Mobile homes

[dcv]

Quite often, I do work on Mobile Homes in my area,usually repairing, poor quality electrical work on the manufacture's part.I sometimes honestly believe these companies have no requard for proper electrical work per NEC.
Can anyone give me a little insite on what goes on in one of these home building plants and who over see quality ?
Thanks DCV

 

[jes25]

Re: Mobile homes

I have not worked in a mobile home but I have worked on those homes brought out in pieces on trucks. The ones I did were an absolute mess. Violations everywhere, SUPER sloppy and just dumb stuff. The tagging from the halves of the houses was pathetic and they forget homeruns and stuff like that all over. The city inspector that looked at my work says they go down a line and are looked at by state inspectors. I think the inspectors take a lot of coffe breaks or something. In my opinion whoever is wiring them is not an electrcian and probably makes minium wage.

 

[hurk27]

Re: Mobile homes

Dcv I think what your seeing is that manufactured houseing/mobile homes does not follow the NEC Instead they have to be built under federal rules and codes Called HUD codes 3280. And this code follows somewhat with the 1993 NEC But this is what they have to follow. and it even states:

(b) In addition to the requirements of this standard and Article 550
of the National Electrical Code (NFPA No. 70-1993) the applicable
portions of other Articles of the National Electrical Code shall be
followed covering electrical installations in manufactured homes.
Wherever the requirements of this standard differ from the National Electrical Code, this standard shall apply.

Here is a link to them the electrical starts at 3280.801
Hud Clips

Just select Title 24 - Code of Federal Regulations -- 2002
Under Codes and acts
Then click on Browse

 

[mthead]

Re: Mobile homes

here's an interesting anecdote re; prefab/modular homes in NY and inspection of same;[this inspection took place 3 yrs ago] one of our inspectors had one in his area-upon inspection of the kitchen he came accross a receptacle not secured- further inspection revealed that it also was not in a device box nor were any of the other kitch. counter outlets.
he wrote a violation--Shortly there after he found himself on the wrong side of an angry call from albany demanding to know why he was even looking at that work .He was told that it met required guidelines and that when inspecting these homes our authority ended with the service work-period.!!!!

 

[jsinclair]

Re: Mobile homes

I have done limited work in both prefab and mobile homes. I can definately agree with the statements here. I worked in one prefab the none of the devices were in boxes. They were drywall screwed into the wallboard. Worse yet, the device was a type of receptacle that was crimped onto the wire and small posts pierced the insulation. A number of the devices had signs of burning on the back sides. I had another mobile that main panel didn't have a main breaker. The feeders were a #8 THHN, and were run through a hole in the floor then out across the ground to the disconnect.

 

[luke warmwater]

Re: Mobile homes

My very first electrical job was in a mobile/modular plant.

I had visited other plants, seen videos of other plants, and talked with guys from other plants.
It seems to me that they all follow about the same routine.

There is an in-house HUD inspector (sometimes 2) that inspects the entire manufacturing process. They are not at all areas at all times. Thay kind of 'float' around looking at everything.
Once had one tell us that we pulled the wrong wire for an electric furnace. his reasoning was because the wire was black and it was supposed to be gray. It got painted black when they sprayed the undercarriage.

There are many stages of wiring a mobile/modular.
It all starts in the bottom. There is a 1-2 man crew that wires the bottom, crew that wire the walls, crew that wire the ceiling, crew that install devices, guy that does the service, guy who does the dielectric test, and more...

The devices that the above posters mention do not require a box. They are UL listed for the use. I personally think that they are junk and have seen many problems with them. They use the same principal as backstabbing a standard device only you use a tool to press the wires into the back of the device and snap on the cover. Then install like a typical nm old work box.

AMP corp. from Harrisburg, PA (among others) make a listed in-the-wall splice for manufactured housing. They can't be used anywhere else.
Anotherthing is they usually use tek screws to install the bonding lugs, where we would drill a hole and use a bolt and nuts.