In folklore a changeling is typically described as being the offspring of a fairy, elf or other legendary creature that has been secretly swapped with a human child. In nature the Cuckoo bird lays its eggs in the nest of other birds and leaves the rearing of its offspring to the host. Talk about a dead beat parent. The swapping of one thing for another in retail is called bait and switch or you could simply call it misrepresentation. Changing one thing for another not only is a dirty trick, but it also may not behave in the same manner.
Electricity is a force of nature that humans have managed to harness and control. We learn early on, sometimes the hard way, that electricity can hurt or even kill you. While for most of us the flow of electrons is mysterious and not particularly understood, we come to respect electricity.
An important part of a home inspection is inspecting the electric panel. From my experience it is even more important in older houses, especially those that have under gone renovation. Often the electric system has been altered during the construction. The modifications are not always done correctly, at times leaving the system with potential dangers.
During a recent home inspection, I noted that the house had undergone a massive renovation adding an entire second story several years previous. This of course required an upgrade to the electric system. The house now had two electric panels installed side by side in the basement. The newer panel was now the main panel, while the older and likely the original panel was now a "sub" panel.
While the panel pictured may look like any other electric panel, it has been incorrectly altered. This panel was manufactured as a main service panel. It has been swapped with the new panel and has now become something it was not intended to be, a sub panel. It is also now potentially dangerous.
An elf, a.k.a. the contractor, facilitated this switch perhaps not mindful or foreseeing the prospective consequences. This panel like the changeling is not what it appears to be.
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