randynavarro Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 This metal conduit feeds an A/C unit. It is not bonded to the panel nor is there a grounding conductor. Is this too-obviously incorrect or am I missing something? Click to View 64.95 KB Click to View 38.11 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 If the conduit is continuous from panel to unit, the conduit is the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randynavarro Posted January 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Nope. See the 2nd photo. That conduit body is plastic and breaks continuity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Oh. I never see plastic. Anything plastic, it's dangerous. If they'd do something that stupid......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Remas Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 That looks like a painted metal LB to me. Why does the conduit have to be bonded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randynavarro Posted January 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Originally posted by Jeff Remas That looks like a painted metal LB to me. Are you referring to the bushing in the top photo? If so, it's plastic. Why does the conduit have to be bonded? Doesn't all conduit have to be bonded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 The conduit is the "bond". The metal pipe connecting everything is the grounding path. If there's plastic anywhere, or a loose coupling, or any similar condition that breaks continuity, there's no ground path. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Remas Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Not talking about the bushing, I am talking about the LB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randynavarro Posted January 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Uncle uncle. Enough with the riddles. What's an LB? There's nothing painted in either of those photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Remas Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 No riddle, I thought this was common knowledge. An LB is the conduit body that connects the conduit and has a cover on it. The LB conduit body creates a pull point. You took the cover off of it to take a picture. That is the LB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randynavarro Posted January 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 OK. Got it. Thanks. I've never personally used EMT except for some cool art projects. I've only used and inspected romex. I don't do commercial. Every once in a while I'll inspect the work of an ambitous soul who's upgraded his garage with some EMT. I briefly perused all my electrical manuals on my shelf and there's no reference to "LB." Is it tradesman jargon? Now to the lack of grounding . . . the A/C unit needs a grounding conductor back to the main panel, no? I seem to recall past discussions something to do with compressor motors being double insulated or something so "grounding" is not needed. I'm sure I'm not recalling that accurately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Remas Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 You will find conduit fittings (mostly LBs) on many residential homes with an overhead service that use PVC to protect against physical damage. Very common. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Remas Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Here is an LB on a residential new construction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Remas Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 and more from a 2 unit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Remas Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 And one currently under construction: There are LL's, LB's, TT's, etc for most 2 opening types. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Originally posted by randynavarro This metal conduit feeds an A/C unit. It is not bonded to the panel nor is there a grounding conductor. Is this too-obviously incorrect or am I missing something? Yes the air conditioner needs to be grounded, as does the conduit. If that's a plastic conduit body, then there should be an equipment grounding wire in there. However, I agree with Jeff. It looks very much like a cast metal LB with grey paint on it. It even looks like there's bright metal in the lower tapping where you removed the screw. But you were there, and as I said, if it's plastic then it's wrong. An LB is a pulling ell with the outlet in the Back. LLs have the outlet to the Left and LRs have the outlet to the Right. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
energy star Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Pic #1 in post 13 is a wonderful display of planning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Remas Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Originally posted by energy star Pic #1 in post 13 is a wonderful display of planning. Yeah that was a bad install. However, you should see the overhead from the pole to where they chose on the building. Horrible planning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Service ell or pulling ell is a common term around here. The only folks that I know that call them LL's, LR's, or whatever, are home inspectors. Everyone that actually works with them calls them service ells and designates a size. Does anyone else notice the sudden shift to acronyms on the boards? Katen made a funny joke about it over @ the ASHI board that almost no one got. Is it the new "code" language for us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy_Bob Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 I've always called them "LB" or "SLB" (for short LB). The new code buzz word is "luminaire" instead of "light fixture". FYI - Out of curiosity I used an ohm meter to see if a bunch of romex clamps on the side of a main panel were grounded or not. That is the panel was painted and I was curious as to if the clamps were breaking through to the metal on the panel and thus were grounded or not. Many were not conducting through to the metal and thus were "floating" (were not grounded). So it is a good thing to use bonding bushings at the panel! (Not on romex clamps of course.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtblum Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Originally posted by kurt Does anyone else notice the sudden shift to acronyms on the boards? Is it the new "code" language for us? Hope not. Acronyms are great when everyone knows what you're talking about. Can't learn much when you're confused by them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 L I B. M R Akrnums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Originally posted by gtblum Originally posted by kurt Does anyone else notice the sudden shift to acronyms on the boards? Is it the new "code" language for us? Hope not. Acronyms are great when everyone knows what you're talking about. Can't learn much when you're confused by them. There is a difference in the acronyms showing up on message boards and the "official" acronyms for trade related parts. From an inspectors standpoint, I think it is beneficial to know parts by both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Originally posted by Billy_Bob I've always called them "LB" or "SLB" (for short LB). The new code buzz word is "luminaire" instead of "light fixture". FYI - Out of curiosity I used an ohm meter to see if a bunch of romex clamps on the side of a main panel were grounded or not. That is the panel was painted and I was curious as to if the clamps were breaking through to the metal on the panel and thus were grounded or not. Many were not conducting through to the metal and thus were "floating" (were not grounded). So it is a good thing to use bonding bushings at the panel! (Not on romex clamps of course.) I believe NEC adopted luminaire 2002. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Oops. There's another acronym. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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