Ungrounded Distribution Panel

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

This was quite a "miss." Not only did the city inspector miss it, this panel had been inspected several times for resale of the property. The current owners were completely unaware of the condition.

The panel is not even equipped with a grounding terminal that would fit the EGC from the service equipment.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Awesome... send that to Paul. I'm sure he would get a 'kick' out of it!

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by jpope

The panel is not even equipped with a grounding terminal that would fit the EGC from the service equipment.

That's probably the reason why it wasn't terminated, someone would get back to it later.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by Robert Meier

That's probably the reason why it wasn't terminated, someone would get back to it later.

That was my thought as well... I wonder how many more were like that. This was a townhouse community.

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by jpope

That was my thought as well... I wonder how many more were like that. This was a townhouse community.

Ouch. Could be a big problem. Doesn't say much about all of the inspectors that came along before you. Nice job.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by jpope

That was my thought as well... I wonder how many more were like that. This was a townhouse community.

Marketing oppourtunity!

[An HI]

Originally Posted by jpope

This was quite a "miss." Not only did the city inspector miss it, this panel had been inspected several times for resale of the property. The current owners were completely unaware of the condition.

The panel is not even equipped with a grounding terminal that would fit the EGC from the service equipment.

Are they not using anti-oxidant paste with aluminum wire in your neck of the woods?

[Jim Port]

Originally Posted by An HI

Are they not using anti-oxidant paste with aluminum wire in your neck of the woods?

Maybe if they were going to use it they were going to install it when the lug was installed. BTW, there is no requirement for its use, unless called for by the manufacturer. I have never seen a roll of wire with any instructions.

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by Jim Port

Maybe if they were going to use it they were going to install it when the lug was installed. BTW, there is no requirement for its use, unless called for by the manufacturer. I have never seen a roll of wire with any instructions.

I agree, and have heard numerous times that it's required because the conductors are aluminum. I've yet to come across any lug that said you must use it with aluminum conductors.

[An HI]

Originally Posted by Robert Meier

I agree, and have heard numerous times that it's required because the conductors are aluminum. I've yet to come across any lug that said you must use it with aluminum conductors.

The oxidation that forms on the exterior of bare aluminum is resistant to current flow (while on copper, it is conductive)


http://www.inspectapedia.com/aluminum/alreduce.pdf
See Page 4.

Anti-oxident paste is required on aluminum wire by the AHJ in my area.

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by An HI

The oxidation that forms on the exterior of bare aluminum is resistant to current flow (while on copper, it is conductive)


http://www.inspectapedia.com/aluminum/alreduce.pdf
See Page 4.

Anti-oxident paste is required on aluminum wire by the AHJ in my area.

Your link didn't work.

This is an old debate. IMO using the paste is a good idea but the notion that it's required is false. A local code would be a different issue altogether. Every terminal that I've seen that was listed for use with aluminum conductors said nothing about the required use of anti-oxidant paste. If I had to guess I would say that as part of the product's listing it's required to be manufactured for use without the anti-ox.

[An HI]

Originally Posted by Robert Meier

Your link didn't work.

Just worked for myself.

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by An HI

Just worked for myself.

I tried it just now and it worked.

Great article.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Did not work for me earlier either ... Roy

[Robert J. OConnor]

That InspectApedia article primarily discusses older aluminum wire from the 1960's (called "old technology" wire) which was made differently than current AA-8000 series aluminum wire that doesn't need anti-oxident paste at connections ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminum_wire