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You must mend the bend- Service entrance conductors

By Donald Hester

Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC

January 01, 2013 10:30 PM

You must mend the bend- Service entrance conductors

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.

Improper bend radius Quincy Home Inspection

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.

Bend radius calculation Quincy Home Inspection

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.

Too tight of bend radius Quincy Home Inspection

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…

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

www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572

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James Quarello

JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT

Connecticut Home Inspector

I think the electrician went around the bend when installing those cables :)

Jan 02, 2013 12:05 AM

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Just get in there with a channel lock and bend that puppy straight! There, problem solved.

I hope this helps. You're welcome.

Jan 02, 2013 01:37 AM

Donald Hester

NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA

NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jim, I agree. Look at the neutral nice ; )

Jay, Now I should of thought of that!

Jan 02, 2013 04:29 AM

Jim Mushinsky

Centsable Inspection - Framingham, MA

An interesting observation and great photo Don.

In my experiences, the radius bend of the material is calculated to account for material stress due to expansion/contraction during heating/cooling of the material.

Great observation, there is a risk of concealed damage, stress cracks of the material. A significant risk of arc or ignition source.

An invasive evaluation of the wire by a qualified electrician should be performed to determine the presence/absence of stress cracks prior to straightening the wire.

I wonder how many other wires may be compromised in that house. Great observation.

Too bad most of the new wiring shows "neat" wiring in the panel, which compromises the minimum radius. Those sharp right angle bends may look "neat" yet are risky of premature failure.

Jan 04, 2013 03:04 AM

Jim, Thanks. Look at the neutral wire on the top picture it is really bent to get in to the lug, nice huh ; )

Jan 04, 2013 08:24 AM

You must mend the bend- Service entrance conductors

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