The circuit breaker wiring confict!

[rmccullough]

Originally Posted by Russ J. Hensel

I was on a condo inspection the other day and found the following issue. I found a HVAC compressor without a heat pump with a 50 Amp breaker wired with #10 awg copper wiring. I stated in my report that the wiring was to small and was a safety issue and that an electrical contractor should evalaute and further evalaute and cure the situation.

The response from the contractor was that in this particualr case, this was acceptable given that it was a motor and peak power...blah blah blah....Is any of this right? I think I was getting some smoke up the keister because if this is the case in the 725 condo's then he is gonna have some splaining to do Lucy.........Just need to know if that in ANY case is a 50 amp breaker allowed and safe with a #10 AWG copper wire? Thanks!

Ask him for the SIGNED OFF permit from the Building Dept. or State Electrical Dept. and then call them yourself and ask what they have to say about it. In YOUR DEPT, Is a 50 amp breaker, 10 gauge wire ok in your book? Simple and to the point.

I WOULD and have many times over, written it up as a safety issue.

[Speedy Petey]

Originally Posted by rmccullough

Ask him for the SIGNED OFF permit from the Building Dept. or State Electrical Dept. and then call them yourself and ask what they have to say about it.

They will say the installation IS compliant.

Originally Posted by rmccullough

In YOUR DEPT, Is a 50 amp breaker, 10 gauge wire ok in your book? Simple and to the point.

In who's dept?? In the "dept" of ANY licensed electrician or electrical inspector it is most certainly OK, as has been stated many times in this thread.
Because you persoanlly feel it is not "OK" you cannot write it up as "unsafe", simply becasue you do not know all the aspects of the codes for the things you are inspecting.

Originally Posted by rmccullough

I WOULD and have many times over, written it up as a safety issue.

See above reply.
This is an incorrect and unfair action directed at the installer.