Research & Writing Assignment:
Electrical grounding is the most important component of the electricity delivery system. It provides a safe method to minimize electrical shock and reduce the potential life threatening hazards of current flow protection. Ground wires should be solid with no splices attached to the grounding rod.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
I took an image of the service panel legend. This legend is missing the overall amps supplied for this home. Its also has several breakers that are not labeled for its intended purpose. Reccomend a licensed electrical contractor to fix these defects.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I read the article on aluminum wire inspection. I learned of serious accidents that occured back in the 1970s due to aluminum wiring in homes causing injury and death. I also learned ways to correct aluminum wiring in homes by rewiring or using crimp connectors to solve the problem.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This picture shows a Sylvania service panel. The breakers are clearly and legibly marked for each circuit breaker. All knockouts in the face of the panel are in place. There are several of the breakers that have indications of arc burns and damage (Sub-panel, Range/Oven, AC and Water Heater). These breakers should be evaluated for replacement by a qualified electrical contractor. The Laundry Outlet is not a standard Sylvania breaker and should be evaluated by a qualified electrical contractor for possible replacement. Sylvania service panels are known to have issues that can cause the breakers to fail to trip when an arc fault occurs. It is recommended that you have a qualified electrical contractor evaluate this panel for repair or replacement.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Electricity 101: Understanding the Service Panel
by Fran J. Donegan of The Home Depot
The service panel is the distribution center for electricity in the home. Each breaker protects separate circuits in different areas within the home. Generally, there are few reasons for the homeowner to access the service panel. Circuit breakers trip because the circuit has been over loaded. If too many devices are drawing load at the same time on a circuit then at least one of the devices should be moved to a different circuit. There are special protective devices called AFCIs (Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter) and GFCIs (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter) they are much more sensitive than a standard breaker to changes in the way electricity passes through a protected circuit or to a protected outlet and will cut the power automatically when a danger situation is detected. It is important that all of the circuits are mapped and permanently posted in the service panel.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is an image of the distribution panel of the home. There are no subpanels. The ground is easily seen and the panel is bonded. There are no issues seen with this panel. GFCI outlets are seen in all appropriate locations.
Research & Writing Assignment:
This chosen article is about AFCI testers. While the AFCI breakers in the panel have a test button, that can only indicate the circuit as a whole. The AFCI tester can isolate an issue with an individual receptacle. AFCI testers should be used by home inspectors.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Ground wire to main panel should be an uninterrupted conductor attached to a ground rod or the conductive pipe of the water service within 5 feet of where it enters the building. A supplemental grounding is also recommended at least 6 feet from the first or a reading of 25 ohms or less by a licensed electrician. The observed ground connection was made at the feed pipes for the slop sink, which has unknown ground potential. This is important equipment protection from surges and lightning strikes.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Electrical Service Panels
Electrical panels are safety devices that stop the electrical current if it exceeds the safe level for some portion of the home electrical system. Electrical panels are potentially dangerous and should be inspected with care. Inspectors should check for defective conditions during an electrical panel inspection, such as: insufficient clearance, aluminum branch wiring, box cover screws that can pierce the wires inside the box, circuit breakers that are not properly sized, oxidation or corrosion to any parts of the electric panel, evidence of electrical failures, or evidence of water entry are few of the things an inspector should verify.
Research & Writing Assignment:
AFCI testers: The use of an AFCI tetser to test receptacles governed by AFCI breakers can help determine whether those circuits are working properly. However, no AFCI tester is 100% accurate on all brands of breakers. AFCI breakers should always be tested and reset by the buttons on the breaker itself and any failure with the tester should always be worded as a failure by the particular tester used (brand and model #) in the body of the report.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is an image of the electrical panel located at property kitchen area. The legend was tested and is correctly pair with each breaker. It seem that the electrical panel was once paint over. This paint has been removed and no other visible deficiencies or any damages to electrical panel where notice.
Ground electrode conductors have nothing.to.do.with shock.protection. They are.for.high voltage events like a.lightning strike.
If.this panel is bonded it is wrong. It is wired with a 4 wire feeder and should not be bonded. The lack.of a main breaker should have been a clue.
Testers may.not trip a properly functioning breaker. The only recognized method is the built in text button.
Hi this is rod summer posting on
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
From simply a visual observation of this panel, you can clearly see that it is missing bolts and access is limited due to the location of the shelves. Removal of the panel was a little tricky as it is very close to the ceiling of this pantry. The good news is, those were the only red flags.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Electricity 101
The explanation of the difference between AFCI and GFCI was quite helpful. I now have a better of the concept. GFCI is designed to monitor the flow of current and protect from over-current where as AFCI is designed to identify high temperatures a shut down the circuit in the presence of excess heat
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The grounding rod was located under the electric meter. The rod was firmly in the ground and the ground wire connection proper and tight. I recommend that the ground rod be better protected to ensure that it does not become damaged or disconnected. Current NEC code require the ground rod to be buried. Another recommendation is to add a second grounding rod. Current NEC code requires two grounding rods at least 6 feet apart.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Backflow is a problem where the intended direction of water flow is reversed which can allow the water supply to become contaminated or polluted. While there are a number of different assemblies for specialized agricultural/industrial use, the Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker(ABV)is the most common in a residential setting.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Attached above is a photo of a general electric panel. This panel has a disconnect at the top interior portion which is rated at 200 amps. This panel is located at the interior garage wall and is secured with screws.
