Jack Davenport

WHOA there folks - before everyone gets their panties in a wad, and before we create a mob to hang that electrical inspector, lets get ALL the facts !!! It could very well have been perfectly legal ! We NEED to know if there are any metallic paths between the 2 panels ? I ask because in the 2002 & the 2005 it was allowed to run the 3 wire feeder if there was not metallic paths ties that tie the 2 structures together, and there in no GFCI protection of equipment on the supply side of the feeder.

Jack, was that in the NEC when the panels were installed? Is everything now a "violation" because of new versions of codes? Well - Not sure when those unit panels were installed, BUT i did look at the 1978 NEC and it was in there then.

there are 7 breakers - 6 on top and 1 on bottom There's most likely a meter room somewhere that has meter stacks with the mains in it. the bottom breakers in that panel violates 240.81 in the NEC. From the 2011 NEC article 240.81 Circuit breakers shall clearly indicate whether they are in the open "off" or closed "on" position. Where circuit breakers are operated vertically rather than rotationally or horizontally , the "up" position of the handle shall be the "on" position.

how high above the roof surface are those conductors ? They need to be a minimum of 36"

and to add to Jim Ports post - Nothing illegal about it either

that is a PVC junction box. I want to see the copperhead, Where's the picture of that ?

Ok here's when you need to bond the hydromassage tub. The requirement for bonding applies ONLY if you have two (2) things: (1) a motor that isn't double insulated and (2) a metallic water piping system. IF you have BOTH of these you need to bond them together. If either of those two items is not there you can't possibly bond them together since one of them is nonexsitent.

I don't think the pump shaft is energized normally, unless of course, the windings are shorted to it, that's possible. So if there is 120 volts on the shaft, it will take the path of least resistance back to the source. It is not going to flow though a foot of water if it can take the metal path back to the junction box and the cable. But the rule isn't worded very clearly, I agree. The current will take ALL paths to get back to the source, not just the path of least resistance. There may be more current on the path of least resistance but the will be current on all paths. Saying that current will take the path of least resistance is incorrect and misleading.

The Jack, the tubs I have seen have plastic piping under the skirt for the circulating water to pass through. Do you still see the need for the motor to be bonded? The metal is not in contact with the circulating water. It is on the supply side. Once the tub is filled it is no longer touching the metallic pipes. Jim I would say that if you have metallic piping feeding the faucets and plastic plastic piping for the recirculating water, then NO there is no requirement to bond the motor /pump to the metallic house piping feeding the faucets. Is this what you wanted to hear or do you disagree?

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I will assume you are talking about a Hydromassage Bathtub as Jacuzzi is a brand name. The bonding of such is covered in Part VII of section 680 in the NEC. From the 2011: 680.74 Bonding. All metal piping systems and all grounded metal parts in contact with the circulating water shall be bonded together using a solid copper bonding jumper, insulated, covered, or bare, not smaller than 8 AWG. The bonding jumper shall be connected to the terminal on the circulating pump motor that is intended for this purpose. The bonding jumper shall not be required to be connected to a double insulated circulating pump motor. The 8 AWG or larger solid copper bonding jumper shall be required for equipotential bonding in the area of the hydromassage bathtub and shall not be required to be extended or attached to any remote panelboard, service equipment, or any electrode. The 8 AWG or larger solid copper bonding jumper shall be long enough to terminate on a replacement non-double-insulated pump motor and shall be terminated to the equipment grounding conductor of the branch circuit of the motor when a double-insulated circulating pump motor is used.

Your not required to upgrade the branch circuit ( well maybe - you have the option) , but you are required to install the code compliant receptacle. So if your replacing a standard outlet that by today's code should be a GFCI , your are required to install a GFCI device or GFCI protect the circuit. The same goes for areas that now require AFCI protection. When a receptacle is replaced on a circuit that would require AFCI protection you are required to install a AFCI receptacle ( or protect the circuit)

Actually the height of working space is 6'6" OR the height of the equipment whichever is greater.

