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Electrical Systems
As a home inspector you should know the following about Electrical Systems
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What 4 areas should home inspectors be concerned with? | 1) Exterior where the Meter is located 2) Interior Outlets 3) Electrical Panel, Circuit Breakers & Fuses 4) Branch Wiring that is visual throughout the house |
| Home inspectors need to observe and report on the 7 items of an Electrical System | 1) Service Drop 2) Service entrance conductors, cables, rareway 3) Main & Branch Circuit Conductors 4) Service Grounding 5) Interior components of Service & Sub Panels 6) # GFCI's 7) Installed lighting fixtures & switches |
| What 5 items are home inspectors required to observe and report on? | 1) Amperage & Voltage rating of the Service 2) Location of the Main Disconnect 3) Presence of Aluminum Wiring 4) Presence/absence of Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors 5) Condition of conductors that may be hazardous |
| What 12 items are home inspectors NOT required to observe or report on? 13) Non-energized systems / circuits & fuses 14) Voltage Relays, smoke/heat detectors, antennas, sprinkler systems, swimming pool wiring 15) Test every switch (do it anyway) | 1) Remote control devices 2) Alarm systems 3) Doorbells 4) Ancillary wiring 6) Inserting tools into panels 7) Protection devices 8) Timers 9) Moving objects 10) Removing outlet covers 11) Measure Amps/Voltage 12) Solar |
| What is voltage? | The electrical potential between points. This potential provides pressure for the electrons to move through the wire |
| What 4 ways can Electricity be converted from? | 1) Coal 2) Natural Gas 3) Oil 4) Nuclear Power |
| What is Electricty? | The flow of electrons through a conductor from a given power source |
| What is this? The rate at which the charge is flowing. This is measured in Amps | Current |
| Electric Power is the rate which the charge is ______ over a period of time | Flowing |
| What is it? Type of kinetic energy caused by moving electric charges. The amount of energy depends on the speed of charges - the faster they move, the more electrical energy they carry | Electrical Energy |
| What is it? Type of Electrical Current, in which the direction of the flow of electrons switches back & forth at regular invervals | Alternating Currents current -> load -> current -> source |
| Direct Current (DC) is an Electrical Current which flows consistently in _______ direction | One Lightbulb -> wire -> battery -> switch -> lightbulb (starts over) |
| TRUE or FALSE Single Phase Power is typically used on commercial buildings & Three Phase is typically used on residential houses | FALSE Single Phase - Residential Three Phase - Commercial |
| How can a home inspector determine which phase (Single or Three) is supplied to a house/building? | Look at the Main Breaker. If there is a Single Circuit Breaker then this is Single Phase. If there are Three Breakers, then it is Three Phase |
| What are the 2 methods for Electrical Services to be provided to the house/building? | 1) Overhead 2) Underground |
| Service components carry Electricity directly from the Transformer to the Electrical Panel if the house. Name the 3 different Electrical Wires that allow this functionality | 1) Service Lateral 2) Service Drop 3) Service Entrance |
| What is the typical Voltage supplied to residential dwellings? | 120-240volts 110volts (two wires) ** The AC can change from 0 over to 120v & > 100v & back on a 60 second cycle |
| TRUE or FALSE The ultraviolet rays (UV) WILL damage the sheathing over a period of time, especially if the sheathing is painted. | TRUE ** The insulation sometimes becomes so worn that the bare cables are exposed |
| Name the 3 ways that a Service Drop can be sealed | 1) Malleable Putty (Duxseal) 2) Compression Nut 3) Housed in metal conduit (Not visible) |
| Name the 2 installation methods for a Service Drop | 1) Entering the house directly behind the Service Meter 2) Exiting the Electrical Meter is entering through the Rim Plate |
