When I find an electrical panel that has been professionally wired, and looks very neat and orderly----and the fact that the installer really cared about his/her work is obvious----it tends to stick out like a sore thumb or should I say like Heidi Klum or Cindy Crawford on a busy street.

     Well this panel, at a recent inspection would qualify as the Cindy or Heidi of electrical panels.  Contrary to even the most committed fantasies, all super models have their “defects.”  This one had one defect as well.  Take a look at this panel and see what a "super-model" she is.

Really nice looking electrical panel

     Nice clean “lines.”

     All components in the “right place.”

     No excess “baggage" (well maybe a little)

     Everything all “tied up” nice and neat.

     And the “curves” of the lines are something to make one’s Heart skip a beat.

     Even the novice “electrical voyeur” should be able to see that the wiring and circuit breaker at the bottom left side of the panel somehow just doesn’t fit in----doesn’t belong----or is inconsistent with the rest of the “package”-----WAY more than the mole that is considered the traditional symbol of imperfection in movie stars and super-models.

     This is way more than a “mole.”

     This double mole pole breaker represents one of the most serious electrical safety violations that can be committed in an electrical panel----one that could actually result in electrocution for some unsuspecting person.

     This breaker and wiring have been installed to provide power TO the panel from an auxiliary generator.

     Imagine if you will, that the power has gone out in the home, that the generator has been cranked up and the panel is now energized.  You won’t miss that last episode of “Survivor” but you have no clue that power company crews attempting to restore power out at the street are exposed to deadly electrical shocks by the power you are “manufacturing” with your generator.  This is because some amount of your generator’s power will be sent along the power company’s lines back to the transformer at the street----especially if the main breaker at your panel is not turned off.  Even if you were smart enough to have turned it off, enough electricity can flow on the neutral wire back to the transformer (that has no disconnect) to result in electrocution and shock to workers at the transformer.  The workers are missing “Survivor” so that you don’t have to.  All they want to do is “survive.”

     Properly installing generator back-up systems on a home’s electrical system is a lot more complicated than just plugging in a generator----and should never be attempted by unqualified persons.

     It is best to nourish your fantasies-----to keep your eye on Cindy or Heidi (or Antonio Banderas or Richard Gere, for the lady readers)----and leave the installation of generator-interfaces to Licensed Electrical Contractors. 

 

 

 

Charles Buell

 

Click on the Rose A Group by any other name. to check out:  AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group

PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)sunsmileall pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.Just quack on me to subscribe

 


Raven DeCroeDeCroe, is my "etherial" home inspector assistant and occasionally flies into my blog and other people's blogs to offer assistance. To find out more about her beginnings just click on Raven.

 

 
 
Post is included in group: Sparky's Plumbing
Post is included in group: Puget Sound - WA Real Estate
Post is included in group: Home Inspector's Corner
Post is included in group: Diary of a Realtor
Post is included in group: AR My Name is Cheryl

32 Comments on Cindy Crawford and Heidi Klum have nice panels!

JUN
07
180,416 Points 12 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Charles, when I purchased my current home, I wanted to add a separate circuit in the basement for some of my tools. When I opened the electrical panel I called my wife down and said, "I know you don't understand this, but you have to see it. It's the neatest electrical job I've seen in all my years of building."  Yes, some still take pride in their work.

10:24am • #1

great post, and yes it makes it so much better to have things in order when selling. I do the loans and get to see alot of pictures of things they call wiring. Wonder sometimes how they got there licence to Begin with after seeing some of them.

10:51am • #2
379,464 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog

John, I once had an electrical inspector tell me that "neatness" counts for a lot and that when they saw a really neat and orderly panel they would not look very hard at it.

Kevin, while I often find mistakes by licensed electricians----most are made by people that only sort of know what they are doing:)

10:55am • #3
185,993 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Charles - As I was reading through your post I was looking at the photo and thinking that the breaker in question had to be added at a different time.  When someone takes that much time to make sure every wire enters the breakers at the same length and angle and all the wires are so straight and neat I couldn't imagine they would suddenly change the look and feel of the way they wired something.  I didn't know that it was dangerous, but if I was an inspector I probably would have investigated that bit of wiring a little more than the others.  I feel like I did a good inspection today!

11:07am • #4
187,869 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Thanks for this info and I am going to go look at mine right now.  Hoping it looks like "Cindy".  :-)

11:22am • #5
585,319 Points 18 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Mr Charles,

Personally, as a certifried inspector, I would have taken a different course. I find the green breaker more attractive, therefore, I would have suggested that all drab breakers be replaced with colorful breakers. That is another way to handle the same problem.

Nutsy

11:22am • #6
379,464 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Matt---great job----you can become by "certifiable" inspection assistant today.  What you are talking about is exactly what inspectors do.  Defects "jump out" at us----if they look wrong----they probably are wrong.

Rebecca---good luck---get back to us----and safely please!

Nutsy---what can I say.  It figures that the king of camouflage would be interested in color.

11:33am • #7
128,872 Points 2 Featured Posts

That panel sure is purty. It's funny what get's us inspectors excited:)

12:12pm • #8
379,464 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog

James, I am just such an excitable boy.

