaker rating or evidence of overheating, I would just note that in the report.
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I would write it up as being unable to determine the amperage rating of circuit breaker and recommend that an Electrician verify that an overfusing condition doesn’t exist and identify and label breaker amperage as needed.
Although it would be easier to just replace the breaker if there is no label identifying it’s amperage rating.
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Who said anything about Adam being in Maryland? You did read the entire reply, didn’t you? Maryland SOP is identical to ASHI (you do know who they are?) It was included for that reason. The two HI associations. It was also the document readily available from presentations I prepped for,
From that you got Adam in Maryland. You do jump to conclusions! Adam’s profile doesn’t say where he is.
So your link to Maryland or ASHI was usless and not germane to the question. If you’re required to determine that the conductor is correct and you cannot see an amp marking on the breaker how do you know that it’s correct? I can answer that for you, you don’t.
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Not at all it responded to your “thought it was part of the SOP.” I provided both HI organizations SOP. This is an InterNACHI forum, so their SOP is entirely germaine. Neither SOP require you to determine that conductors are “correct.”
I was just trying to illustrate that an SOP can be different depending on the jurisdiction. Here in NJ you are required to determine if the OCPD and the conductor are correctly sized.
Well you could of said that in the original post I responded to, but you didn’t bother. Now you are just trying to backpedal. It’s a progressive attitude; “Don’t be specific, because you might want to change it later.”
NJ represents 1/50 of the country. New Jersey’s population is about 1.2% of the U.S. population.
I’m not backpedaling. My initial question was to the OP not you. I didn’t quote you, I was asking the OP how he would determine if the breaker and conductors were sized correctly without knowing the rating of the breaker. It’s not all about you.
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That’s how I feel about you! Bicker about anything long before you get all the facts.
Life’s too short no need to bicker on this forum.