Good Morning Mentors; after my Mobile Homes nightmare?s week and following all your advices I decided to write my boss about my conclusion and recommendation. I have to do that in plain English (maybe from me in Spanglish LOL) because I am dealing with 7 handyman doing whatever they think is right. Please I appreciate your inputs and/or corrections as I planning to present it tomorrow using simple and kindergarten words. All those MH are permanent and many of the meter/pedestals were converted to junction boxes without the proper wiring and farther that 30? and other violations.
1) For all our Mobile Homes, regardless the age a disconnecting means with overcurrent protection MUST be provided on the outside and within 30 feet of the home. It can be the meter/breaker or pedestal/box with a breaker. It cannot be attached directly to the home and be not less than two (2) feet above finish grade.
2) The disconnect MUST contain a four-wire insulated conductors, including the EGC with green insulation, and the neutral (white) and grounding (green) MUST be bonded there and from there - not from the inside service panel - a #4 AWG Bare Solid Copper Grounding Wire (I prefer this AWG) to 2 grounding rods no less than 6? apart.
3) The four conductor, including the EGC insulated green ? not bare, from the outside disconnecting mean should be route to the inside service panel that will contains a main breaker. No other feeders, ONLY one (1)
4) In this service panel the neutral (white) and the grounding (green) MUST be separated AND a BONDING insulated* conductor MUST be installed from the service panel to the metal frame and in the case of a double-wide home, both sections must be bonded. (I don?t know if SER cable for the service can be use**)
5) I strongly recommend replacing Federal Pacific, Zinsco and Pushmatic (Bulldog) or any panel that shows distress and when doing so, Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) must be installing in all inside 15 & 20 amps circuits and GFICs where necessary.
6) Because mostly of the MHs we deal with are old models, we should consider testing and replacing all switches, receptacles and fixtures that are obsolete/damaged/week.
7) BEFORE any plumbing work, the worker MUST consult with an electrician, because serious or fatal electric shocks can result when removing water meters, or cutting through or disconnecting metallic water pipes on water services. There are numerous deaths by electrocution. Will explain in a separated issue.
8) AND all the work MUST be permitted and inspected by the AHJ in the area.
*Can used bare here?
**Can use SER?
1) For all our Mobile Homes, regardless the age a disconnecting means with overcurrent protection MUST be provided on the outside and within 30 feet of the home. It can be the meter/breaker or pedestal/box with a breaker. It cannot be attached directly to the home and be not less than two (2) feet above finish grade.
2) The disconnect MUST contain a four-wire insulated conductors, including the EGC with green insulation, and the neutral (white) and grounding (green) MUST be bonded there and from there - not from the inside service panel - a #4 AWG Bare Solid Copper Grounding Wire (I prefer this AWG) to 2 grounding rods no less than 6? apart.
3) The four conductor, including the EGC insulated green ? not bare, from the outside disconnecting mean should be route to the inside service panel that will contains a main breaker. No other feeders, ONLY one (1)
4) In this service panel the neutral (white) and the grounding (green) MUST be separated AND a BONDING insulated* conductor MUST be installed from the service panel to the metal frame and in the case of a double-wide home, both sections must be bonded. (I don?t know if SER cable for the service can be use**)
5) I strongly recommend replacing Federal Pacific, Zinsco and Pushmatic (Bulldog) or any panel that shows distress and when doing so, Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) must be installing in all inside 15 & 20 amps circuits and GFICs where necessary.
6) Because mostly of the MHs we deal with are old models, we should consider testing and replacing all switches, receptacles and fixtures that are obsolete/damaged/week.
7) BEFORE any plumbing work, the worker MUST consult with an electrician, because serious or fatal electric shocks can result when removing water meters, or cutting through or disconnecting metallic water pipes on water services. There are numerous deaths by electrocution. Will explain in a separated issue.
8) AND all the work MUST be permitted and inspected by the AHJ in the area.
*Can used bare here?
**Can use SER?