What would you do?

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by gbeaumont

LOL, sorry Mike, just couldn't resist

BTW there is obviously a problem eilther with the way the outlet is wired or a grounding problem in the appliance.

Regards

Gerry

Close Gerry. Very close.

BTW-I cleaned my fingernails

You win the next clue.

[Gerry Beaumont]

HI Mike

I see your reversed polarity and raise you one false ground, do I win yet??

Regards

Gerry

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by gbeaumont

HI Mike

I see your reversed polarity and raise you one false ground, do I win yet??

Regards

Gerry

You're well along the way to solving the case detective Beaumont.

They plugged the three prong refer into the cheater and then the 2-wire extension cord and into the reverse polarity outlet.

I didn't measure the available fault current on the refrigerator but I bet it was high. I would want to touch that fridge standing on the carpet which is on a grade slab.

What did I do next?

Or what would you do?

[Gerry Beaumont]

Originally Posted by mlarson

Or what would you do?

Run , or unplug the extension cord

Regards

gerry

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by mlarson

What did I do next?

Get a drink straight from the faucet while holding onto the fridge?

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by gbeaumont

Run , or unplug the extension cord

Regards

gerry

Well I was alone at the inspection and there were items in the fridge.

House was under contract and staged but no one living there.

[Gerry Beaumont]

Originally Posted by mlarson

Well I was alone at the inspection and there were items in the fridge.

House was under contract and staged but no one living there.

well if I were being really kind (which generaly I'm not) I might have just plugged the extension cord into a properly wired outlet. MAYBE

Gerry

[brian winkle]

You cannot assume there is voltage present on the refrigerator just from your NC tester. There are many instances where an NC tester will sound off when there is no voltage present. Try it sometime on a metal light fixture connected to a two wire system. Or just holding it close to a two wire, ungrounded receptacle.

Once you get the ring from your NC tester, the next step would be to pull out an analog tester, bring in a known ground, and check for voltage.

Of course I know this is not in the scope of an inspection, so the next step might involve a sparky. Even if the fridge cabinet is not energized, the metal appliances plugged into a two wire system should be addressed.

[Michael Roberson]

First I would run around on the carpet in my socks, and see if I can ground myself to the fridge.

Then I would show them this picture, and remind them never to plug anything bigger than a lamp into an extension cord.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by brian winkle

You cannot assume there is voltage present on the refrigerator just from your NC tester. There are many instances where an NC tester will sound off when there is no voltage present. Try it sometime on a metal light fixture connected to a two wire system. Or just holding it close to a two wire, ungrounded receptacle.

That is correct.

What I decided to do was this.

I didn't have my meter with me and I not wanting to leave this potentially hazardous situation the way it was.

I removed the 2-wire cheater and 2-wire cord and pulled the refrigerator fridge out far enough to plug it in normally.

This was the result.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Your the MAN Micheal ! I bet you kept the cheater didn't you. come on now we know you did. Put it the old tool pouch thinking i can use that someday . lololol

[Michael R. Boyett]

When Texas adopted a new SOP in Feb of this year many of us scoffed at the new requirement to "Report as deficient...appliances and metal pipes that
are not bonded or grounded". I have found two range hoods and one dishwasher in the last 3 months that were not bonded and grounded. My inspection protocol for this has added about 2-3 minutes to my inspection time.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by wwilson3

Your the MAN Micheal ! I bet you kept the cheater didn't you. come on now we know you did. Put it the old tool pouch thinking i can use that someday . lololol

Nope

I coiled it up and put it under the bar.

[George P. Wells]

Originally Posted by mlarson

I didn't measure the available fault current on the refrigerator but I bet it was high.

The safe thing to do would be to assume that the AFC is 10kA at all points in a house.

It would be difficult to determine the AFC at the refrigerator because you would need to know the kVA rating and impedance (Z%) of the transformer, and the combined impedance of service conductors and branch circuit conductors to determine the available fault current.

With rare exceptions, residential systems are approximately 10k AFC measured at the transformer bushings. The AFC will be less at the refrigerator because of the added impedance of the conductors between the transformer and the refrigerator.

Electric utility companies are often required to ensure an AFC of 10kA or less for residential single phase services because most residential electrical equipment is rated for 10k AFC.

[Michael Larson]

George. I meant to say leakage current not fault current. Thanks.