Close but no Cigar- Wiring breakers

Wenatchee Home and Real Estate Inspection Services.

Close is good in many things in life, from horseshoes to hand grenades. Getting 99 out of a 100 questions right on a test will probably get you accolades.

But when it comes to electrical wiring close may not be good enough.

Okay what I am going to discuss is not a huge deal and is an easy fix. But the issue is if you have not properly install the wiring you run the risk of having a bad connection. This in turn can lead to resistance on the wires which lead to heat. Heat is the number one enemy of the wiring system.

So here are several examples of someone getting it almost right… but not quite right. Now it must also be noted that these Square-D breakers are designed to have two wires installed on a lug. Square-D and Cutler Hammer have breakers that allow this.  See article-Double lugging Breakers

Example one- We have the Square D breaker that allows two wires but they are both on the same side of the wire clamp, this is not correct.

Example two- We have wires on both sides but they did not get the clamp down squarely so the connection is not proper.

Now in both of these examples it is a very easy correction. The issue is if these two circuits come under a heavy load these connections may start to heat up potentially cause damage to the wires and breakers and in a worst case scenario cause a fire. So making these corrections need to be performed.

“If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”

Red Adair

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                               509-670-9572