National Electrical Installation Standards

How many outlets (including GFCI) can be included on a 20-amp kitchen circuit for small appliances? Keith Bernhard
View Question & Answer

Dear sir, As per NEC, I need to know that can I use one panel board for 04 buildings and each building has 6 maximum circuits used.(Two living rooms and one toilet in each building) OR should we need one panel board for each building? for your kind information the building is office staff housing and these 04 buildings are located next to each other with separate entrance which means no individual meter for each building. Please guide me. Regard, Usman Ali Khan
View Question & Answer

Re: CQD answer published Thursday, November 8, 2018 - Service Entrance Cable Folks, Do not forget SE and USE are not allowed to be installed in conduit underground. Cordially, Bill Nolte, C.S.H.O.
View Question & Answer

Can we use the equipment grounding conductor as a current carrier for a sensing device in a existing structure? John Kendall
View Question & Answer

Re: CQD answer published Monday, November 5, 2018 Code Question of the Day for 11/05/2018 So every person at CQofD is a man? Or are only the men doing a great service? Publishing that gender-specific salutation is not helping the stereotype that only white males can be engineers and electricians. Friday, November 2, 2018 Gentlemen, your doing a great service,,, Thursday answer referencing the… Lori Weidner
View Question & Answer

Can direct burial cable (UF) be installed in PVC conduit? Jimmie (Jim) Cuba
View Question & Answer

Re: CQD answer published Tuesday, October 30, 2018 -Small Appliance BCs 1) I very much enjoy the Code Question of the day. I am not sure I agree with your interpretation of this section. 210.52 are requirements in addition to those specified in (1-4). I am thinking a better way is to say that those specified in (1-4) shall not count as those required by this section and shall not be on the small appliance circuit. 210.52 (B) (2) states that the two small appliance branch circuits Shall have no other outlets. 210.52 does not require outlets for dishwasher or disposal. there are only two exceptions, electric clock or receptacle and receptacle for gas fired ranges. I know this section is a little ambiguous but it seems to me this is the intent. Thank you for all that you do!! Darren Benevento 2) Looking at 210.23(A) 2 would be my reference to not allow that. One 20A branch circuit would be installed to supply both the dishwasher and disposal. Thanks for the service you continue to provide. Gets the morning discussion going every day. Mike D.
View Question & Answer

Thank you from everybody that uses or works with electricity for carrying on Charlie's noble cause. While installing generators connected to the entire electric service of homes that were wired under older codes, we encounter dryer, range and oven circuits that were wired under an old code method that did not require a separate insulated neutral. When properly connected under the old wiring method, there is a bond jumper between the uninsulated grounded conductor and the frame of the appliance, at the appliance. When a disconnecting means, such as a service rated transfer switch, is installed in the feeder between the meter and the main breaker or split buss panel, the neutrals and the grounds in the panel must be separated, and any bond jumpers between the neutral block and ground must be disconnected. Since in some cases there is a 120 volt control circuit, or appliance lights connected to the grounded conductor and a phase conductor within the appliance, a dilemma is created. In many cases it is very impracticable to run an entire new circuit which would disturb existing wall and ceiling finishes and require extensive patching and painting, the dilemma is this- is the uninsulated conductor to be treated as a ground, or a neutral, and to which location in the panel (that has now become a "sub-panel") should this uninsulated conductor be connected? This may be a question with no good answer, but I am interested in your comments. John Kahler
View Question & Answer

Re: CQD answer published Monday, October 29, 2018 - Grounded conductor disconnect for fuel dispenser 1) Good morning, I'm not on CMP14 but you should look at FR7743 for the 2020 NEC. It answers the question. Thanks. J Grant Hammett 2) I do not serve on CMP-14, but I do recall that 514.11(A) was revised to align with the requirements in NFPA 30A (Code for Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages) and to clarify what is required for an emergency shutoff device at both an attend and an unattended self-service motor fuel dispensing facilities. Seems like I also recall CMP-14 discussing the fact that the requirement “to remove all external voltage sources, including power, communications, data, and video circuits” was (and is) already located at 514.13 (Provisions for Maintenance and Service of Dispensing Equipment) and that the requirement for switching the grounded conductor did not need to be repeated at 514.11(A). Some would argue that the emergency disconnect is not the same as the maintenance disconnect. Regards, L. Keith Lofland 3) The bigger question is, why was the requirement there in the first place? Dave
View Question & Answer

Do all receptacles in Industrial buildings have to be 20 amp rated Mark Smith
View Question & Answer

A junction box exists in a wall, with wire nuts connecting wires from panel to end point. Does this box have to have an exposure cover and why? Iris Ziller
View Question & Answer

I currently have 220 vac - 2 wire Aluminum Service Entrance Cable with AL braid from the service transformer outside to a 600A disconnect inside (basement) The AL braid is used as the neutral conductor which I understand is acceptable from the transformer to the Disconnect. My question is .......Is it acceptable to use Aluminum Service Entrance Cable and the AL braid .From the Disconnect to the Service Panel or should the neutral be an insulated conductor. Service cable runs are in non-metallic conduit. Thanks, John Barkley
View Question & Answer

Re: CQD answer published Friday, October 26, 2018 -Flexible Cord Above Ceilings 3 In regards of the above ceiling appliances or equipment, I run into this by manufacturer directions for the installation of a condensate pump for a HVAC unit: “The pump shall be provided with a 6 ft. long TFE Teflon ® insulated (450 °C) power cord. The all-metal condensate pump meets most local codes for certification as a “plenum rated“ pump for ceiling plenum installations.” So, Can I have a receptacle above ceiling for the pump or hard wire to a switch? Or should I ask the Mechanical to specify that the pump is powered by the equipment itself? By the way, thank you for your consistency with the emails it helps us all to keep up with the code. Camilo Rodriguez
View Question & Answer

Re: CQD answer published Friday, October 26, 2018 -Flexible Cord Above Ceilings 2 In addition, Refer to NEC-2011 Article 400.12(5), where Installing a flexible cord above a ceiling in itself is not prohibited, any “permanently installed” plug-in equipment using a flexible cord, with or without a cord cap as its power source connection is prohibited. Thusly, a receptacle mounted above the ceiling for use on a “permanently mounted” piece of equipment, such as a projector, emergency battery lighting unit, etc. would also be prohibited. Attached is an older illustration, referencing the 2005 or 2011 NEC, but in our opinion, this still stands. Edward M. Grafe
View Question & Answer

Gentlemen, your doing a great service,,, Thursday answer referencing the 2014 and the 2017 NEC are wonderful.. We need to know which code your answering from out here in the wild. Every day which NEC code your referencing should be stated before each and every answer. In new York state we will probably not see the 2017 NEC in use but as we did last time 2008 skip to the 2014.. we will skip the 2017 and wait for the 2020 NEC to be put into law…Many who read thin daily email I New York State do not know which NEC cycle your referencing and assume it to be correct for our State which is still using the 2014 and will till the next three years I think. Thanks for your insights on the 2017 NEC, Many thanks, Bill Schell
View Question & Answer