2 Questions for The Price of One

[Peter Foxe Smothers]

Alright got to questions.

#1) Did a reinspection to day where I noted double taps in a panel. There solution, which is pictured, was to remove the double taps, wirenut them together and pig tail them with one single wire back to the breaker. Comments needed..

#2) On an inspection today found a panel (find a lot of them in this particular neighborhood) that had no ground wire from the panel or meter that attached to a ground rod. The realtor made the comment "Was it code at the time it was built?" Anyother time I have called this out they have fixed it without question. When did the NEC require a ground wire and what would be a good replay next time some realtor makes that comment.

Thanks in advance!

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

#1) Perfectly acceptable, although sloppy.

#2) I have a 1940 NEC that shows a requirement for a grounding electrode.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by psmothers

The realtor made the comment "Was it code at the time it was built?" Anyother time I have called this out they have fixed it without question. When did the NEC require a ground wire and what would be a good replay next time some realtor makes that comment.

There's a fine line between Code and Safety. Safety features (to any home) need immediate attention and do not get grandfathered in because it wasn't code at the time.

Complete safety (of my clients) override any code in my book.

Let's say that the GEC just recently got adopted in 2003 due to related deaths. A building that was built in 1998, does not require a GEC?Attachment 3120

[Larry D. Kage]

I'd just recommend the grounding electrode for enhanced safety and let them do what they will. It leaves the code out of it.

[lewens]

[quote=jpope]#1) Perfectly acceptable, although sloppy.

I don't understand this. I was under the impression that if you double tap you are most likely allowing more than 12 devices per circuit. Sooooo, if a double tap is not allowed for this reason, how would pigtailing 2 circuits to the same breaker be "perfectly acceptable"
Larry

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Larry,

Maybe it is a canada thing...BUT the NEC does not mandate the number of outlets or luminaries on a given circuit. That MATH is left to the electrical contractor to use CORRECT wisdom......WE hope anyway.

Doing the SPLICE removes the issue of double tapping..and as you mentioned you still have all the items on that circuit on the same OCPD...just not in a double tap situation......

Hope that helps any...

[James D Mosier]

Pigtailing two circuits inside the panel is little different than connecting them in a junction box one foot away (or anywhere really).

[jclark1]

Originally Posted by James D Mosier

Pigtailing two circuits inside the panel is little different than connecting them in a junction box one foot away (or anywhere really).

Right, but the problem of double tapping is that the lug on the breaker isn't (usually) designed for accepting two wires, so this solution takes care of the problem. Just think of the enclosure as a junction box.

[Jay Moge]

so basicly the double tap issue isn't for the number of items possible on a circuit (let's face it, we all have a power strip with at least 4 things plugged into on outlet, or one of those 6 into 2 boxes) but for the fact that the screw on the breaker isn't designed for it.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by Jay Moge

so basicly the double tap issue isn't for the number of items possible on a circuit (let's face it, we all have a power strip with at least 4 things plugged into on outlet, or one of those 6 into 2 boxes) but for the fact that the screw on the breaker isn't designed for it.

You got it

ding, ding, ding. . .

[Jay Moge]

yeeeeeee haaaaaaaa. you can mail me my cash prize.

[dspencer]

# 1 a solution.. No. The service box may not be used as a junction box. Recommend a mini double breaker installed is the proper fix if no room permits an additional breaker..

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by dspencer

# 1 a solution.. No. The service box may not be used as a junction box.

Do you have a reference to support that statement?

[bkelly1]

Originally Posted by dspencer

# 1 a solution.. No. The service box may not be used as a junction box. Recommend a mini double breaker installed is the proper fix if no room permits an additional breaker..

Not in Tn, it is acceptable.. And I believe the nec allows it also.........

[brian winkle]

Originally Posted by dspencer

# 1 a solution.. No. The service box may not be used as a junction box. Recommend a mini double breaker installed is the proper fix if no room permits an additional breaker..

Dude you're way off base with that statement. Splicing is allowed in panels and limited only by conductor fill area. It's in the NEC. Also, many panels are not listed to support "mini twins" and the ones that are usually only allow a limited section of them, and are usually so small they are already full up on twins.