Now I’m talking nipples- Need a pinch? Wiring in the electrical Panel.

Published by Don Hester on

Now I’m talking nipples- Need a pinch?                                                                        Wenatchee and Quincy Home Inspection Services

Every once in awhile during the home inspection I run into some conditions that you have to wonder why.  In this service panel we had fairly clean work.

                                      panel wiring

But when I looked at how the wires enter the service panel we have an issue. In this case have multiple NM cables (Romex) that enter the service panel through electrical nipples.  This is an incorrect installation of NM wires into the service panel.

 

 

electrical nipple

 

 

 

 

 

 

NM wires through electrical nipples

 

For NM wires they must enter the panel through a fitting/clamp that is designed for the wiring. The wires (cable) have to be properly secured to the enclosure… pinched as you may say ; )

The codes states-
“All cables must be secured to the enclosure with fittings designed and listed for the cable [312.5(C)]. See 300.12 and 300.15.

Cable clamps or cable connectors must be used with only one cable, unless that clamp or fitting is identified for more than one cable. Some Type NM cable clamps are listed for two Type NM cables within a single fitting.”

Using the nipples may be easy- hey it maybe even fun- but it is incorrect.

There is an exception to this rule but it is for surface mount panels only. (See -Electrical Construction and Maintenance –Article )

“You cannot make an observation if you do not know what to look for”

D.L. Hester

 

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