I’m glad you asked that b/c I was so wondering about the tap, I didn’t look. Fortunately I have other photos that show the sec was copper. Thank you very much for asking!
photo 2:
Yes on the knockouts, but the bonding strap/screw is my question too. I am weak on this. So should the bonding strap be (or not) connecting the buss bar to the enclosure – is that what is meant for this subpanel rule? Or is it the white neutral and circuit grounding conductors going into the same bar the problem. Obviously there is no where else for them to go, but this subpanel thing is blowing me away. I don’t understand it. I’ve read the NEC stuff and whew… I need plane inglush.
I think that locking ring was just hanging there. It appears there is another smaller one behind it.
When speaking to people, most people understand what ‘tapping’ off something means. So I use this. I don’t want to have to explain what ‘lugging’ is. Too lazy.
Only a phone call away my friend…only a phone call away to anyone in a JAM and needs something explained to them…
BETTER YET…come over and post all those electrical questions anytime you need at www.theelectricalguru.com as well…We only deal in electrical questions over there…so if you end up with a REAL tough one…visit their also.
Don’t feel bad about not understanding grounding and bonding of panels. I’ve been teaching apprentices, journeymen, and electrical contractors for many years. You might be surprised to know that even many experienced master electricians and electrical contractors do not understand the rules for and bonding sub-panels. There are some instances where a sub panel can be grounded the same as it would be if it were the main panel on a separately derived system.
The NEC is not a design guide. It is a set of rules. I would not recommend trying to learn from the NEC. There are many good books available but my all time favorite is “Practical Electrical Wiring” by H.P. Richter. I’m not much involved with apprentices anymore so I don’t know if it is still being published but, that was always the first book I’d have them read.
The important thing to know is that even though most subpanels are required to have the grounded and grounding conductors isolated from one another, that is not always the case. So, be careful how you report it to your client. Don’t list it as being a deficiency unless you are sure. If you are not sure, recommend evaluation by a qualified electrician.
Along with the missing connectors that someone has already pointed out, it looks like a flexible type cord is being used instead of a listed Class 3 wiring method.