12:20pm • #9

That panel looks so good I couldn't get past those neutrals being so straight. The only thing that caught my eye was the doubled neutral at the bottom attached to "offending" breaker.

Whenever I see a clean panel I have to step back, smile, and sigh.

3:06pm • #10
355,006 Points 11 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

At least I don't have to go check out wiring for a generator.  I'm home free this time.

3:48pm • #11

I love reading your posts -- I learn so much!  It really does stick out when you see a nice, neat job like that with one stray area.

6:30pm • #12
593,237 Points 82 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Charles...

We have been hit by lightning three times, and so I have to to know my panel better than most. I wish it was as neat as this ... and I DON'T own a generator!

7:38pm • #13

The title of this blog was enough to catch my attention!  You learn something everyday, thanks for the blog!

8:19pm • #14
123,802 Points 9 Featured Posts

Proof once again that I am NOT a home inspector - looked okay to me :) Clever title - you always get me to read about home inspections...such power you have Charles!

8:26pm • #15
Hit Router

I am constantly in awe of what professional inspectors "see" that my buyers and I didn't (even though it was right in front of us) because of their training, experience, and expertise. A recent example is when an inspector noticed some minor scorching near the flue bonnet on a hot water tank. Upon further investigation by a licensed HVAC technician, there was a CO problem because of multiple venting issues. A $2,000 job that would have been missed had we not had a professional inspection done. 

Thank you to the professional inspectors out there!

8:53pm • #16
JUN
08

..."a double mole pole breaker".... hmmmm!

12:42am • #17

Charles,

From the looks of the panel I'd say the original installer was paid by the job and not the hour. Imagine if all panels had to look like this. It just might make our jobs somewhat boring. Nice catch.

9:42am • #18
188,900 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Charles you always have good information.  I would never buy a home without a home inspection.  It is just plain crazy.

10:27am • #19
135,066 Points 12 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Good information. I see something else that is missing. None of the breakers are labeled. Makes it much easier if you need to shut one breaker to replace a fixture.

1:40pm • #20
198,019 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Yep, always hire a good electrician, keeps you alive and this is a good example!  Good post & thanks for pointing it out.

6:17pm • #21
379,464 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Vince, yes----the only thing out of place was the double tap that was related to the improperly installed breaker.

Barbara, am I going to have to send you a generator so that I can tell more generator stories?

Shoshana, thanks

Richard, your "ugly" one may be safer than this "neat" one:)

Joseph, yup----that was kind of the idea:)

Dawn---what ever it takes right?  Well----to a point anyway:)

Chad, you are welcome---glad to help

Teresa, you should be a copy editor---that "mole" was supposed to have a slash through it----I will go back and correct it.

Tad---interesting analysis.  I could actually see it the other way around.  A guy paid by the job is looking to get on to the next one.  The guy getting paid by the hour gets more the longer it takes----except for the first guy that has a big whip:)

Gene, one just never can predict what one is going to find.

Michele, you are sort of right----the labeling is actually all on the cover that goes over the breakers.

Lyn, you are welcome

A funny thing happened on the way to my blog.  I stopped getting emails so I didn't realize I had all these comments.  Turns out my server was full to the gills and wasn't letting any more out----do you know how long it takes to delete and purge 34,000 emails from the last year and a half?  AAARRRGGGHHH!!!  All better now----it is Raining like crazy again:)

 

7:29pm • #22
585,319 Points 18 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Charlie,

Creative title that got some looks I bet and a good informative post.

9:57pm • #23
JUN
09
1 Featured Post Outside Blog Hit Router

Charles. This is EXACTLY why I would never become an electrician. One mistake and you are a human light bulb. I will stick to RE thank you.

12:17am • #24
379,464 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Steve, I figured the title might be a little provocative:)

Mark, it is always a good idea to not become a human light bulb---not very energy efficient.

10:30am • #25

Charles - Another thing I noticed right off the bat was that there does not appear to be any bushing, clamp or conduit for the wire, just a hole bored through the wall.

Mike

8:20pm • #26
379,464 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Mike---true---all related to the offender of perfection:)

9:25pm • #27
JUN
10
226,002 Points 26 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Charlie -Electricity? Clean lines? Cindy Crawford? Heidi Klum> This reminds me of when my father (an electrical engineer) suggested that he trade my mother in for 2 twenty year olds upon her turning forty. My mother didn't missed a beat - she retorted back to my father letting him know that he wasn't wired for 220v. :)

9:20am • #28
379,464 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Carol, that is too funny----and she was probably correct----however most guys would be willing to die tryingm and of course they would get killed if they did try:)

9:26am • #29
JUN
14
7 Featured Posts

Isn't that when you should demurely say, "This should be re-inspected by a qualified professional?"

6:31pm • #30
JUL
05
Outside Blog

It does look pretty and neat.

4:38am • #32

Leave a response…



(optional)
What does the graphic say?
 
My blog is intended to provide information related to home inspections in Seattle, surrounding communities and anyone else interested. Sometimes I will provide information that has nothing to do with home inspections. Enjoy! Subscribe to feed

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner



Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find WA real estate agents and Seattle real estate on ActiveRain.