This installation is on a remote distribution (sub) panel. There were no missing knockouts on the panel, no signs of moisture and it was properly labelled. The panel appeared to be properly bonded and grounded. There was no double lugging on any circuits. There was only one circuit attached at the time of inspection using 14/3 wiring. There was a bushing in the knockout to protect the wire from cutting/fraying over time however there was no clamp to hold the wire in place at the knockout. I would recommend a clamp be installed by a licensed electrical contractor.
The service panel contains circuit breakers that are designed to keep the electrical system in your home safe for use. The main service disconnect are the large breakers at the top of the panel. All homeowners should know what these breakers are for in the event power to the entire house needs to be shut off.
Other breakers in the panel are used for all of the electrical circuits in a home. Breakers are rated at different amperages depending on the power source required by each circuit. Some breakers are on dedicated circuits where only one appliance is using the circuit such as an air conditioning unit. Other circuits may have several outlets where appliances can be plugged in. If there are too many appliances using the same circuit and the accumulated power for these appliances requires more amperage than the circuit is designed for, the breaker will trip to prevent overheating of the circuit. Moving one or more appliances to another circuit is recommended.
GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupters) outlets and breakers are common today and are designed to trip if they detect any abnormal current flow. AFCI (arc-fault circuit interrupters) are also common in service panels. These are designed to trip if they detect any small arcs of electrical current in the circuit.
Service panels should also have all circuits clearly marked on the panel.
Proper screws were used to secure the dead front panel. All wire sheathing was in good condiction. Panel was properly labeled. But there was a hinge that was missing on dead front panel door. There was not proper clearance in front of panel
In this photo we see a remote distribution panel (AKA sub panel). It is required to have the panel labeled in a descriptive way so it is known what each breaker controls. Examples of descriptive labeling are ‘Master Bedroom Lights’, ‘Living Room Outlets’ or ‘HVAC’.
A variety of safety precautions should be taken when inspecting an electrical service panel because these types of inspections are inherently dangerous. Before touching the panel the inspector should have a clear escape path that is free of clutter, in case of sparks or stinging insects. Checking the panel and its screws with a voltage ticker is also good practice to make sure the panel is not ‘hot’. The safety of the inspector and their client are of paramount importance and all precautions should be taken.
electrical service panels are boxes that house circuit breakers, which are safety devices . Many people have been killed while opening electrical panels. As a safty measure use a voltage ticker to make sure box is safe to touch. Also safty glasses
I have always considered my weakest point in an inspection the electrical system. That being said I followed an electrical contractor around for a few weeks to see what I could learn. It amazed me how many upgraded main panels were not wired correctly.
When doing an inspection on a standard breaker box always look for double taping of the breakers. There are a few breakers that do allow for double tap so make sure to do a little research before calling something out.
Federal Pacific Panel which have been subject to recalls. Double tapped and improperly sized breakers for lighting and branch circuits. Double tapped neutrals and ground wires. Missing panel cover screws. The panel was not labeled. Numerous branch circuit outlets in the residence were showing open grounds when a plugin tester was used.
Ground Fault Circuit interrupters or GFCI’s are a type of circuit breaker that are designed to shut off power or “break” when an imbalance is detected of around .005 miliamps. GFCI protection is required by the National Electrical Code in wet areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms, as well as in attached garages.
While inspecting the electrical service going to this house I suspected that the electrical service had been updated. The owners had bathrooms remodeled, and the kitchen remodeled. The outlets in the kitchen and baths were GFCI outlets and they worked as they should.
As I stated earlier the house I was inspecting had the baths and kitchen remodeled and the electrical updated. The correct GFCI outlets were installed and worked properly. Upon a little more inspection it appeared that the breaker box labels were out of date. For example they had a breaker for a disher that no longer exited. I noted in my report that the labels need updating.
This is an Image of 2 outlets located in A kitchen. In my inspection I noticed That the kitchen has no ground-fault circuit interrupter. Any outlets that are installed in Kitchen, Bathroom, Garages and outside should be protected by GFCI.
When first entering or removing a electrical Panel or Distribution box a inspector should check its surrounding for any trip hazards, Water, and space to perform work. Next visually inspect the Deadfront for water streaks and missing or wrong screws. Before removing panel check enclosure with ticker. When screws are removed grab panel as a shield and back away from enclosure. Never place hands in box.
This is a photo of a poorly wired service panel that I would consider to be a hazard. It appears the installer just randomly plugged in wires. I would absolutely call this out as a priority first fix and referal to a qualified electrition for correction.
Just completed Nick’s article on bed bug infestation and how to find it. Great read on creative ways of finding their infestations. Laying duct tape out upside down along a wall so they stick to it as they move around is a great idea!
Attached is a properly installed GFCI bathroom outlet. All bathrooms should be equipped with GFCI outlets. Also, known as Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, GFCI’s protect all the outlets down range from damage. Short-circuiting is the most common issue with outlets.
