An electrical inspector in my area is now checking voltage drop at receptacles in dwelling units. He is using a meter that puts a 20 amp load at the receptacle and measures voltage drop.
This has caused an uproar in our area and the inspector will not listen to reason. My arguement is that he is putting a 20 amp load on a 15 amp receptacle. In other words past its rated load. Also that voltage drop is not an enforcable code requirement. I'm hoping that if reads some unbiased opinions he will realize his whole theory and method of doing this test will convince him that this test makes no sense. One of his arguements is that with a low voltage reading the wire will heat up and cause a fire. I can't seem to convince him that the breaker will see 20 amps regardless of the voltage. Has anybody heard of an inspector performing this test?
This has caused an uproar in our area and the inspector will not listen to reason. My arguement is that he is putting a 20 amp load on a 15 amp receptacle. In other words past its rated load. Also that voltage drop is not an enforcable code requirement. I'm hoping that if reads some unbiased opinions he will realize his whole theory and method of doing this test will convince him that this test makes no sense. One of his arguements is that with a low voltage reading the wire will heat up and cause a fire. I can't seem to convince him that the breaker will see 20 amps regardless of the voltage. Has anybody heard of an inspector performing this test?