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JBrzoz00

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Ok here it goes....I moved to SC about a year ago from the Detroit area and I have noticed some odd things they do down here.....

Why Can you use 12-2 romex to power a lighting circuit and use 14-2 romex for the switchleg going to the light and protect it on a 20 amp breaker???

Why can you run allot of SEU from the meter to the panel in a house down here??? SEU from the meter to the panel is not fused at all, and up north the only way you could was if the SEU came from the meter and as soon as it went into the house it had to go directly into the panel.....Down here I have pulled large amounts of this into homes.....Its not fused and I dont like doing it......up north if you had to run a distance from the meter to the panel you had to pull SER and set a disconnect next to the meter....

I have asked both questions to inspectors I have met and I can't get a good answer....One "electrical" inspector even told me "electrical is'nt my background" which brings me to a concern.....I feel these inspectors down here dont know what the hell they are doing.....Ive seen many code violations in homes that never seem to get caught (boxfill, esposed wires, plugs not GFI protected).....In Michigan I believe you have to be a master electrician in order to be an inspector.....basically 8 years in the feild and pass a journeymans and masters exam......are they just a bunch of "good ol boys" and some uncle or other relative got gets them a cushy city job???

Someone help

Joe

Edit, removed email address
 
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JBrzoz00 said:
Ok here it goes....I moved to SC about a year ago from the Detroit area and I have noticed some odd things they do down here.....

Why Can you use 12-2 romex to power a lighting circuit and use 14-2 romex for the switchleg going to the light and protect it on a 20 amp breaker???
Click to expand...
Because the inspector(s) doesn't/don't catch it, don't know any better, or they are simply not enforcing the NEC

JBrzoz00 said:
Why can you run allot of SEU from the meter to the panel in a house down here??? SEU from the meter to the panel is not fused at all, and up north the only way you could was if the SEU came from the meter and as soon as it went into the house it had to go directly into the panel.....Down here I have pulled large amounts of this into homes.....Its not fused and I dont like doing it......up north if you had to run a distance from the meter to the panel you had to pull SER and set a disconnect next to the meter....
Click to expand...
The allowable distance would be set by the AHJ since the NEC really doesn't set a limit.

JBrzoz00 said:
I have asked both questions to inspectors I have met and I can't get a good answer....One "electrical" inspector even told me "electrical is'nt my background" which brings me to a concern.....I feel these inspectors down here dont know what the hell they are doing.....Ive seen many code violations in homes that never seem to get caught (boxfill, esposed wires, plugs not GFI protected).....In Michigan I believe you have to be a master electrician in order to be an inspector.....basically 8 years in the feild and pass a journeymans and masters exam......are they just a bunch of "good ol boys" and some uncle or other relative got gets them a cushy city job???
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Each state can set their own rules and not all states do a good job of it. Of course I don't really know what SC requires, so that was just a statement and may not apply here.

JBrzoz00 said:
Someone help

Joe
Click to expand...

Maybe an SC member will add more.

Roger
 
JBrzoz00 said:
Ok here it goes....I moved to SC about a year ago from the Detroit area and I have noticed some odd things they do down here.....

Why Can you use 12-2 romex to power a lighting circuit and use 14-2 romex for the switchleg going to the light and protect it on a 20 amp breaker???

Why can you run allot of SEU from the meter to the panel in a house down here??? SEU from the meter to the panel is not fused at all, and up north the only way you could was if the SEU came from the meter and as soon as it went into the house it had to go directly into the panel.....Down here I have pulled large amounts of this into homes.....
Joe
Edit, removed email address
Click to expand...
problem:
dang yankees coming down her and messing up the good ole boy sytem:grin:

Joe, I can't speak for SC as I am a TN redneck:smile: The 14 "switcfhleg" ia a habit well entrenched in some areas, seemingly more so in the south.
Although prtohibited by NEC, the State of TN has in the past allowe ispectors to pass that method of wirng on "true switch legs (no neutral).
In this area, I strongly discourage it and the practice is slowly dying.
As far a the SE: What you describe was also commonplace in this area for years. With 230.70 not specifying a particular distance, the amount of interior cable allowed varies from jurisdiction to jurisdcition.

I have no input as to the qualifications of SC inspectors or as to how muchof the State requires inspection.
 
Low Country Boil. Pecan Pie. Oh My

Low Country Boil. Pecan Pie. Oh My

JBrzoz00 said:
Ok here it goes....I moved to SC about a year ago from the Detroit area and I have noticed some odd things they do down here.....

Why Can you use 12-2 romex to power a lighting circuit and use 14-2 romex for the switchleg going to the light and protect it on a 20 amp breaker???

Why can you run allot of SEU from the meter to the panel in a house down here??? SEU from the meter to the panel is not fused at all, and up north the only way you could was if the SEU came from the meter and as soon as it went into the house it had to go directly into the panel.....Down here I have pulled large amounts of this into homes.....Its not fused and I dont like doing it......up north if you had to run a distance from the meter to the panel you had to pull SER and set a disconnect next to the meter....

