As an inspector & not an electrician...

[David C. Macy]

As an home inspector & not an electrician how would you report the following.
(What I mean is in the eyes of a home inspector would you report on the mentioned issues) (as an electrician I would think you would consider a sloppy install)

The romex above the panel. Would you recommend securing or not report about this.

The grounds being intertwined together. Should they be individualy connected to the ground bar.

The bare aluminum wire has been cut to fit the lug at the top left of the panel.

This is a sub panel not the main.

Any other issues you would report on?

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

When I (a home inspector) see "crap" like this, I defer the whole mess, rather than try to list each visible defect.

The panel and its components have been improperly and unprofessionally installed and/or modified, and should be repaired by a qualified electrician.

[Speedy Petey]

If this is a sub-panel what is that bare wire out the bottom for???

[rcooke]

Originally Posted by dmacy

As an home inspector & not an electrician how would you report the following.
(What I mean is in the eyes of a home inspector would you report on the mentioned issues) (as an electrician I would think you would consider a sloppy install)

The romex above the panel. Would you recommend securing or not report about this.
I do not think I would say any thing on this ...
The grounds being intertwined together. Should they be individualy connected to the ground bar.
.I feel the grounds need a mechanical joint A wing nut or split bolt..
The bare aluminum wire has been cut to fit the lug at the top left of the panel.
..Yes this is not good.
This is a sub panel not the main.

Any other issues you would report on?

I would say what I see that needs correction and recommend they get an electrician to repair as required immediately.
I expect you saw other things in the Home, plates missing, GFCIs required Covers missing ect.



..... Cookie

[Jim Port]

I don't think that the ground has been cut. It looks like it was previously terminated in a lug and retains the shape of the set screw. Also notice the compound around the depressed area.

The individual branch circuit ground must be terminated to the buss. Most buss bars will accept 2, of the same size, terminated in 1 hole.

[David P. Valley]

David,

Nice catch.

Like Jeff P. stated....Defer the entire panel to a licensed Electrician.

You've got too many issues here. It appears that the Electrician was smoking some good stuff during this installation.

[David C. Macy]

Thanks for the replies.

Since this is an educational forum would someone care to enlighten me with being specific on the violations with this panel. Are there any safety concerns or are these NEC specific violations.

As Speedy mentioned why is there a ground wire at the bottom of the sub panel. Shouldnt this be attached at the main.

Speaking of the main. I didnt take off this cover by the meter as it was shared with another unit. Maybe I should have. Would you?

[Greg Fretwell]

He didn't say but if this is a sub in a detached building it would need another ground electrode system ... or this could just be bonding pipes.
As for the combined grounds, the only real violation is they are not joined with a listed splicing method. There is nothing that says you need to take all EGCs back to the grounding bus. In fact, as long as the conductor is sized to the largest O/C device served, they can all come back on one wire. The exception to that is the swimming pool underwater light. (EGC must be insulated and unspliced)
They should have secured the Romex at the top of the panel tho.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by dmacy

Speaking of the main. I didnt take off this cover by the meter as it was shared with another unit. Maybe I should have. Would you?

That cover should not be removed by a Home Inspector. Not because it's "shared," but because it's part of the lateral and meter base.

[Paul Dickerson]

Originally Posted by jpope

That cover should not be removed by a Home Inspector. Not because it's "shared," but because it's part of the lateral and meter base.

Are you sure about that, Jeff? I inspect panels that look like this one, and the right half of the panel contains the servivce disconnects. This looks like one of those.

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by Speedy Petey

If this is a sub-panel what is that bare wire out the bottom for???

You are the Sparky, Petey. You explain it.

We are just lowly HIs, and our job is to generate work for your kind

[William E. Siegel]

Jeff,

I agree with Paul on that one.

[Speedy Petey]

Originally Posted by wdecker

You are the Sparky, Petey. You explain it.

We are just lowly HIs, and our job is to generate work for your kind

It was an honest question. I obviously can't see where it goes. Maybe it goes to a ground rod that is not needed in this case.
MOST DIYers think a ground rod is needed at ANY sub-panel.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by pdickerson

Are you sure about that, Jeff? I inspect panels that look like this one, and the right half of the panel contains the servivce disconnects. This looks like one of those.

To me, it looks like the right half is the lateral gutter, where there would be nothing other than spliced conductors. The disconnects appear to be beneath each meter.

If there are breakers and a dead-front in the right side, by all means, remove the cover, but that's not how it looks from my perspective. . .

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by jpope

To me, it looks like the right half is the lateral gutter, where there would be nothing other than spliced conductors. The disconnects appear to be beneath each meter.

Yeap...they sure are.........