Re: electrical deaths

On 2024-12-03 23:19, Don Y wrote:

On 12/3/2024 7:12 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

GFCIs are touchy.  When someone complains of a failing GFCI, I immediately
tell them to recheck ALL of the connections as this tends to cause
"false" trips.

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Yep.
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Also things like computers do have a constant small leak. Or mains filters.

 GFCIs are only "required" on branch circuits feeding "wet locations" and the like.

In Spain the entire house has to be protected under one such device. It is in the code. Even houses built before the code had to be retrofitted.

So, bathroom outlets (but not light fixtures), in the garage, or basement
or outdoors.  (IIRC, if the outlet is over 8 ft off the ground, the
requirement doesn't apply.  E.g., the outlet that feeds a garage door
opener is typcially on the ceiling and need not ? be protected)
 Now, AFCIs are being required in living spaces (like bedrooms) but, there,
the goal is to protect against fires...
 

On that same place, a cable entered a certain tube with one colour and exited a different colour.
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Turned out that the installation had been done by three different electricians, each not knowing what the previous one intended or did.

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Here, any "splice" has to be done in a junction box.  And, all junction
boxes must be accessible.  So, the wire entering a conduit at one end
WILL be the wire exiting at the other.

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Here too, of course.

 It is interesting how often one will encounter "hidden/buried" boxes,
in practice.  Most often, a homeowner ignorant of the Code.  Or, a
"handyman" hired by said homeowner who ASSUMES the homeowner is
ignorant AND isn't going to pay to have the work inspected:  "It's
just a small change to the existing wiring..."
 A neighbor had some coach lights installed on his outdoor spa/Jacuzzi.
The lights were at eye level.  In a "wet location".  And, exposed to
the weather.
 The LICENSED ELECTRICIAN mounted them directly to the wooden support members;
no electrical box "behind" them (likely because he didn't want to cut
into the 6x6" timbers and felt a surface mounted box would "look tacky"?).
Instead, he carefully cut away a portion of each fixture (where it abutted
the mounting surface) to allow the wire to sneak out against the timber.
 Then, ran ROMEX (NM) tacked to the surface of the wooden members (the lights
being about 12 ft apart).
 I happened to see it and told him that it was unsafe, not to Code, etc.
He defended the electrician (a fellow member of some charitable "service
organization" to which the neighbor belonged).  I didn't relent.
 Eventually, he had the owner of the electrical company (the "electrician"
I've been indirectly referencing) stop by the house.  At which point,
he saw the work that his flunkies had done -- apologized and had them come
back out to make it right.
 Point being, when it comes to electrical (and practically all trades),
you can't just rely on people doing it "right".
 A neighbor has an outdoor "post light" (literally, a light atop a steel
post in the middle of the yard) that is powered MAGICALLY!  I.e., if
you turn off the main breaker to his house, the light remains lit.
 "No thank you.  I'm not going to help you solve THAT problem!"

My neighbour has a new led fixture above the street door, flood type. When it is off, it still has some light. I guess the switch is on the neutral, and there is a small leak.
Here there is one mandatory inspection by a licensed electrician before the electrical company connects the house, then done. You do the barbarics when he is gone. When you sell the house, there may be a new inspection, at the electrical company request. I don't know the rules. On other countries, there is a periodical inspection.
We have periodical inspections for gas (kitchen and heating); but not portable stoves (with bottled butane or propane).
--
Cheers, Carlos.