This is why I like plastic boxes with NM.

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I know....it wasn't installed properly and they tightened the clamp too much...but still. Every time I install a metal connector or even a staple, it seems like I am creating a potential heating element.

This was a water heater relocation. I guess all they had was 8/3. They did the dryer the same way. Of course it was buried in an insulated attic and I got the call at 3PM as I was almost home.

In the good old days I would have told them "tomorrow". Now I am crawling in an attic just to pick up an extra $100.

electrical170.jpg
 
30 amp circuits seem to enjoy starting fires.

You will notice that the "improper" cu/al splice is fine but the failure is at an approved connector.

The cable slipped easily inside the connector but the screws were apparently tightened too much.
 
If they had grounded the box they might of just been left with a tripped breaker instead of burnt wiring.:roll:
 
Also missed black tape on white wire. Only a hack would done this job. I never barry a juction box in insultation. Had inspector asked me nicely if i would please paint all junction boxes red and keep them 2 feet high in attic on a fire job with 20 plus boxes. Yes did as asked . Not code but good idea.
 
Yes that is indisputable, scientific evidence that the approval process is flawed and we should do things how we see fit.
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Thank you. That's all I was ever asking for.




Wait....you were being sarcastic, weren't you?



Am I wrong or is this outdoors?
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You are wrong....again :grin:

It was buried in an insulated attic.


If they had grounded the box they might of just been left with a tripped breaker instead of burnt wiring.
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Good point.:cool:

If they would have just used the existing box when they relocated it I could have done the work in the air conditioned laundry toom.
 
The screw??? Hmmm...I guess the box was grounded. They wrapped the SE ground around a bolted on fender washer. I didn't notice that.

I just cut the old cables and pulled out the box. The pic was taken later on my loading dock.

Yeah, I have a loading dock :cool:
 
It appears to me that there is a 3-wire and a 4-wire in this box. I would guess the 4-wire is a replacement for the relocation and therefore the ground wrapped around the screw goes no where. Electrician (term used loosely) probably told homeowner that a 4-wire plug is now required for dryer receptacles and charged extra claiming that it is a new circuit. Short length of 8/3 makes it look good to the homeowner. (same thing happened to my cousin, and she had the nerve to ask me to fix it)
 
What kind of splice would you all have used in this instance?
 
I believe the only legal fix is to use a double lug and tape/insulate it. There were no issues under the wirenuts.

The "approved" copper/aluminum connectors only allow #10 wire.

I have seen thousands of AL/CU connections and I haven't seen any failures that I could attribute simply to the connector. Generally they are simply poor connections to begin with.

A couple of weeks ago I pulled out some pigtailed recep wires that seems to have a good, tight connection but the wires had obviously become very hot and the insulation had melted pretty bad. This was a recep in the laundry rom where they did their ironing.

The connection felt good so I broke the brittle plastic off the nut and unwound most of the spring to find a really tight connection. The discoloration is evident on the copper wire, where the AL looks clean. The insulation damage was on all wires within a few inches of the wirenut.

electrical175.jpg


Would this have failed if it was copper? Who knows. I have seen my share of burned copper wiring also.

therefore the ground wrapped around the screw goes no where
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The incoming SE is grounded to the box and wirenutted to the outgoing bare in the 8/3. Box was grounded.
 
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inspector 102 said:
It appears to me that there is a 3-wire and a 4-wire in this box. I would guess the 4-wire is a replacement for the relocation and therefore the ground wrapped around the screw goes no where. Electrician (term used loosely) probably told homeowner that a 4-wire plug is now required for dryer receptacles and charged extra claiming that it is a new circuit. Short length of 8/3 makes it look good to the homeowner. (same thing happened to my cousin, and she had the nerve to ask me to fix it)
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I think the original 3 prong was reused because the red conductor of the 8-3 is not connected in J box. He probably pulled this wire out of somewhere else for free and figured he would use it and just cut red off at outlet.
 
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