Brian G

I thought Ole Miss played well too, barely nipped by a field goal at the end. Wake Forest got the win, but didn't look like a Top 25 team to me. Washington got screwed. I can't believe any real college football fan wants an excessive celebration call on something like that. Are they not allowed to be excited at all anymore? Booooooooo! [:-thumbd] MS State bounced back well against a lesser opponent, but we still don't really know what we have. Soon...... [:-magnify Arkansas had to storm back to squeak out a win against UL Monroe, but a W is a W right now. And to the surprise of no one who's hung around here through a football season, I agree with Tim about OSU. That was a very weak showing against a vastly inferior team. USC's gonna kill 'em. [xx(] Brian G. Tis the Season [:-footbal[:-fight]

MS State did everything they had to do to lose that game. Special teams were a nightmare. Give Croom a chunk of the blame too, for not putting the far better passing quarterback out there in the 4th quarter, when they needed to pass to come from behind. Dumb. Yeah, he had three interceptions, but only one was on him. For some reason, State never wins the first game anymore. I thought the Illinois offense played well in bursts, but not enough consistency or defense to take down Mizzou. Bama looked good. Their QB played better than I've ever seen him do, and they were swarming Clemson all night on D. Clemson is #9 in the country? Please. Kentucky showed well today, against a rebuilding Louisville team, but we won't know what they have until the schedule tightens up. Think Hawaii has had enough SEC football to last it for a while? Florida shook off a rusty first quarter and torn the Warriors a new one. I'll be pulling hard for Tennessee tomorrow night against UCLA. Go Vols! Brian G. Praise the Lord and Pass the Remote, It's Football Season Again!!! [:-footbal[:-jump2][:-party]

I use one on every job, because water pressure can vary wildly around here. I've had readings everywhere from 25 - 120 PSI. I bought a cheapo gauge from somewhere or other, but it still works fine. I did one today where the pressure was just over 75 psi, but the flow was terrible. I'm sure the client will be interested in finding out what the problem is. Brian G. Pressure, Pressure, Pressure [:-crazy]

Originally posted by Bain I don't understand what you're saying, Brian. Are you agreeing with what I was told, or not? What Jim said. Just having a GEC doesn't mean it can be wired with only three conductors. It has to have that whether the neutrals and grounds get seperated or not. By the way, you can have a seperate GEC on a sub panel in the same building, as long as it's bonded to the grounding system of the service equipment, but it isn't required. Brian G. The GEC of the SE Required By the NEC Can be a Catastrophe As You Can Clearly See (ode to Jesse Jackson) []

In that situation, under the previous codes, you also have to ask yourself if there are any "continuous metallic pathways" between the two buildings (TV or phone cables, metal fences, rebar, metal plumbing pipes, you name it). If so, it must be wired as a sub panel. It has to have its own GEC either way. Brian G. The Rules Are Whatever the Rulemakers Say They Are (Now) [:-boggled

I have to agree, it sure looks like it. Sound the alarm. Brian G. Invasion of the Little White Critters That Can't Stand Sunlight [:-alien]

Weird. I definitely haven't seen one of those before. It only makes sense to me for locations where you might have trouble reading the meter straight on, but then there are the required clearances for that sort of thing. Very odd. Brian G. Always Something New [:-magnify

In the more narrative reports I've done, I used observation (what I found), recommendation (what you should do about it), and sometimes comment (other stuff I want you to know, that really isn't an observation or a recommendation). Brian G. Everyone Is Different [:-alien]

41 out of 50, but I wouldn't say some of the things they have as correct, even if I knew they were "wrong". I won't spoil it for anyone else, but there are some fairly obscure references in there too. I freely confess to never having had a full grip on the many variations of " he and me", "she and I", etc. I prefer to simply avoid using them. Brian G. My English Needs Work, But My Redneck is Perfect [^]

Originally posted by Richard Moore So...I assume that ductwork is split into supply and return air. Correct. Filter(s) at the interior return grills or is that the reason for the odd "tent" shape? Correct again about the typical filter location, but I have no idea what that tent shape is. Is that enough exposed ductwork to be concerned about insulation or is it double-walled? Around here it would just be insulated inside. I'm sure that may vary in other regions. One last question and I promise to shut up...Does that lower section also contain the emergency heat strips? I've not seen a two-tiered unit before, but normally there would be no emergency heat strips in a gas unit. Brian G. Strip Heat - When the Dancer Is Really Fine [-crzwom][:-dev3]

Down here we just call 'em "package units". They can be heat pumps or gas heat with AC. They're actually getting a little more popular these days, because all the noise is outside. Brian G. One-Stop HVAC Inspecting [:-magnify

Originally posted by sleuth255 408.54 Maximum Number of Overcurrent Devices. A panelboard shall be provided with physical means to prevent the installation of more overcurrent devices that that for which the panelboard was designed, rated, and listed. For the purposes of this section, a 2-pole circuit breaker or fusible switch shall be considered two overcurrent devices; a 3-pole circuit breaker or fusible switch shall be considered three overcurrent devices. Ah-so. That would be what I was referring to when I said: "Manufacturers are supposed to make these various "expansion" type breakers so they can only be installed in designated locations, but most can be easily defeated and the one in this case, the Square D QO-2020, will plug in anywhere on a Square D panel. The original idea was to be able to get 40 circuits out of almost any 200 amp panel; a 20 circuit would take 'em everywhere; a 30 circuit would allow 10 extras, etc." With the exception of the Cutler Hammer, they never intended for anyone to put more than 40 OCD's in one 200 amp panel. Sooo... while it has 37 circuits, this panel also has 46 overcurrent devices in it. I think we have to assume they would count the 2020's as two since they count double poles as two, so I agree. I guess if Square-D lists a maximum number of breakers as part of the rating then you would need to compare that to see if the panel needs to be written up. I bet there isn't such a spec though or you would think that the construction of the panel itself would be a violation of 408.54. Well, like I said before, many of those "physical means to prevent", aka "designated spaces", are poorly designed and easily defeated. It would be interesting though, if a manufacturer actually had one number for maximum circuits (counting double poles as one circuit per usual), but another for maximum OCD's. There's a few other nit-picky things that would bug me about this panel though. For example, shouldn't those white wires on the bottom 2-pole breakers be coded hot? By code, sure. Brian G. Oh What a Tangled Web They Weave [:-boggled

