In the article Electrical Service Panels, Nick Gromicko discussed the inherent dangers to the inspector and ultimately the client during the service panel phase of the inspection. The dangers not only include the possibility of electrocution but a potentially greater incidence of an arc flash explosion during the removal of the dead front cover. Inspectors should always keep this in mind that there may be several surprises in store for the complacent inspector while doing these inspections. Be part of the solution and not the problem.
The grounded conductor is clearly identified with white tape above the lug.
The panel receptacle does not need to have a gfi breaker . The receptacle is a gfi.
A panel change does not trigger the need for afci protection .
This is the electrical part of the home inspection done for John Athmer. Pictured is the meter and main breaker for the electrical system. The service is 100 Amp and the panel is inside the house. The panel is rod grounded.
Inspecting fire alarm systems takes a specialized and qualified inspector. Take your client through the procedure of setting off the alarm and doing miner repairs such as batteries and periodic testing. Take notice of the age of the alarm. Older alarms need to be watched more closely. The client should hire a contractor to do yearly inspections
Electrical inspections should be thorough and comprehensive. They should start at the service entrance and move to the service panel and then the distribution system. Proper conductors, grounding, bonding, and conductor routing are items to look at and report on.
The image attached demonstrates incorrect routing through an electrical panel knockout. The conductor insulation should extend about 1/4 inch through the knockout, and the knockout should be shielded. Also, there should be a single conductor through each knockout, rather than multiple.
The sheath extends past the clamp which is outside the box. The blue is an insulated throat on the connector.
Many connectors are listed for multiple cables.
Conductors are individual wires. You are talking about cables. Big difference .
good evening
While inspecting a detached garage for a local resident, it was determined that the sub panel serving the structure was bonded with a, manufacturers supplied, green bonding screw installed into the neutral bus of the panel. Bonding is only allowed at the first disconnecting means. Further bonding of the ground and neutral downs stream creates a parallel neutral and an unsafe condition by purposely interconnecting the ground with the current carrying neutral. This deficiency was noted in the report as well as identified and described verbally to the new home buyer.
While inspecting a house for use in the completion of the four sample essays… I found that the electrical service panel was not properly bonded to the houses water piping. All metal components of the structure must be properly bonded to ensure that no stray voltage exist on any permanently installed metallic objects. The condition was noted and pointed out and explained to the home owner.
Aluminum wire in branch circuit. Although some insurance companies may require a certified electrician to inspect or terminate the attached picture shows a furnace branch circuit that was permitted and approved by city over 10 years ago with no evidence of overheating. Connected to an approved AU breaker.
Federal Pacific Stablok panels are very common in the Edmonton area for homes built in the 60s to mid 70s. I provide clients with all information and studies regarding the failure rates of these panels. With a 60% failure rate I give all this information to clients and allow them to decide if they should upgrade their panel. I recommend having a certified electrician upgrading panels depending on their age.
Lets talk about safety. Safety should be the number one thing we should be taking care of before we start going into electricity because it can cause big concerns if something goes wrong. Make sure you are aware of your surondings.
Weatherproof Receptacle Cover are important for outlets outside of the homes we inspect because it cover them from potential rain. If we do not see these covers on outlets outside of home we should definitely note on our daily reports.
The electrical panel appeared to be functional and adequate. There were no double tapped wires or wires that had been damaged. No aluminum wires were found in the panel either. All of the grounded wires were connected correctly and all the wires were the correct size for the circuit breakers attached.
It is important before taking the dead cover off of a service panel that the inspector looks for any rust or signs of water that could cause a hazardous situation. When inspecting the ungrounded wires be careful to look for any double tap wires.
When carrying out an electrical inspection always the necessary security measures must be taken both personally and for the client. Always carry safety equipment such as safety glasses, gloves and appropriate tools for each type of inspection.
As we can see in the photo we noticed the improper connection to the breaker. We can notice that the cables were pressed and they are not making a good contact, this means that they are not reaching the capacity of the aperage for which they were designed, since they are not totally connected to the breaker.
Was the panel fed by three or four wires? If fed by 3 the panel needs to be bonded again like a service.
This is a photo of an electrical panel with an open knockout and no wiring inside of it. Its not your job to figure out why its like that, but you do have to disclose this as a defect, because it is not safe.
I read an article on water damage. As we know as home inspectors, water is the most damaging component to any residence. Preventative as well as actively maintaining water/moisture intrusion practices is the best way to avoid costly repairs and/or replacements of home components.