| Name the 9 Electrical inspections that should be performed on the Exterior Walls | 1) Start from the pole, look for threatening wires 2) Connection Guide Wire 3) Drip loop present? 4) Service Drop condition 5) Service Drop mounted to house 6) Electrical Meter 7) Sealant 8) Service Entrance Wire condition 9) Notate findings |
| What size gauge Wires are used for Dryers, Stoves/Ranges, Washers? | 8-10 Gauge Wire |
| What happens to Wires that are forced to handle more Current than what they're designed for? | They overheat due to the resistance |
| Most residential fires are _______ in nature | Electrical |
| Name the 6 main Electrical Panels | 1) Single Bus 2) Split Bus 3) Fuse Panel 4) Federal Pacific Panel 5) Pushmatic / Bulldog Electrical Panel 6) Zinsco Electrical Panel |
| Describe how a Single Busbar System works | A Single Main Breaker that is isolates the Current traveling through the metallic strip, which distributes power to the rows of the Circuit Breaker These Service Entrance wire then terminates at the Main Panel Protects Branch Circuits from overloads |
| What is a Split Busbar Panel? | The separate Busbars that carry Current to a row of Circuit Breakers One of those Breakers can turn on/off the second Busbar **1981 NEC Restricted new installs of this panel type. However existing installs can remain |
| How does a Fuse Panel work? **Many insurance companies and banks will no longer insure a house with this kind of panel | Use plug fuses to protect the Circuits & a knife blade switch ti disconnect the power to the Panel The Fuse breaks the Circuit if a fault in an appliance causes too much Current to flow. Contains a piece of wire that melts easily |
| How does a Federal Pacific Panel work? **Many insurance companies and banks will no longer insure a house with this kind of panel | The Breakers would "Stab" into the slots in the Busbar & "lock" in place 1) PFEC cheated test cases & used mechanical switch to turn off the Breaker 2) High rate of failures when a Breaker overloaded & would fail to trip (fire hazard) |
| The purpose of a Ground Wire is to give excess Electrical Charges a _______ place to go | Safe |
| How does Electrical Grounding work? | The solid mass of the Earth has a negative charge and positive charges naturally attract to it Grounding offers excess electricity the most effective and safest route from an appliance back to the ground by the way of an Electrical Panel |
| 2 Ground Rods must be at least ________ apart | 6' |
| What is Electrical Bonding? | Connecting two or more Electrical Conductors together. No Current can flow between the two objects. This led to electrical shock ** This is why several conductors should be electrically bonded together Supply Piping, Gas Line Piping, & CSST |
| TRUE or FALSE When performing an Electrical inspection of the Main Panel, the home inspector must take off the cover & match the proper size Breakers with the Wire that is holding the Current | TRUE As long as it is safe to do so |
| TRUE or FALSE A 14 Gauge Wire protected by a 20Amp Breaker is NOT a safety defect | FALSE The wire could overheat before the Breaker is tripped. The 20Amp Breaker won't break, while the 14 Gauge Wire is overheating. This will cause a fire within the Walls, property damage, or possible injury/death |
| List the Wire size vs. Breaker Amps | 14 GA -- 15 Amp 12 GA -- 20 Amp 10 GA -- 30 Amp 8 GA -- 40 Amp 6 GA -- 55 Amp 4 GA -- 70 Amp 3GA -- 100 Amp 1/0GA -- 150 Amp 3/0 GA -- 200 Amp |
| What Wire Gauge and Amp does an Electric Range require? | 6GA -- 50 Amp ** 14GA -- 15 Amp -- Lighting 12GA -- 20 Amp -- Kitchen Counter Tops 10GA -- 30 Amp -- Water, Heaters, AC units 8GA -- 40 Amp -- Electric Dryer |
| List the Amp Services by their year they were first used and when they ended | 30 Amp -- 1900's - 1930's 60 Amp -- 1930's - 1950's 100 Amp -- 1950's - 1970's 150 Amp -- 1970's - 1980's 200 Amp -- 1980's - Today ** This also could change if the house/building was remodeled |
