Inspect an outside light

[Lxnxjxhx]

Today I go look at an outside light for a customer who is selling her house and wants to make sure it passes inspection. I am not an inspector, but I can give my opinion, since she asks. If I'm wrong I guess I give her her money back if the inspector fails the light.

But, I'm curious; I'm sure there are light fixtures in this 40 yr old home that ask for 90C wire, which I'm sure she doesn't have.

Can you imagine what would happen if a home inspector told her she has to get 90C wire stubs mounted all over her house even though all the lights "work"?

What is likely to happen when the inspector comes by?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I doubt the home inspector will pull down a light fixture.

 

[infinity]

Bottom line is that the fixtures should probably have 90 degree wire. At this point what would you offer as a fix? All new fixtures without the 90 degree tag? Rewire all of the fixture outlets with 90 degree C conductors? IMO there really is no simple way to fix this problem.

 

[al hildenbrand]

When you look at a light fixture on a finished ceiling, you can suspect that the wire is not 90?C, but could you state it as FACT that it is not 90?C?

Until you start disassembling the construction, there is no way to observe it.

In my area, the only electrical box that the home inspector opens is the electrical service center.

Removing the light fixture to examine construction (electrical or otherwise) is like removing the wall finish to check the insulation, it simply isn't supposed to be done.

There may be tricky ways to look that make the wire type obvious. Say, the room across the hall has an open ceiling. With a ladder and a sharp light one can look down the space between the joists to the wiring running into the light in the other room. If seen, in this manner, the Home Inspector can legitimately call it out.

As you "pre-inspect" a property, you have to think like an inspector.

 

[Lxnxjxhx]

Came & went

Came & went

Both outside light fixtures were mounted on wooden blocks on the brick wall. One was fed by painted-over Romex stapled to the outside door frame. Neat job. I couldn't see if it was UF.

The other was fed by zip cord, through the air (I kid you not), from the door frame to the lamp housing. I should have looked on the ground for droppings from birds roosting on this cable.

I couldn't find my big stamp that said "OK" so I had to tell her it didn't "pass" and it was unsafe, but if the home inspector said it was safe she could have her money back, but that he should not ever say that this arrangement is safe.

Shoulda' brought my digital camera on that job.

I gave her the names of five electricians that were listed in the Washington Consumer's Checkbook for getting good marks for quality and price.


My first post to this forum was talking about a light fixture that needed 90C wire and had two 100 w bulbs. If you calculate the thermal resistance of this fixture in degrees C per watt, it says that using the same thermal resistance you could use two 50 w bulbs and you'll get a temp rise compatible with pre-1985 Romex.
I asked UL about this, they knew what I was getting at, but they danced around having to pull out their big stamp that says "OK." They said the fixture would have to be relabelled, and the label might fall off.
OK.

 

[roger]

This is one of the reasons I buy antique fixtures for my houses. The 90 C requirement is only a manufacturers CYA.

Roger