Zinsco panels--do you remove the covers from exterior panels?

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Remember....the less we focus on the make of the panel and more on the hazards that are involved in all panels we will be safer. If someone installs a brand new Cutler Hammer panel incorrectly we can have a serious hazard and that panel is brand new.

Educate yourselves on all types of panels, be ready for any you encounter and know that your training will lead the way in all cases.....so be ready and educated.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Alright McGyver, what is the roll of electrical tape for.?

No Zinscos around here, but curious Jeff.

As Bruce stated;

You put a strip of tape on the top edge of the dead-front cover. The cover, when in place, is only about 1/4 inch from the lugs of the main bus bars. The tape will help protect you against incidental contact while replacing the cover.

[Tim Spargo]

Funny this topic came up....saw a culprit today.

Note the small nubbed/arc'd area, could have been a "bump" . Unsure, most of the time the area where it arc'd should have looked worse. A little more burnt looking on the other side, pic didn't come out right.

I too, employ the tape method (in hand as a matter of fact) on the Zinsco's that don't seem to have a stop, most of them do. I'm usually a little more concerned about replacing the cover than when I remove them.

Tim

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Funny that no one has commented on this post (the dead man couldn't be here to post it for himself):

http://www.nachi.org/forum/f19/zinsc...07/#post540166

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

I'm not sure what there is to comment about on that post Joe. 99.9% of the panels in CA are exterior mounted. I know of no such panel that was ever "owned" by the power company. I have seen, and have removed covers from the exact panel he has pictured. With all due respect I'm not sure the author has all of the true facts, but rather, his own version of the facts.

I know of several people who have died while traversing a ladder, and many more who have been seriously injured - our own David Valley is a good example and Dale Duffy had a close call. These accidents are unfortunate, but that doesn't mean I'll stop accessing roof-tops from my ladder, it just means I need to use caution.

Each inspector should make their own determination of the risks involved with all aspects of our business, and shape their procedures accordingly.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

The jobs we do are in itself are a hazard. Every morning I wake up and step out that door into the world of Electricity I know it could be my last. No how much I do in the electrical world, how many people we help we fully understand our mortality. Everytime I get on a plane or dirve a car I know the risks involved.

I realy on good training, a sharp mind and practiced caution in my everyday life and this is what gets you by. I was asked in an interview I gave one time for a magazine this question " Paul, what is the number one killer of electricity" and my answer was simple...Complacency

com·pla·cen·cy 1 : self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies

So how do you decrease the risk......become more aware of what you are dealing with. Understand the methods to be used to safeguard your actions and know that the job you do is a dangerous task that requires skilled trained people like yourself to do it in order to safeguard the public who are not skilled at what you do.

This is why we bring "CODE" into alot of things even when HI's scream that they are not code guys...people like me are not trying to make anyone a "CODEIST". We are trying to help bridge understanding of the intent with the aspects of safety to merge them into what an HI should be, a vast bank of knowledge general to all safety related applications that could effect the homeowner....code establishes the foundation or the basis to build on knowledge.

If electrical issues are a weak point ( and being frightened of electricity is normal and means you wont get complacent) then define the weakness and devote time to understanding the weaknesses more than your strong points and they will in the end fully round the HI into what they should be.......VITAL to safeguarding the consumer.

[David Nasser]

Please include a picture...for Home Inspectors with a limited electrical background

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by dnasser

Please include a picture...for Home Inspectors with a limited electrical background

Here you go: http://www.gregoryinspectionsolution...inscoPanel.pdf

[Greg Keene]

Paul -
You are so right -
I have worked (as a novice) with electricity all my life - I wired my son's whole house when we were building it - I know a lot (not all!) - and I am scared every time I open a panel -

[Tom Horne]

This really is a question and not a gotcha. Are home inspectors not covered by the more recent OSHA restrictions on opening up live equipment? As an electrician I'm supposed to be wearing appropriate Arc Flash protective clothing when I'm opening energized panels If I'm working for a firm that is large enough to be covered by the rules.
--
Tom Horne

[relliott]

Originally Posted by Tom Horne

This really is a question and not a gotcha. Are home inspectors not covered by the more recent OSHA restrictions on opening up live equipment? As an electrician I'm supposed to be wearing appropriate Arc Flash protective clothing when I'm opening energized panels If I'm working for a firm that is large enough to be covered by the rules.
--
Tom Horne

Do you also wear a hardhat per
OSHA rules when climbing a ladder?

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by Tom Horne

This really is a question and not a gotcha. Are home inspectors not covered by the more recent OSHA restrictions on opening up live equipment? As an electrician I'm supposed to be wearing appropriate Arc Flash protective clothing when I'm opening energized panels If I'm working for a firm that is large enough to be covered by the rules.
--
Tom Horne

Most home inspectors are independent and do not work for a company as an employee. Therefore, we are not bound by OSHA regulations.

[Tom Horne]

Originally Posted by relliott

Do you also wear a hardhat per
OSHA rules when climbing a ladder?

Yes I do. In fact I wear a hard hat for the entire working day when I'm working with anyone but myself. I were safety glasses as a matter of course and because they have cheater lenses built into them to assist my forty eight year old eyes. My work shirts and pants are full length ignition resistant even though on hot days that just exchanges steam burns for direct radiant heat burns. What is the point of your question?

[Tom Horne]

That makes perfect sense for the rule angle but wouldn't it be a good idea to carry a protective coverall of ignition resistant material specifically for that task. There not terribly expensive and you don't need several sets. Just a thought YMMV.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Originally Posted by Tom Horne

This really is a question and not a gotcha. Are home inspectors not covered by the more recent OSHA restrictions on opening up live equipment? As an electrician I'm supposed to be wearing appropriate Arc Flash protective clothing when I'm opening energized panels If I'm working for a firm that is large enough to be covered by the rules.
--
Tom Horne

Tell Joe Hi for me Tom.....he misses me...

No, they are not bound by OSHA. However, It is always stressed to them to be as safe as possible as their life may depend on it.