Electrical

Though the Five Monkey Experiment was not an actual experiment ever conducted, the thought experiment can remind us of some of our natural behavior to “go with the flow”. As you go through training, learning and growing becoming a home inspector, never forget to verify conclusions, do your own research, and simply ask why. Don’t get into the mindset of “This is the way we do it because it is the way it’s always been done”. That doesn’t mean to climb the ladder yourself and potentially get sprayed with water, It means asking your fellow monkeys “Why don’t we climb that ladder?” If a good, sound, logical answer is not given, then do some additional research, ask other monkeys not in your cage, conduct experiments to test the validity of your current conclusions, and potentially you might find yourself with a bunch of bananas, but be cautious and be prepared to get yourself wet.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Report on – Repairing Aluminum Wiring

Official CPSC guidance on hazards and recommended repairs for aluminum branch-circuit wiring. Essential background for understanding when repairs are needed and how they should be performed.

Cover of CPSC aluminum wiring repair report

Square D – Blue AFCI Breakers Recall

Reference material on the Square D blue AFCI breaker recall. Useful for recognizing recalled breakers in panels and understanding the recall scope.

You can also see the official CPSC recall notice:

CPSC Recall Notice of Square D – AFCI blue button breakers

Square D blue AFCI breaker recall PDF cover

CPSC recall page for Square D AFCI breakers

Overhead Service Conductors Near Pool – From the NEC

Short Version of a long story –

Went head to head with the electric company over a service conductor near a pool. Using the Pythagorean Theorem I determined the overhead service conductor was less than 22.5 feet from the nearest edge of the water.

Proof – The conductor was 10.5 feet high, and 11 feet from the edge of the water surface. (10.5×10.5) + (11×11) = (15.2×15.20)

SEC or service drop was 15.20 ft from the water. Looking at the chart to the left – clearance from the water (A) and no platform and no diving board (so B doesn’t apply), so we need 22.5 ft clearance right? … Wrong. The cable was 11 feet horizontal away from the pool edge (C) which is greater than 10 feet, so service conductor clearance falls into normal clearances for pedestrians in this case, so 10 feet – which it was.

Luckily I was not abrasive and the whole ordeal went smoothly with no hurt feelings, just a hurt pride/ego.

Moral of the story – You may know the code but to understand it can be another realm. Always be prepared to be schooled. Learn from it and pass it along.

Reference – NEC 2011

Bonding Jetted Tubs – NEC 680.74

NEC 680.74 covers bonding requirements for hydromassage bathtubs and similar jetted tubs. The goal is to ensure all non–current-carrying metal parts are bonded together and to the equipment grounding conductor.