| To determine the ________ you must determine which component has the lowest rating (Service Drop, Service Entrance, or Main Breaker) | Service Size ex: Service Drop -- 200 Amp Service Entrance -- 150 Amp Main Breaker -- 100 Amp The Service Size would be 100 Amp ** Remember: The Breaker should equal or be smaller than the Service Drop or Service Entrance |
| Why won't insurance companies insure homes with Zinsco GTE Panels? | The Panel Breakers often failed to trip when the Current was overloaded. This damages the Panel & led to Electrical Fires. When a user would try to turn off a Breaker, they would still have charges to them. This led to Electrocution and Shock |
| Why did Bulldog/ITE Circuit Panels have a disadvantage? | The company who originally made them went out of business. This made replacements/finding parts expensive & difficult. These Panels were not user friendly either, limited space on the Panel and had Thermal Trip mechanisms (inefficient) |
| TRUE or FALSE When inspecting Sub Panels, if the Circuit coming to the Sub Panel is not from it's own Circuit Breaker but from a doubletap on the Main Breaker is considered a safety concern | TRUE |
| TRUE or FALSE The Neutral & Ground MUST be bonded at a Sub Panel | FALSE They should only be bonded at the Main Service Panel ** If they're bonded at the Sub Panel it my lead to Electrical shock |
| What are the 4 main problems with Aluminum Wiring? | 1) Softer material than copper 2) Different thermal expansion properties (arcing, sparking, and fire) 3) When exposed to oxygen they oxide and deteriorate 4) High humidity causes corrosion at the connections |
| What is the only exception for Aluminum Wiring to be used within a Panel? | Can be safely used if the Breaker, Outlet, or Switches are RATED for Aluminum Wiring ** Even if the above is the case, this is still considered a defect and safety concern. This should be documented in your report always |
| Why was Tin Copper Wire popular starting in the 1940's? | Copper is a great conductor & it's coating provided high corrosion resistance |
| What is Knob & Tube Wiring and why is it considered a safety defect? | First Electrical System used in residential houses (1890's - 1920's) Carried less Electrical Current than today. As the Electrical load increases the old wires get hot (Fire Hazard) ** No Ground Wire, wires stretch and sag, pieces used can corrode |
| Is BX Cable ever made of Aluminum? | No, Tin Clad Copper ** The setback of BX Cable is the armor-clad sheathing makes it hard for installation and rewiring |
| NM (Non-metalic) Electrical Cable is also known as | Romeo Cable |
| What is a Sub Panel & it's function | Separate Panel with Breakers that is Electrically fed from the Main Panel 1) If the Main Panel has inefficient space to hold new Breakers 2) An additional house/addition is being constructed |
| What 3 Wires will you find in a NM/Romex Cable? | 1) Hot Wire 2) Ground Wire 3) Neutral Wire |
| What 4 items detail safety defects for Cloth Wiring? | 1) Old (45-70 years) 2) Insulation of wire is deteriorated 3) Some Cloth Wiring has asbestos 4) More than likely, ungrounded |
| What is the purpose for GFCI Outlets? | Provides protection from electrocution when an individual is around water & Electricity |
| Where should an inspector expect to find GFCI Outlets (8 Answers) | 1) Bathrooms 2) Kitchens 3) Unfinished Basements 4) Garages 5) Outdoor Outlets 6) Laundry Room 7) Swimming Pools 9) Any area near a water source |
| Should doubletap Breakers be noted as a defect even if the Panel says it is approved/rated for doubletaps? | Yes, we are not electricians and cannot determine this as it is beyond our SOP's ** ALL DOUBLETAPS ARE CONSIDERED SAFETY HAZARDS |
| What 2 safety detectors should home inspectors always identify within their reports? | 1) Smoke Detectors (8-10 years) 2) Carbon Monoxide Detector (10 years) ** You do not test them, only notate where they are located. Always advice your client to replace them upon moving into the house |
Created by:
normandesch