You must mend the bend- Service entrance conductors   Wenatchee and Quincy Home Inspection

When entrance wires come into a panel there are requirements for the installation. One of the issues with older panels is that the gutter systems (the space in the panel) are smaller than what is required by today’s standards. During the home inspection I will examine the installation of the wiring in these older systems for potential issues.

Older wiring systems always should be scrutinized more carefully.

Wiring actually has bend radius requirements. Over bent wiring may cause excessive heat at the bend of the wires and can cause stress on a connection.

NEC section 338.24 states that the bending radius on service entry cables should be as follows:  
Bends in Types USE and SE cable shall be so made that the cable will not be damaged. The radius of the curve of the inner edge of any bend, during or after installation, shall not be less than five times the diameter of the cable.

Typical 4/0 aluminum is around 0.59 inch wide. Multiply that by 5 you get about three inches of bend of the inside radius.

Here you can see that this is not achieved and should be corrected.
 

Ancora Imparo

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…  

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                               509-670-9572