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Another Double Tapped Breaker?

By
Home Inspector with Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area InterNACHI 10041206

I would bet that every Home Inspector here on Active Rain has written a blog about Double Tapped Circuit Breakers. I even wrote one back in 2012, seen HERE! I do see them occasionally, but ran into two of them at the same inspection a few days ago.

The problem here was the guy has added on to his house so many times he has a sub-panel for expansion. But... he filled up the sub-panel too! So, he did what every red blooded American handy man would do, he double tapped... twice!

Now I hope that most handy men would not do this because not only is it an electrical code violation, it is dangerous! You see, when you double tap on a circuit breaker that is only designed for one branch circuit and you add a second one, the wires that are attached by a set screw could possibly only secure one of them... especially if they are not the same gauged wire. So, it will tighten down on the largest one leaving the smaller or untightened one to possibly arc, heat up, and cause a fire!

Electricity should not be taken lightly, I personally have a healthy respect for electricity! If you are considering adding a room or rooms to your house, or just adding some lighting, consult with a qualified, certified electrician to see if your panel can handle the expansion. Adding a panel can be costly, so do your homework before you start that project!!

 

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Posted by

 
 
Fred Hernden 

 

 Superior Home Inspections

 

  505-588-9559

 

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 Albuquerque, Rio Rancho New Mexico and surrounding areas...

 

“My mission is to provide superior quality home inspections to my clients to ensure peace of mind so they can confidently make the largest investment they may ever make!"

                   

Please visit my website at: www.SuperiorHomeInsp.com for details!

                 

 

                                     

 

 

Comments(9)

Joe Jackson
Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty - Columbus, OH
Clintonville and Central Ohio Real Estate Expert

I see this way too much, great way to burn your house down..

Oct 13, 2015 02:35 AM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

Joe - You are right! Can you say "poof"?

Oct 13, 2015 02:36 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Pretty amazing what some people do and then they sleep in that home at night!

BTW, THANK YOU for the sinkhole record information. I appreciate it!

Oct 14, 2015 05:08 AM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

Barbara-Jo - You got it!! The permitting process is much different here than in Florida! It is almost impossible to research anything without physically going down to the building dept, and even then most of the time there are no records... sad! You can't even find any re-roofing info, I am spoiled to merely looking it up online!!

Oct 14, 2015 08:47 AM
Rich Cederberg
eXp Realty - Albuquerque, NM
eXp Realty Agent Albuquerque

I see this so often in the northeast heights that I'm actually surprised when it doesn't come up on inspection Fred!

Oct 15, 2015 03:47 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

As we head into another weekend, I wanted to stop by and say HI!

Oct 15, 2015 09:25 AM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

Rich - I see them alot too, but not to the point that I am surprised if they're not double tapped...lol. We need to hook up for some lunch one day!!

Barbara-Jo - HI!!! Enjoy your weekend!!

Oct 16, 2015 12:10 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I have had three of those (black doubles) just this week!  Too many, too much.

Oct 21, 2015 08:00 PM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

Jay - One is too many... Think people think!

Oct 22, 2015 12:44 AM