A Word from Jake

Article 100 Definitions: Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible).

A notation was added to this definition to allow a key to be used to gain access to electrical equipment.  Whether if it is a room or a enclosure, the equipment is still considered a readily accessible if you need a key.  We used to fight over the definition all the time and I always had a scenario that would help in understanding this definition.  My scenario was that when you left for work this morning did you lock the doors in your house, if so according to some, your circuit breakers in your panel are not readily accessible.  So the use of a key to gain access to a room, a generator, or some other type of electrical equipment or enclosure is ok.

I’ve seen generators like the one pictured below with a disconnect next to it because the breaker inside was not readily accessible.

Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to take actions such as to use tools (other than keys), to climb over or under, to remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.

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Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

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2017 NEC CODE CHAGES AND ADDITIONS

I was asked to start doing my Code changes again since we are not having any continuing education classes this year.  We will start at the beginning of the Code and work our way through the book.  If you see something I’ve missed please let me know and I will add it to my list of changes.

The first one we will look at is 110.3(C) which talks about product listings and who can perform these listings.   Below you will see the list of testing labs that I know of, and I’m sure that there may be some that I’ve missed,  if you know of any please let me know. 

So based on this section the letter from your Engineer will not be be acceptable.

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Can’t see the whole picture just click on it.

Have any question please email me at jleccemail@hotmail.com

Till the next time be safe work safe

Jake

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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



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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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