What a moron. He actually created more work for himself than if he had simply extended the run to just inside the rafters, and brought it back in at the end where needed. If that were my house he'd pay to fix that or see me in court. Jeez. [:-dunce] Brian G. Revoke That Man's Sawzall Privileges [:-crazy]

If, as the article contends, an inspector would be liable both for an infinte period and for any hidden problems, that's an impossible situation. It's totally unfair and generally absurd. If a law like that passed here, I'd be looking for another line of work. Brian G. Les, Get In There & Fix It []

Ditto. If we could get perfect poetic justice, everyone who threw gas on the fire would burn down with the market and be left with ashes. Greed is not pitiable. But of course, some innocent parties will be hurt, and some guilty parties will slither away unharmed. Not much poetic justice in this life. [8] Brian G. See This Thread Again in 5 - 10 Years (and again, and again, and...) [:-crazy]

Originally posted by inspecthistoric We're really startin' to miss Jim K., particularly in the electrical forum. Amen. Anybody heard from (or about) Lord Jim lately? Brian G. The Inmates Are Running the Electrical Asylum [:-boggled

Originally posted by sleuth255 ummm I count 37 circuits in that panel. If its rated for 40 isn't it ok from a number of circuits allowed perspective? I never counted them, I just let my feeble brain add the 40 & the 6 Ed mentioned, but danged if you aren't right. I count 37 as well. Duh!!! [:-paperba Good catch Kevin. [:-thumbu] Brian G. Count First, Post Later [:-dunce]

Originally posted by AHI in AR I'm not competitive by nature...unless you argue with me. Hogwash! I say you are competitive by nature! [] Brian G. Yet Another Failure of Impulse Control []

Originally posted by Kyle Kubs Aw come on now. No pouting... Not at all. I should have been clearer, if you meant this: "Well, I guess somebody just haaaad to do it sooner or later. I smell one-upsmanship." I was speaking of Cutler-Hammer's decision to inch farther out on the number-of-circuits limb, not you bro'. My bad. [:I] Brian G. Steering Clear of the Fetish Thing [:-taped][]

*sigh* Well, I guess somebody just haaaad to do it sooner or later. I smell one-upsmanship. Thanks for the info Kyle. Brian G. Will the Competition Follow, Or Even Raise the Bet? [:-dunce]

Freaky! If it were stress from bending most of the damage would be around the peak of the bend, not so evenly spread. If it were bird droppings we would see this kind of thing all of the time, and the damage wouldn't be tightly restricted to the caps. The shingles are architectural, but the caps are plain-Jane's. I'd say either the caps are factory-defectives or the sorriest, cheapest things the roofer could lay his hands on. My money is on defectives. I don't know if even cheapo shingles would deteriorate that much in just 8 years. Brian G. It is Recommended to Monitor the Cap Shingles [:-slaphap[][][:-tong2][:-dev3][:-boggled[:-mischie

Originally posted by Kyle Kubs (The Cutler-Hammer CH panel is a 42/42 panel) but thats semantics. And it isn't a 225 instead of a 200? Got a link? Brian G. Is Circuit Escalation Afoot? [:-magnify

Originally posted by mridgeelk The subpanel is an definitely an option but abandoning the ceiling heat, which is likely, would create several openings, possibly returning it to its original format. Yep, that could work too. I just checked the panel in my home, which I built in 1994, and it is a 200 amp with 41 circuits. At the time I asked the electrician about the double breaker that was installed, he said that up to 10% of breakers in the panel could be doubled. I don't know where he came up with that, but it surely wasn't from the manufacturers specs or the NEC. I'd have to see hard documentation to buy that one. Manufacturers are supposed to make these various "expansion" type breakers so they can only be installed in designated locations, but most can be easily defeated and the one in this case, the Square D QO-2020, will plug in anywhere on a Square D panel. The original idea was to be able to get 40 circuits out of almost any 200 amp panel; a 20 circuit would take 'em everywhere; a 30 circuit would allow 10 extras, etc. Brian G. Give 'Em an Inch.... [:-headach

No, none of the manufacturers has ever gone past 40 circuits in a 200 amp panel that I know of. You can get 42 in a 225 amp, or even more in a commercial panel, but not in a residential. In terms of the manufacturers specs, it's wrong. Then there's the other (possibly moot?) question, of whether the panel is actually pulling anywhere near the 200 amps it's rated for. Probably not, but you can't know that without figuring it up correctly. I'd write it up and at advise them to at least have the load calculated by an electrician, but also suggest they consider adding a sub panel. Even if it's not a hazard as is, they have no room to expand. Brian G. Chock Full & Then Some [:-crazy]

Last I knew you couldn't get radon training from an EPA approved vendor online. That may have changed, but I sort of doubt it. I took it from Auburn University at a site in Tennessee. It was a couple of days worth with a big ole' test at the end. I'm not sure if you can get NRPP/NEHA certified without going through an EPA approved vendor. Does anyone know for sure? Brian G. Open Your Wallet & Turn Your Head [:-crazy]