“This is a three phase panel modified to single phase. This is a nonstandard application in residential construction. There was no evidence of physical defect at the time of inspection.”
I don’t think there’s any reason to get into what might happen if the moon turns blue!
Information that the electrical panel is a nonstandard application should be enough to trigger any concerns the client may have.
I know that lawyers want us to say a whole lot more because many home inspectors say a whole lot more. That gives them more to work with! We are not required to evaluate the capacity of the panel. We are not required to recommend further evaluation by a specialist if there is no significant deficiency observed at the time of inspection. Now, if you can come up with excessive dimming lights or voltage drop or some other observation that would lead you to believe that the power service is inadequate…
Personally I don’t like the installation myself, to me it is not the intent of the manufacturer for the use of this panel as listed in 110.3(B) and frankly while I have seen it done I still don’t like it.
If the installation was inspected and authorized by the local AHJ then it would be one thing…however I doubt the local AHJ would allow the " White" conductor to be a used to connect those two lugs…atleast on a WIDE allowance of non compliance in re-identification of that conductor.
Anytime you see in a standard dwelling 3 phase equipment being used for single phase applications guys do NOT be afraid to report this in the report and have an electrician look at it.
Many times the breakers itself that are rated for 3 phase may be lets say 120/208 breakers…even and not approved for potential 240V use…so you have alot of things to consider here.
While many things get done in commerical environements and industrial environements…this is not the NORM in a residential environement.
Many times the breakers itself that are rated for 3 phase may be lets say 120/208 breakers…even and not approved for potential 240V use…so you have alot of things to consider here.
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Paul
I was not aware that there are any CBs rated at 208v. Most two pole circuit breakers that are used in residential are rated at 250v.
Hmm…I think I messed that up in the message I was trying to send about breaker ratings…same principle however in that what I was trying to say is…breakers can be rated for 120/240V and straight 240V, if someone is using a 3 phase breaker on a delta highleg system and it is a 120/240V breaker it is wrong because the Line to Ground on the high leg will be 208V…and on a 120/240 rated breaker the line to ground can’t exceed 120V and so on…this is what I was speaking of for 3 phase and thanks Pierre for s commenting on that because i was trying to do an educational moment in the middle and it indeed looks jumbled…yeah I have a problem of trying to teach and explain at the same time…BUT you have to remember Pierre that this is a residential environement that could have someone using a commerical rated 3 phase panel…we see it doe all the time sad to say. It is the what ever I have on the truck mentality…
Using a 3 phase panel setup for single phase in a residential environement is a greater risk of alterations to the equipment for the single phase use and to me just needs to be defered…
