Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok, Square-D, Zinsco, & other electrical product warnings
Lightning protection system inspection & repair
Low voltage wiring, switches, controls, inspection, repair, replacement guide
Rust hazards in electrical panels
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This website provides information about a variety of electrical hazards in buildings, with articles focused on the inspection, detection, and reporting of electrical hazards and on proper electrical repair methods for unsafe
electrical conditions.
We address safety for the electrical inspector, aluminum electrical wiring hazards, how to determine service voltage and ampacity, how to inspect electrical panels, and significant electrical
hazards of Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok breakers and panels, Federal Pioneer product warnings, certain Square-D product concerns, Zinsco and Sylvania circuit breakers and panels, multi-wire branch circuit protection, inspection and repair of low voltage wiring systems, and proper installation of lightning protection systems on buildings.
Aluminum Wiring Information Website Aluminum Electrical Wiring Hazards and Repairs: in-depth authoritative info, photos, documents including selection of proper vs. ineffective repair methods. E.g.: Ideal 65 "Twister" purple connector fails in field and lab testing with aluminum wire.
Ampacity and Voltage of an Electrical Service: How to determine the electrical service size or ampacity and service voltage (120/240) entering a Building
ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS: what are they, how do AFCI's work, where are they required to be installed? Also includes notes on GFCI's and the 2008 NEC electrical code.
Cadet Heaters Recall CPSC notice supplemented with identification and heater failure photos
Circuit Breaker, a bad one fails to trip failure at aluminum bus-to-circuit breaker connection - field report and photographs
Circuits, electrical: electric circuit basics for homeowners, electrical shorts, definitions of AC/DC, watts, amps, volts, etc.
Electrical Panels, How to Inspect in Buildings, safety for electrical inspectors, electrical panel, fusing, wiring defects, defective products. Inspection Class Presentation
"Inspecting Residential Electrical Panels," Daniel Friedman, HVASHI, September 12, 2002 Annual Seminar.
"Inspection of Electrical Systems & Special Concerns," Daniel Friedman,
ASHI/CAHI/OAHI/IAEI Conference, Toronto, Ontario, 10/19-21/1995
DEFINITIONS of ELECTRICAL TERMS: Amps, Volts, Watts, Resistance and other electrical terms are defined and illustrated with sketches
"Determining Service Ampacity," Daniel Friedman, Alan Carson, The ASHI Technical Journal,
Vol. 2 No. 1, Winter 1992
DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS: if you need to hire an electrician with special skills or familiarity with aluminum electrical wiring, FPE Stab-Lok replacement panels, Zinsco replacement panels, etc. here is a directory of professionals. DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS - Aluminum Wiring - Specialists in repairing aluminum electrical wiring DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS - FPE Zinsco - Specialists in repairing or replacing FPE, Zinsco, and other problem equipment
Electrical Panels, How to Inspect in Buildings, safety for electrical inspectors, electrical panel, fusing, wiring defects, defective products. Inspection Class Presentation
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Website Stab-Lok Circuit Breaker Panel Hazards Latent fire hazards, in-depth authoritative research, documents, advice on Stab-Lok electric panel and circuit breaker failures and what to do when this equipment is found in Buildings.
Low Voltage Electrical Wiring Repair & Replacement Guide for GE®, Remcon, Sweepe, Bryant, Sierra, other brands, and newer Touch-Plate® low voltage wiring systems. Low voltage lighting switches, relays, transformers, transconverters.
Outlet, how to install: guide for home owners & home inspectors - it's easy but important details make the difference between a safe installation of an electrical receptacle and one that is both dangerous and illegal.
Square D Circuit Breaker Recalls, announced by the US CPSC, recalls include a Square D GFCI circuit breaker distributed by Square D, and a Counterfeit Square-D circuit breaker sold through Scott Electric
WIND TURBINES - lightning protection and extra protection from lightning damage for wind turbine electrical generator systems and their controls and batteries
"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.
"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]
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"Whole-House Systems Approach [to saving on energy costs]", U.S. DOE, describes designing and constructing an energy-efficient home by considering all of the house systems. Original DOE source: www.energysavers.gov/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10370
"Insulation and Air Sealing", U.S. DOE describes how to reduce a home's heating and cooling costs by proper insulation and air leak sealing. Moisture control and ventilation are also discussed.
"Lighting and Daylighting", U.S. DOE, is a very brief DOE article suggesting how to reduce the cost of lighting in a building
"Space Heating and Cooling", U.S. DOE, attacks the biggest energy user in buildings, typically about 56% of energy use in a typical home in the United States.
"Water Heating", U.S. DOE, addresses reducing the cost of heating domestic hot water used for washing and bathing - that accounts for 14-25% of home energy usage in the U.S. and includes
"Energy Efficient Water Heating", U.S. DOE includes suggestions to lower hot water heating costs including reducing hot water usage, lowering hot water temperature, insulating the water tank (nonsense), insulating hot water pipes, installing heat traps on the water heater tank, water heater timers, and drain-water heat recovery systems (possibly not cost effective)
"Basic Housing Inspection," US DHEW, S
352.75 U48, p.144, out of print, but is available in most state libraries.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
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)
Aluminum Wiring Information WebsiteAluminum Electrical Wiring Hazards and Repairs: in-depth authoritative info, photos, documents including selection of proper vs. ineffective repair methods. E.g.: Ideal 65 "Twister" purple connector fails in field and lab testing with aluminum wire.
Circuit Breaker, a bad one fails to trip failure at aluminum bus-to-circuit breaker connection - field report and photographs
Electrical Panels, How to Inspect in Buildings, safety for electrical inspectors, electrical panel, fusing, wiring defects, defective products. Inspection Class Presentation
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok Circuit Breaker Panel Hazards Website - Latent fire hazards, in-depth authoritative research, documents, advice on Stab-Lok electric panel and circuit breaker failures and what to do when this equipment is found in buildings.
"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.
"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.
"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.
More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs
Links to our list of additional documents on electrical inspection, repair, and products
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