These pictures were taken by Mantych Electric, Inc of conditions discovered during service calls. Much of the work was performed by the property owner, unlicensed handymen or builders. Some was caused by wear and tear or time. Cheaper is not always safe or cheaper. Some of these conditions may have been discovered or prevented by a basic electrical safety inspection.
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919-625-1413
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The damage to this panel was due to the installation of a breaker not approved for the panel. Since the breaker had a fairly heavy load and did not properly seat on the bus, it heated up to the point where the plastic mount began to melt. Bus got so hot it damaged the main breaker. Only repair was to replace the entire panel.
A basic electrical safety inspection by a licensed electrician could have avoided this costly repair.
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This situation could have been avoided by a basic electrical safety inspection. Not only would the problem with the aluminum wire have been discovered but also the leaking water heater. Just imagine the cost of heating the water that leaked out, the water itself and the structural damage to the building. This damage just did not happen over night, it took a while. All of this could have been minimized by a basic electrical safety inspection. The electrical system needs maintenance just like any other mechanical system.
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In the picture to the right I have removed the loose fitting breaker to better reveal the foreign object used to apply pressure
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We were called to a home that had recently been extensively renovated by an unlicensed builder. To make a few extra bucks for himself, he also became an unlicensed electrician. We were called because the light over the bar in the kitchen did not work and the three way switches for the dining room light were not working properly. The light over the bar was a simple fix as we just had to provide the switch controlling it with - POWER! The three way switch was also a simple fix, but the condition we found it was extremely hazardous to the residents. As pictured on the left, one of the travelers (red wire) between switches was connected to the ground terminal. When the three way switch was in a certain position it energized the yoke of the switch. This then energized the metal plate screws energizing the metal switch plate which energized the the plate screws to the dimmer contained in the same device box which energized the ground wire connected to the dimmer which is connected to the ground wire of the light fixture hanging 30 inches over the granite counter top of the kitchen bar.
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This next picture shows the relationship of these switches to another dimmer switch which was properly grounded. Imagine if one of the elderly homeowners had come into contact with these two switch plates at the same time. They would have become a conductor with 120 volts passing through their body and possibly across their heart. When told about this situation, the builder said he did not care of what might have happened, just fix it. This is exactly why they're licensed contractors and inspectors. Imagine again if your children or grandchildren are crawling around that granite counter top and come into contact with that hanging fixture. Is saving a few bucks really worth your or your family's well being?
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This customer was complaining of intermittent power. We found the aluminum feeder to be corroded. The same condition that caused the aluminum to oxidize possibly saved the apartment from burning. A water heater above this wire had been leaking for quite some time soaking through the floor and the aluminum feeder. For whatever reason the moisture reached the aluminum wire causing the oxidation. Over time the wire almost completely severed.
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People surprise me at how they will sleep in a building where they have made a make shift electrical repair. Here there is a problem with a breaker not fitting tightly in the panel. Notice the white circle in the picture to the right. First major problem, panel is a Federal Pacific (Google Federal Pacific for explanation) which magnifies the second problem of loose position on bus. Their answer is to wedge a foreign object between breakers applying pressure to make the connection.
This picture reveals the foreign object, a broken cassette tape case.
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Received a request to repost this picture. Mice gnawed the insulation from these wire. It was the last thing it gnawed