Here is the code section from the 2011 NEC 240.24 Location in or on Premises. (A) Accessibility. Overcurrent devices shall be readily accessible and shall be installed so that the center of the grip of the operating handle of the switch or circuit breaker, when in its highest position, is not more than 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in.) above the floor or working platform, unless one of the following applies: (1) For busways, as provided in 368.17©. (2) For supplementary overcurrent protection, as described in 240.10. (3) For overcurrent devices, as described in 225.40 and 230.92. (4) For overcurrent devices adjacent to utilization equipment that they supply, access shall be permitted to be by portable means.

How long does the exemption for old stock non tamper resistant outlets last? Seems there was an allowance of some sort when this rule came out. Tamper Proof receptacles were added to dwellings under the 2008 NEC. The NEC made no exception for "old stock". The local jurisdiction may have an exception. Electricians just used the non tamper proof ones in areas the TR was not required until they used up the old staock

It's not quite that simple. There are some rules that must be followed. Article 250.146 ( in the 2011 NEC ) covers this issue. You need to remove the fiber ( cardboard) screw retaining washer from the receptacle. You must have direct metal to metal contact between the box and the mounting yoke of the receptacle ( using the screw to carry the ground is not allowed). If the device is in a 1900 box ( 4" square) and the receptacle is a cover mounted receptacle then the cover screw mounting holes must be a flat ,non-raised portion of the cover in order to provide the best possible surface to surface contact If the outlet is changed it must also meet the rules in 406.12 in the 2011 NEC. That says that it must be a tamper proof receptacle as well

I agree completely, BUT for those who do not own a copy of the NEC or those who wish to look up a prior edition this can be a good resource.

Here is a free link to the 2014 National Electrical Code. It is on the NFPA website. You will need to sign up ( its free) to access the code. Once you sign up you can access all the NFPA codes on the site !! http://www.nfpa.org/catalog/services/on ... r_src=C929

A generator installed in a private residence is strictly an Optional Standby System. You can have an optional standby system that could transfer all loads or some loads.This based on the National Electrical Code article 702. There are NO "emergency" circuits in a house. According to the NEC an Emergency system is legally required, article 700. Not to be confused with the Legally Required System article 701

Completing such a calculation has nothing to do with this thread. Marc The installer of a optional standby system is required to do a load calculation to verify the generator will carry the transferred load. From the 2011 NEC Article 702 ( Optional Standby systems) 702.4(B) System Capacity The calculations of load on the standby source shall be made in accordance with article 220 or by another approved method

That is a nema 1 panel. It does not require recessing in a wall. It can be mounted on the surface in a dry location. It is not rated to be installed in a damp or wet location. Those NM cables are also not listed to be installed in a wet / damp location unless they are type UF Replacing them with MC is ok IF you use mc rated for outdoor use. putting regular NM cable in conduit outside is not allowed. The inside of a conduit run outside is considered a wet location.

If you know it is wrong then leave off the evaluated part and write it up as correct the incorrect wiring.

Marc unless your a highly proficient and a licensed master electrician that knows 100% about the electrical industry including theory and the electrical code and you never make a mistake I would leave that statement off the reports.. But for a person who never worked in one trade for more than what a year or two - I assume you know everything...............

The contractor used to correct type of box for the outlet. That's a remodel/old work box. It has wings that turn and tighten against the back back side of the wall. The silver screws in the 2 corners of the box - as you tighten them the wings rotate to the right and stop at a 90 degree angle to the box. Trust me if that box pulls out there will be a huge hole in the wall The hole that was cut in the wall was cut to the correct size. The mess is where the tile was removed

How old are the AFCI breakers? Are they the newer required combination type AFCI breakers? When AFCI breakers first came out they did not play well with GFCI's. The newer ones have no problems. I make electricians put GFCI outlets on AFCI breakers all the time. Matter of Fact in the upcoming 2014 NEC the kitchen will require afci protection. That means the counter top outlets must be gfci and AFCI protected