I have asked both questions to inspectors I have met and I can't get a good answer....One "electrical" inspector even told me "electrical is'nt my background" which brings me to a concern.....I feel these inspectors down here dont know what the hell they are doing.....Ive seen many code violations in homes that never seem to get caught (boxfill, esposed wires, plugs not GFI protected).....In Michigan I believe you have to be a master electrician in order to be an inspector.....basically 8 years in the feild and pass a journeymans and masters exam......are they just a bunch of "good ol boys" and some uncle or other relative got gets them a cushy city job???

Someone help

Joe

Edit, removed email address
Click to expand...

Having only practiced my trade in two states I'm continually fascinated many methods allowed from state to state and the varried interpratations. I'm sure others would agree that when you hold liscences in multiple states it can be a challenge to keep up.

I began my career thinking that since we had a book called the National Electrical Code, that our practices would be stadardized. And for the most part they are.

But the matrix had me.

Take the red pill.

Remember, there is no spoon.
 
Joe I don't know where you are living in SC but the coastal area will allow SE cable to be run under the house until it enters the house. These houses are built up on piers and their is no crawl space.

In NC piedmont area, where I currently live, they use to allow the SE conductors to enter the crawl and go anywhere you wanted as long as it was in a raceway-- back then it was emt or rigid.

Now, of course, it is limited by Nec art. 230.70 (A)(1) "...inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors."
 
JBrzoz00 said:
Ok here it goes....I moved to SC about a year ago from the Detroit area and I have noticed some odd things they do down here.....

Why Can you use 12-2 romex to power a lighting circuit and use 14-2 romex for the switchleg going to the light and protect it on a 20 amp breaker???
Click to expand...


Just because an inspector allows a certain code violation doesn't mean it's a good idea. If you are working under your own license I would suggest that you stop doing it. If you are working for someone else then do as you are told or find another job.

I have had to leave a couple of companies because of the quality of their work. You will find certain areas in every state where things are not done the way you would expect them to be. Just the way things are.

If you are going to stay in South Carolina learn to love grits and you will do just fine. :grin: :grin:
 
growler said:
If you are going to stay in South Carolina learn to love grits and you will do just fine. :grin: :grin:
Click to expand...

That's Polenta to the refined crowed. :wink:

Roger
 
iwire said:
They can't be the same thing, some uppies will be broken hearted. :grin:
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I think Polenta is a little creamier if that makes them feel better. :grin:

Roger
 
well, if nothing else, at least its nice to know that all that wiring up there in Detroit city is all up to code, with no extra unfused wire and such.
 
JBrzoz00 said:
Ok here it goes....I moved to SC about a year ago from the Detroit area and I have noticed some odd things they do down here.....
Click to expand...

This is the first thing that must go... because we don't care how you did it up north:grin:
Why Can you use 12-2 romex to power a lighting circuit and use 14-2 romex for the switchleg going
Click to expand...

Wrong is wrong north or south

Why can you run allot of SEU from the meter to the panel in a house down here???
Click to expand...

You cant, closest point of entry determined by the inspector and his interpretation. The inspectors I deal with consider twice the length of your panel.

just a bunch of "good ol boys" and some uncle or other relative got gets them a cushy city job???
Click to expand...

And this doesn't happen up NORTH???:confused: :confused: I am shocked to learn that this only takes place in the SOUTH
Click to expand...
 
ceb58 said:
And this doesn't happen up NORTH???:confused: :confused: I am shocked to learn that this only takes place in the SOUTH
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It was happening in my area for years, and I'd like to think that to a great extent that I am personally responsible for putting a stop to it a few years back. They were also doing #14 branches off #12 circuits for little things like smoke alarms that "don't draw very much".

Next on my agenda is the "hallway within a room" imaginary code rule that they're using as an exception to the 6/12 rule in rooms that you have to walk through to get to an adjoining room.
 
JBrzoz00 said:
Ok here it goes....I moved to SC about a year ago from the Detroit area
Click to expand...

Reminds me of a tag that a lot of people used to have on their cars back when I was a kid.....

"Yankee Go Home!"

steve
(A good ole boy)
 
frizbeedog said:
I began my career thinking that since we had a book called the National Electrical Code, that our practices would be stadardized. And for the most part they are.
Click to expand...

I have said before that NEC should stand for Nominal Electric Code because it seems to vary depending on where you are. :grin: In reality, I think what amazes me more is that wide variance in the time frame in which certain AHJs adopt an NEC revision, ie, some areas are still on 2002.
 
The 14 on a 12 circuit is a clear violation. I wouldn't do it. Stupid rednecks. In WA we are allowed under state law to be able to run 15' of unfused service conductor into a premise.
 
15' +

15' +

wireman71 said:
The 14 on a 12 circuit is a clear violation. I wouldn't do it. Stupid rednecks. In WA we are allowed under state law to be able to run 15' of unfused service conductor into a premise.
Click to expand...

I agree with wireman71. Northwest whitenecks can locate the 15' service raceway between single meter box (unfused) to panel disconnect with extended tolerance per AHJ permission. I have seen up to 30' allowed. rbj
 
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