Dissimilar Metals PICS Attached

[Bernard1599]

There are many references in the NEC regarding dissimilar metals. To name a few: 110.14, 342.14, 344.14, 358.12, 250.70, etc.

Who would you say had the most responsibility for the debacle shown in the attached pictures? The plumber for installing dissimilar piping (copper to steel) or the EC for connecting the GEC at that point or the EI for passing it? What is your opinion?

Regards,
Bernard

 

[hurk27]

That looks more like a water leakage problem then a dissimilar metal problem, by the way the calcium has built up flowing down the pipe running into the PVC in the floor, it looks like this has been leaking for some time, generally I have never seen a problem using brass/copper pipe clamps on steel pipes, even the clamps come with steel screws and are UL listed that way, I'm not a plumber but I have seen many times having copper to steel pipe connections and some like the ones in my house are over 30 years old, and are still clean, but I have seen copper to copper connection look like that but it was because of the joint leaking, not galvanic action.

Did you notice there is no green coloring to the corrosion? which would be a tell tale sine of galvanic action.

 

[K8MHZ]

I agree with Hurk.

The white stuff looks like some kind of mineral deposit. I'll bet if that wasn't leaking it wouldn't look any worse than anything else installed in that same time frame.

 

[Jacob S]

I agree, that definitely looks like calcium, not galvanic action.

 

[sameguy]

Not an electrical problem.

 

[jimthesparks]

I see one electrical problem, the back side of the clamp is on backwards.

 

[K8MHZ]

I see one electrical problem, the back side of the clamp is on backwards.

Good catch!

Actually, it looks like the reason is that the clamp is too big for the pipe. Since the size should be stamped on the clamp, using it outside that range would be a violation, no?

 

[John Arendt]

That 'clamp may be to large' statement may be incorrect. There are similar clamps to the one in the pic that cover multiple pipe sizes, and may be installed as in the pic on 'small' diameter pipe within the clamps listing range.

 

[K8MHZ]

That 'clamp may be to large' statement may be incorrect. There are similar clamps to the one in the pic that cover multiple pipe sizes, and may be installed as in the pic on 'small' diameter pipe within the clamps listing range.

Hard to say for sure, but since the part that is on correctly extends just a bit past the center of the pipe, I am thinking that, if installed correctly, it wouldn't tighten down on the pipe. What other reason would there be for the incorrect installation? It wasn't just a goof, because in order to make the contraption work they had to get longer screws and discard the ones that came with the clamp.

 

[Strife]

Quite true.
The 1/2" clamp is good for 1/2", 3/4" and 1". The only way it'll stay tight around a half inch is by turning the backside around.

That 'clamp may be to large' statement may be incorrect. There are similar clamps to the one in the pic that cover multiple pipe sizes, and may be installed as in the pic on 'small' diameter pipe within the clamps listing range.

 

[Sierrasparky]

looks like a leak to me