How to Inspect Residential Electrical System Grounding - Part 6

How to inspect the system grounding at a building
Online Course on how to inspect residential and light commercial electrical systems including wiring, electrical panels, ground systems and other components
Questions & Answers about inspecting the electrial system ground, grounding conductors, grounded conductors, grounding electrodes, and related wiring components
References

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Electrical ground wiring inspection: this article summarizes inspection of the electrical system grounding at a building.

SYSTEM GROUNDING - Inspecting Residential Electrical System Grounding Equipment for Defects

Be sure to review the starting point for this information at ELECTRICAL GROUND SYSTEM INSPECTION. This article series discusses procedures for safe and effective visual inspection of residential electrical systems including electrical panels and other components, when the inspection is conducted by trained building inspection professionals, home inspectors, electrical inspectors, and electricians. It was presented by Daniel Friedman - InspectApedia.com, at and discussed by the Hudson Valley chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors - HVASHI Seminar 12 Sept 2002, Updated April 2006, April 2009.

Readers of this article should also be sure to review Safety Hazards and Safe Electrical Inspection Procedures for Inspectors examining Residential Electrical Systems and should pay special attention to the following chapters from that article: Electrical Panel Interior Inspection - Removing Electric Panel Covers - Electrical Panel Cover Screws - Electrical Panel Interior Hazards - Testing Main Breakers or Fuses and Inspect Breakers, Fuses. Carson Dunlop's sketch at page top shows where the electrical inspection starts at a residential property.

Sketch courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates.

This wiring is for Emergency-use only - it should never be wired so as to carry current during normal operation. (E.g. This occurs if a sub panel bonds the neutral to ground wires).
Provides better path for current than a person, blows fuse/breaker, dissipates static, may dissipate lightning
Example: loose black in metal box touches side; current flows through person when touched, depends on who is grounded

Also, see details about electrical grounding at Electrical Circuits, shorts, and at Electrical Wiring in Old Houses and at Electricity Basics - how it works.

DISTRIBUTION PANELS - Inspecting Residential Electrical Distribution Panels for Defects

Main and sub panels, aka "service panels, aux panels, sub panels, fuse boxes, fuse box"
Fed from meter to main breaker/fuse or fed from separate service connect
distributes electricity through house branch circuits and special (range etc) circuits
each sub circuit must be protected (fuse/breaker)

Links to the full sections of this electrical ground components inspection series are below and at Related Topics .

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

* Safety Hazards and Safe Inspection Procedures for Electrical and Home Inspectors at Residential Electric Panels

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd

Recommended books on electrical inspection, electrical wiring, electrical problem diagnosis, and electrical repair can be found in the Electrical Books section of the InspectAPedia Bookstore. (courtesy of Amazon.com)
Rust and Corrosion in Electrical Panels, A Study and Report on Frequency and Cause for Electrical and Home Inspectors at Residential Electric Panels
"Electrical System Inspection Basics," Richard C. Wolcott, ASHI 8th Annual Education Conference, Boston 1985.
"Simplified Electrical Wiring," Sears, Roebuck and Co., 15705 (F5428) Rev. 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]
"How to plan and install electric wiring for homes, farms, garages, shops," Montgomery Ward Co., 83-850.
"Simplified Electrical Wiring," Sears, Roebuck and Co., 15705 (F5428) Rev. 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]
"Home Wiring Inspection," Roswell W. Ard, Rodale's New Shelter, July/August, 1985 p. 35-40.
"Evaluating Wiring in Older Minnesota Homes," Agricultural Extension Service, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108.
"Electrical Systems," A Training Manual for Home Inspectors, Alfred L. Alk, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 1987, available from ASHI. [DF NOTE: I do NOT recommend this obsolete publication, though it was cited in the original Journal article as it contains unsafe inaccuracies]
"Basic Housing Inspection," US DHEW, S352.75 U48, p.144, out of print, but is available in most state libraries.
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