likely to become energized
- Thread starter realolman
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
In my book the word likely means that there is a very good possibility that it will happen. In the real world I don't see much that is likely to become energized unless it's intentional.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
CMP 5 says "likely to become energized" means the same as "may become energized". Any conductive object "may become energiezed" but few conductive objects are "likely to become energized"
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
In my opinion those things are not "likely to become energized". Is it possible that they will become energized, sure it is, but just because it is possible, does not make it likely.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I have been lit up crawling under a house by an energized duct.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
As best I can tell "likely to become energized" in the NEC means there is a remote chance of it happening.
The way that I see it:
"Likely to become energized" refers to a piping or ducting that is part of a system that is connected to a voltage source. for example, gas piping that is connected to a furnace, ducting that is connected to a furnace, gas piping that is connected to a stove with an electric ignitor.
The gas piping system that is connected to a water heater only, is not likely to become energized.
"Likely to become energized" refers to a piping or ducting that is part of a system that is connected to a voltage source. for example, gas piping that is connected to a furnace, ducting that is connected to a furnace, gas piping that is connected to a stove with an electric ignitor.
The gas piping system that is connected to a water heater only, is not likely to become energized.
SG-1
Senior Member
- Location
- Ware Shoals, South Carolina
Soares states on page 27 of the Tenth Edition of Soares Book on Grounding & Bonding that the term is included in Annex B of the NEC Style Manual as a standard term meaning "failure of insulation on."
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I would call that "unlikely" to become energized.
IMO the phrase likely to become energized, as used by the NEC, is completely inaccurate as to what it's intended meaning is.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Ungrounded conductors are pretty likely to become energized:lol:
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Older editions of the NEC used the term "may become energized". That is the intent of the code rule and it should have never been changed from "may become energized" to "likely to become energized".I would call that "unlikely" to become energized.
IMO the phrase likely to become energized, as used by the NEC, is completely inaccurate as to what it's intended meaning is.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
That makes even less sense. The items that are likely to become energized and require bonding by the code rules are typically not objects that are insulated.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
That is how the cmp members at our yearly meeting in Raleigh explain it. Yet we would still have to bond the water pipes even if it is only connected to a gas water heater
I think what they are trying to say is a motor or pump is likely to have insulation failure at some point in its life. This motor or pump is well connected to metal ducts, housings, pipes, etc so they are likely to become energized.
In order to properly bond some of these items, you need to know the size of the circuit likely to energize it. With a pump or motor, it is obvious. But if someone laid a bunch of cables over a pipe, duct run, or metal rack, are those cables likely to abrade and touch the metal? Do I need to check the breakers on all of those cables to find the largest one so I can bond per 250.122?
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