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 6/23/09, 12:46 PM
wstafford's Avatar
wstafford wstafford is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Holly Ridge, NC
Posts: 8
Default double tapped with wire nuts

I found a 20 amp breaker with a single 12ga. wire about 4 inches long connected to two 14ga. wires with wire nuts branching out to their individual circuits. Any feedback? Thanks



Will R. Stafford

Promised Land Construction & Home Inspection

Home Inspector from Wilmington to Jacksonville NC and surrounding areas.

www.plchomeinspection.com

Jacksonville Home Inspector
Wilmington Home Inspector
Reply With Quote
Find an InterNACHI certified Nebraska Home Inspector (and anywhere else in North America)
  #2  
Old 6/23/09, 1:10 PM
James F. McKee's Avatar
James F. McKee James F. McKee is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Amherst, Oh
Posts: 5,393
Default Re: double tapped with wire nuts

Quote:
Originally Posted by wstafford View Post
I found a 20 amp breaker with a single 12ga. wire about 4 inches long connected to two 14ga. wires with wire nuts branching out to their individual circuits. Any feedback? Thanks

that should be a 15 amp breaker Will....imo



Classic Home inspections

Jim Mckee
Amherst, Ohio

www.amhersthomeinspector.com
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 6/23/09, 1:14 PM
Jeffrey R. Pope's Avatar
Jeffrey R. Pope Jeffrey R. Pope is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Posts: 7,760
Default Re: double tapped with wire nuts

That would not be considered a "double tap," in fact, if the breaker was sized appropriately (which it is not), it's perfectly acceptable.



IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ®
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
Santa Clarita CA
(661) 212-0738
Santa Clarita Home Inspection
http://www.MyInspector.net


Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 6/23/09, 2:00 PM
rmaday's Avatar
rmaday rmaday is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Itasca, IL
Posts: 5,197
Please Note: rmaday is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: double tapped with wire nuts

Quote:
Originally Posted by jpope View Post
That would not be considered a "double tap," in fact, if the breaker was sized appropriately (which it is not), it's perfectly acceptable.
It would be considered a "pig-tail".
And like Jeff sadi, it's fine (provided the breaker is right szie)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 6/23/09, 2:43 PM
Joe Farsetta's Avatar
Joe Farsetta Joe Farsetta is offline
ESOP Committee Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Pearl River, NY
Posts: 4,107
Default Re: double tapped with wire nuts

Correct-a-mundo
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 6/23/09, 3:51 PM
wstafford's Avatar
wstafford wstafford is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Holly Ridge, NC
Posts: 8
Default Re: double tapped with wire nuts

Thanks guys



Will R. Stafford

Promised Land Construction & Home Inspection

Home Inspector from Wilmington to Jacksonville NC and surrounding areas.

www.plchomeinspection.com

Jacksonville Home Inspector
Wilmington Home Inspector
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 6/23/09, 11:36 PM
Paul W. Abernathy's Avatar
Paul W. Abernathy Paul W. Abernathy is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Spotsylvania, VA
Posts: 8,047
Send a message via AIM to pabernathy Send a message via MSN to pabernathy Send a message via Skype™ to pabernathy
Default Re: double tapped with wire nuts

Quote:
Originally Posted by wstafford View Post
I found a 20 amp breaker with a single 12ga. wire about 4 inches long connected to two 14ga. wires with wire nuts branching out to their individual circuits. Any feedback? Thanks
Agreed it is not a double tap....However, lets not over look the fact it is (2) 14 awgs technically on a 20A breaker with no additional details. so if you are asking if it is a double tap...no...if you are asking if the method of installation is correct in your example....NO.......as others have said recommend to them to change the 20A breaker to a 15A breaker.

So the real issue here is not the pigtail....it is what the pigtail connects to



Paul W. Abernathy,CMI,CPI,CME
National Electrical Code Expert
Electrical & Fire Protection Systems Code Supervisor- Alexandria,VA
Weekly Live Radio Show :http://en.1000mikes.com/show/the_electrical_guru
Weekly Chat on Wednesdays -7:30 PM E.S.T
* Get my 13 hour commentary audio CD for the book "How to Perform Electrical Inspections"

2007 InterNACHI Member of the Year
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 6/24/09, 10:02 AM
Frank P. Newman Frank P. Newman is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Dublin, GA
Posts: 668
Default Re: double tapped with wire nuts

This is a method some people use to get around the fact that the breaker allows only one conductor. The concept i sperfectly legal. However, the comments about the breaker size are, of course, correct.



Frank P. Newman
Emerald City Inspections, LLC
Dublin, GA
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
"UFER" Ground? see last paragraph. jtedesco1 Electrical Inspections 19 8/23/11 4:56 PM
Double tapped breaker shand General Inspection Discussion 9 6/7/09 2:50 PM
What's this video worth? jtedesco1 Inspection Education & Training 5 4/18/08 10:24 AM
Nice Report on AL Wire Terminations - Enjoy pabernathy Electrical Inspections 0 7/2/07 1:35 PM
Double Tapped Breaker tjohnson3 Electrical Inspections 8 4/20/07 10:04 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:01 PM.


Popular Sections

:

All Sections

Inspection News

InterNACHI Membership

Inspection Standards

Inspection Education

InterNACHI Inspectors

Inspection Links

 

 

 

NACHI.ORG Statistics

 

 

no new posts