InterNACHI


Go Back   InterNACHI Inspection Forum > Specific Inspection Topics > Electrical Inspections

Notices

Electrical Inspections Contains discussions about electrical systems. This includes receptacles, panels, wiring, etc.

 
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 1/14/08, 6:32 PM
Rick Maday Rick Maday is offline
New User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 48
Please Note: Rick Maday is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Is this accurate?

I saw this in a local newspaper here. Here is a link to the entire article.
http://www.dailyherald.com/column/?id=106357

Here is an excerpt. The bold is mine, is that accurate?

"In determining when double-tapping is or is not acceptable for a particular circuit breaker, a simple rule of thumb is to check the design of the connecting hardware at the breaker. If the hardware is specifically shaped to accommodate two separate wires, as with Square D type QO breakers, then the connection is acceptable and should not be cited as double-tapping in a home inspection report. But if the connecting hardware is a simple screw or lug, it is reasonable to assume that the manufacturer of the breaker intended there to be one wire only at the connection. In that case, double-tapping would be the proper disclosure for a home inspector. The only way to connect two circuits to a single breaker in that instance would be by indirect means. The accepted method would be to connect a short wire (known as a "pigtail") to the breaker and to join the other end of that wire to the two circuit wires with an appropriate connector, such as a wire nut. "
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 1/14/08, 6:59 PM
cbuell's Avatar
cbuell cbuell is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Shorline, WA
Posts: 380
Please Note: cbuell is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Is this accurate?

sounds accurate
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 1/14/08, 7:03 PM
Larry D. Kage Larry D. Kage is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Lake Ann (Traverse City), MI
Posts: 8,847
Default Re: Is this accurate?

Quote:
Originally Posted by cbuell
sounds accurate
Yes, it does.



InterNachi Awards Portal: http://co.nachi.org/inachiawards/

____________________________________________
"An Education, not just an Inspection"

Larry Kage, CMI
Lake Ann (Traverse City), Michigan 49650
231 929 3525


Professional Inspector serving the Traverse City, Michigan area and beyond.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 1/14/08, 7:03 PM
Blaine Wiley Blaine Wiley is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Rotonda West, FL
Posts: 3,186
Send a message via MSN to bwiley
Default Re: Is this accurate?

Yes...



Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.
Abraham Lincoln



www.qualityhomeinspectionsfl.com
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 1/14/08, 7:06 PM
Rick Maday Rick Maday is offline
New User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 48
Please Note: Rick Maday is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Is this accurate?

Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 1/14/08, 7:08 PM
gbeaumont's Avatar
gbeaumont gbeaumont is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Clearwater, FL
Posts: 6,261
Send a message via AIM to gbeaumont Send a message via MSN to gbeaumont Send a message via Yahoo to gbeaumont
Default Re: Is this accurate?

Quote:
Originally Posted by bwiley
Yes...
Ditto, I hate seeing it but there is nothing against it.

Regards

Gerry



"To realize our true destiny, we must be guided not by a myth from our past, but by a vision of our future."
(Mark B Adams)

Commercial property Inspection Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Ft Launderdale, Miami, Florida.
NACHI cell 484-429-5466
NACHI02121106

Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 1/14/08, 7:08 PM
William J. Decker's Avatar
William J. Decker William J. Decker is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Skokie, IL
Posts: 7,785
Default Re: Is this accurate?

Yep.

Pigtails are acceptable, but there is also too much of a good thing. I have seen panels with 10 or 12 pigtails. In that case, it is close to the time that a new and larger panel be installed.

Some local municipalities (like Chicago and some surrounding towns) to not, by local code, allow double taps even if the breaker is designed for it. Chicago also does not allow mini breakers (two breakers on one lug) even if the manufacturer does.

Hope this helps;



Will Decker, CMI
ILL License # 450.0002240
Board Certified Master Inspector
Decker Home Services, LLC
Chicago and Northern Suburban Home Inspections
Office: (847) 676-8393
Cell: (847) 609-2345
Home: (847) 673-2702

wjd@DeckerHomeServices.com
www.DeckerHomeServices.com

Learn, Educate, Serve and have fun doing it!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 1/15/08, 12:05 AM
Rick Maday Rick Maday is offline
New User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 48
Please Note: Rick Maday is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Is this accurate?

Quote:
Originally Posted by wdecker
Yep.

Pigtails are acceptable, but there is also too much of a good thing. I have seen panels with 10 or 12 pigtails. In that case, it is close to the time that a new and larger panel be installed.
Thanks Will,

That was my concern when I read that, I was imagining a box full of pigtails!
Is there a reference for how many pigtails are allowed?

Quote:
Originally Posted by wdecker

Some local municipalities (like Chicago and some surrounding towns) to not, by local code, allow double taps even if the breaker is designed for it. Chicago also does not allow mini breakers (two breakers on one lug) even if the manufacturer does.

Hope this helps;
Is that through all of Cook County?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How accurate is your perception? mlarson Miscellaneous Discussion for Inspectors 0 7/17/07 11:11 AM
Type "missouri hb 978" into a Google search and see what comes up. gromicko Legislation, Licensing & Legal Issues for Inspectors 49 3/30/07 6:50 AM
How Long Does It Really Take To Sell Your Home? jburkeson1 General Inspection Discussion 1 2/13/07 6:02 AM
Are these message board numbers accurate? jeubank General Inspection Discussion 17 10/26/06 2:32 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 2:39 AM.


Popular Sections

:

All Sections

Inspection News

InterNACHI Membership

Inspection Standards

Inspection Education

InterNACHI Inspectors

Inspection Links

 

 

 

NACHI.ORG Statistics

 

 

no new posts