2020 classes

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Due to Covid-19, we are suspending continuing education and exam prep classes until the social distancing and recommended mask guidelines are lifted. We will send an email when we are able update our class schedule. If you are not currently on our email list, please go to our website www.electricalcodeconnection.com and click on the contact tab to let us know that you would like to be notified when registration begins.

The State has reduced the number of continuing education hours you need to renew your license from 14 to 11 effective July 1, 2020.

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Emergency Branch circuits Multi-wire 700.19 2014 Code Change

700.19 Multiwire Branch Circuits The branch circuit serving emergency lighting and power circuits shall not be part of a multiwire branch circuit.

This is a Code change from the “2014” NEC that came up this week at work.  Multiwire branch circuits are no longer allowed for “Emergency Circuits”.  Reason behind this change follows what was done in the 2011 Code for Hospital circuits in sections 517.18(A) and 517.19(A).  This allows for a ground fault, short circuit, or an overload to occur without tripping a two pole or three pole circuit breaker which would take out other essential loads.  Only individual branch circuits will be allowed. 

For example reliability is certainly decreased when a short in a 277 volt lighting ballast takes out the other two poles of a three pole circuit breaker, knocking out the remaining 2/3 of the lighting.  With this requirement only the 1/3 of the lighting on the affected pole is out, leaving 2/3 of the lighting in operation when using individual branch circuits.  Makes sense!


Till next time be safe wear your mask.

Jake

PS Nice picture of box fill. Yeah we need to add dimmers!!!


box fill



Continue ReadingEmergency Branch circuits Multi-wire 700.19 2014 Code Change

Picture of the week 3/29/20

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We are all just in the holding pattern with this virus running around.  The class that I was just teaching had to be delayed due to the virus and the fact that the test sites are shut down.  So we sit and wait until we get the all clear message from the government, so we can go back to normal life.  Not sure we will ever get back to normal life. 

So this not so normal picture was sent to me this week by Glenn from Pt. St. Lucie.  The guys from class will appreciate this we just went over box fill about two weeks ago. 

box fill

It must have been a chore to get the switches in the box.  How many wires can you get in a box?

Till next time be safe work safe and maintain 6’ of space from the people around you.


Jake

Continue ReadingPicture of the week 3/29/20

Not a CODE CHANGE Using the color Orange in other than a high leg situation.

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Got a call from a local contractor and he told me that the inspector just turned him down for using Orange as a switch leg to a switched outlet.  I asked him what the reason was and he said the inspector told him that Orange could only be used for a high leg circuit.  I’m not sure where he got his information but I am unaware of this section in the Code book.  If anyone out there knows why it can only be used for the color of a high leg please send me an email.  Service was single phase in a residence.

I told the contractor to ask which section regulated this and will update you in the future.

Some great pictures from around the trade.

6-0 wire

Must be a new size Grounding Electrode Conductor.

Continue ReadingNot a CODE CHANGE Using the color Orange in other than a high leg situation.

250.122(G) Sizing Equipment Grounds for Feeder Taps “NOT A CODE CHANGE”

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Got a call from a contractor stating that the inspector was requiring him to size an equipment ground in a feeder tap based on the feeder main and not the size of tapped main he was installing.  The inspector was correct that the equipment grounds installed with the feeder taps would have to be sized based on the feeder main and not the taps main.  This will only apply when a wire type equipment ground is installed, if you are using metal nipples as the equipment ground then this section does not apply.  In the picture that I used the nipples are metal because I could not find a picture with PVC nipples,  So if these nipples were PVC then the equipment grounds installed would have to be based on this section.  The last part of this section tells us that the equipment ground will not have to be larger than the tap conductors.

image

If you can not see the whole picture just click on it.

Got a question email me @ jleccemail@hotmail.com

Till next time be safe work safe.

Jake

Continue Reading250.122(G) Sizing Equipment Grounds for Feeder Taps “NOT A CODE CHANGE”

Picture of the Week 11/30/2019

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This one was sent to me by my son Aaron.  He thought that I would like it, he was right!  I’ll never be able to look at a Safety Pin the same way again.  I’m not sure what they were feeding, but it is a different way of connecting loads to a branch circuit.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.

8129429787290919971

Till next time be safe work safe.

Jake

Continue ReadingPicture of the Week 11/30/2019

2017 NEC CODE CHANGE 422.16(B)(2,6) FLEXIBLE CORDS FOR DISHWASHERS, AND TRASH COMPACTORS

A Code change that makes what we have been doing for a long time legal.  The Code changed the maximum length of the cord we put on a dishwasher from 4’ to 6.5’. I think from the 70s to today most have used a 6’ cord if not longer to hook up the dishwasher.

A new change also restricts the location of the receptacle outlet to a space adjacent to the dishwasher, no longer allowing it to be placed behind the unit.  Although I never put an outlet behind the dishwasher it was allowed.

image

As always if you don’t see the whole picture just click on it.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

Continue Reading2017 NEC CODE CHANGE 422.16(B)(2,6) FLEXIBLE CORDS FOR DISHWASHERS, AND TRASH COMPACTORS

2017 CODE CHANGE TAMPER RESISTANT RECEPTACLES 406.12

This section has been expanded to more commercial areas and mobile homes in the 2017 Code.  This section 406.12 now covers more commercial areas where these types of receptacles are needed. They figured out that children not only get hurt in the home, they can get hurt at the airport, in the doctors office, and in mobile homes. 

This is a 2017 CODE change and it will not go into use until January of 2021.

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Till next time be safe work safe.

Jake

Continue Reading2017 CODE CHANGE TAMPER RESISTANT RECEPTACLES 406.12