Just finished Roofing course, passed the final and waiting for review of essays. Moving on to electrical now.
Very informative so far!
Looking forward to starting the electrical course.
I have a question @bgromicko1
If we are supposed to test every AFCI & GFCI, what are we to do if there are items plugged into the circuit?
example for a GFCI, our wi-fi router and our Amazon Alexa are both plugged into the same outlet receptacle located in our kitchen.
example for an AFCI, My computer and printer are always running in my office.
Do I simply skip those, make note of it and move on?
Hello and good day. I am so confused and would like some clarification please. On page 11 of the “how to perform residential electrical inspections course textbook” it states: “According to the InterNACHI® Home Inspection Standards of Practice, a home inspector is
not required to do anything that the inspector thinks is unsafe, including removing dead front
covers from electrical cabinets or panelboards and exposing electrified, “live,” or “hot”
electrical components within.”
However, in the very first video named “Video 1:Electrical Inspection with Ray” within the first minute of the video he proceeds to take the dead front cover panel OFF!!
I am very confused why he would do this?
It sounds like it’s implied that for a standard panel under normal conditions that removing the cover is not considered unsafe. Now if hazards do exist (like incorrect panel screws or a flooded area in front of the panel) making the removal unsafe then you’re not required to do it.
There is absolutely no way of knowing if there is any hazardous or unsafe conditions if they are hidden or behind that cover. Visible conditions on the exterior of the cover does not mean that is all the unsafe conditions that exist. If I am wearing coveralls how does someone know I have a broken bone in my leg if I am not bleeding. Same principal.
Yes hazards may exist behind the cover. The person paying for the inspection expects the inspector to find those hazards. Now if there are visible hazards with the cover on then no one will tell you to endanger your life by removing the cover. Are you saying that you don’t feel comfortable removing any panel covers when the panel is energized?
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It is an educated guess…a judgement call.
Otherwise it is best not to leave home in the event a problem rears its ugly head outside.
Getting educated helps one get comfortable with the benefits of being able to safely see anomalies to report.
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Also I would like to know why home inspectors are “handsy” or “touchy feely”?
When we are dealing with electrical systems and their components the last thing I am gonna do is start touching and/or feeling these items. This should be a visual inspection, but most humans seem to have eyes in their fingers it seems. Remember when Mom said “don’t touch the stove it could be or is hot” when we were children. What was the first thing we did, that’s right, we touched the stove.
If a person is solely paying for me to find hazards, and not perform a home inspection, and me getting electrocuted is a possibility or falling through roofs, I would gladly decline that type of inspection. And yes, that is exactly what I am saying. I would rather a professional electrician come in and start playing around and touching all the wiring behind the dead front cover. My opinion and that is just me. I have yet to change or replace a circuit breaker in any home I have ever owned, my first thought- call electrician. General rule of thumb I live by - call a professional because a “Jack of all trades” is a master of none.
So just to clarify as part of a normal home inspection are you saying that you will choose to not remove panel covers to inspect the interior of a panel?
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@bgromicko1 do you have an answer for my question?
Question about this chart from Part 2 of the Service Entrance Cable section of the course. Shouldn’t the sizes for the largest two aluminum conductors be swapped, as 600 kcmil (listed for the 200 amp service) is larger than 4/0 AWG (listed for the 400 amp service)?
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Yes you’re correct, for a 200 amp service #4/0 aluminum would be the minimum size and for a 400 amp service 600 kcmil aluminum would also be the minimum size.
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I had the same thought as Trevor when I viewed the video. I am still not clear on the answer. Is it expected/standard practice to remove the Dead Front panel IF NO HAZARDS are observed?
Yes… … …from my perspective.
Larry is that part of the SOP?
The SOP only addresses “not required to” and “SHALL":
.
My perspective is it expected and a standard practice that it will be opened if safe to do so because that is where the “SHALL” anomalies are found.
What is your perspective as an electrician, Rob?
Here’s the SOP:
As someone who has bought several homes and always used HI’s I would feel like I was getting ripped off if they didn’t open the cover and look inside. Having said that I would do my own inspection too because the electrical panel seems to be an area where a lot of safety issues can be found. And something like a burnt bus which would require the panel to be replaced will cost the buyer a lot of money if were missed during the inspection.
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