Small gray box with double-tapped wires: what is it?

[Frank L. Bartlo]

Attached are photos from service panels that had small gray boxes -- one of which had a green LED -- attached to the service panel, and double-tapped to two breakers. What is this? Is it supposed to be double-tapped? One of the panels was a recent installation, approved by the city.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by fbartlo

Attached are photos from service panels that had small gray boxes -- one of which had a green LED -- attached to the service panel, and double-tapped to two breakers. What is this? Is it supposed to be double-tapped? One of the panels was a recent installation, approved by the city.

No it should not be double tapped .
Easy fix pig tail it to one wire to breaker .
I do not know what the box is but suspect it could be some sort of a filter to take spikes out of the lines to offer some computer protection .
Have seen some smooth sales people who can sell these things some work better then others .
Roy Cooke

[smcarthur]

Looks like surge supressor.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by smcarthur

Looks like surge supressor.

Yep, and the double taps should be corrected.

[Frank L. Bartlo]

Thanks. I figured the double-taps were improper. Surge protectors make sense.

BTW, what are the best relatively inexpensive surge protectors? My computer and audio equipment are hooked up to Dataguard "surge-protecting" power strips. Is such a thing really very effective? At least it's not been proven ineffective during my use ...

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by fbartlo

Thanks. I figured the double-taps were improper. Surge protectors make sense.

BTW, what are the best relatively inexpensive surge protectors? My computer and audio equipment are hooked up to Dataguard "surge-protecting" power strips. Is such a thing really very effective? At least it's not been proven ineffective during my use ...

Expensive computer much information you need .
Cheap Protection is like a cheap inspection not much good .
My openion ,others may agree.
Roy Cooke

[smcarthur]

All surge suppressors should be replaced after a few years. They use MOVs (Metal Oxide Varistors) and some of the MOVs burn up with every surge that they control, therefore, after a period of time the surges render them relatively useless. So, if you plug your new computer into that 10 year old surge strip, you are probably not protected.

[Pierre Belarge]

I notice that "double taps" are a large part of discussion on this site.

There are circuit breakers installed today and in the past that do permit the installation of more than one conductor. So one cannot randomly say the double tapping is not permitted. The NEC permits double tapping if the manufacturer does, so before you write this up, you should investigate fully first.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by Pierre Belarge

I notice that "double taps" are a large part of discussion on this site.

There are circuit breakers installed today and in the past that do permit the installation of more than one conductor. So one cannot randomly say the double tapping is not permitted. The NEC permits double tapping if the manufacturer does, so before you write this up, you should investigate fully first.

Welcome aboard . It is obvious you have not been reading for avile . Yes you are correct there are some Breakers Sqare D is the manufacture .
But to use two wires they must be same size and type and also on oppisite side of the screw.
Glad you are able to visit and learn . Come again
Roy Cooke

[Larry D. Kage]

For example:

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by lkage

For example:

Great picture of a sq.D. luge where the wires go thanks Larry .

Roy Cooke

[Speedy Petey]

Originally Posted by rcooke

Yes you are correct there are some Breakers Sqare D is the manufacture ....
Glad you are able to visit and learn .

Roy, first off, Sq D is not the only one who permits this. Many of C-H's CH series breakers allow it, as well as others I'm sure.

Also, I truly don't mean to speak for him, and I know we can all learn something, but I seriously doubt there is much you are going to teach Pierre with regard to the electrical field/trade.

[smcarthur]

Originally Posted by Pierre Belarge

I notice that "double taps" are a large part of discussion on this site.

There are circuit breakers installed today and in the past that do permit the installation of more than one conductor. So one cannot randomly say the double tapping is not permitted. The NEC permits double tapping if the manufacturer does, so before you write this up, you should investigate fully first.

I agree with your post concerning double lugging, but how is a home inspector to know which of the many breakers allow 2 wires per terminal? Would it be correct to not note double lugging in your report? Should breakers be labeled as to the number of wire they will accept? It has been established here that some Square D breakers will accept 2 wire of the same size, but are there others? Who has the time and resources to research all the different manufacturers to determine the number of wire their breakers will accept?
I'm still in the learning stage of Home Inspection and it's important to me to give customers all the information they need.
So, what is the concensus here? How do you report double lugged breakers?

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by smcarthur

I agree with your post concerning double lugging, but how is a home inspector to know which of the many breakers allow 2 wires per terminal? Would it be correct to not note double lugging in your report? Should breakers be labeled as to the number of wire they will accept? It has been established here that some Square D breakers will accept 2 wire of the same size, but are there others? Who has the time and resources to research all the different manufacturers to determine the number of wire their breakers will accept?
I'm still in the learning stage of Home Inspection and it's important to me to give customers all the information they need.
So, what is the concensus here? How do you report double lugged breakers?

Too simple read here and read previous posts .
There has been much great information posted .
I only know of Sq D being approved for double taps .
Roy Cooke

[Speedy Petey]

Originally Posted by rcooke

Too simple read here and read previous posts .
There has been much great information posted .
I only know of Sq D being approved for double taps .
Roy Cooke

So are you saying this is the only place to get this information? Because Sq D is the only one you know of that means there are no others?

From a H-I standpoint I'd say report it as a "possible" violation or problem. Although it has been established that it is a very minor issue.