Voltage Drop at receptacles?
Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:26 am
Good morning,
recently I have started using a Suretest 61-165 Circuit Analyzer on all interior and exterior receptacles. As you know, this device will test for voltage drop to the receptacle during testing. I have had mixed reactions to this from Electricains...but all have pretty much agreed that the problem could not be fixed and was part of "normal operation". One electrician, of whom I do trust, likended it to a car having a speedomoter that reads 180mph when the car can only go 120mph since the receptacle would most likely never have anything plugged into it that would draw what the meter is testing for. I didn't agree and use my own interpretation of VD from the NEC fpn and a written statement about the concerns relating to a decrease in voltage. This has come to a head on a recent inspection of the brand new 4 million dollar SFR in Broward County, Florida. Roughly 75% of the receptacles tested for 14%+ VD with some over 20% VD. The contractor's electricain stated that this wasn't a problem and was actually in an unenforceable location of the NEC. No repair was made from there. My question is...what, if any, language do you use or recommend to relate this issue to the client and keep from being impeached by uneducated contractors? thank you in advance.
recently I have started using a Suretest 61-165 Circuit Analyzer on all interior and exterior receptacles. As you know, this device will test for voltage drop to the receptacle during testing. I have had mixed reactions to this from Electricains...but all have pretty much agreed that the problem could not be fixed and was part of "normal operation". One electrician, of whom I do trust, likended it to a car having a speedomoter that reads 180mph when the car can only go 120mph since the receptacle would most likely never have anything plugged into it that would draw what the meter is testing for. I didn't agree and use my own interpretation of VD from the NEC fpn and a written statement about the concerns relating to a decrease in voltage. This has come to a head on a recent inspection of the brand new 4 million dollar SFR in Broward County, Florida. Roughly 75% of the receptacles tested for 14%+ VD with some over 20% VD. The contractor's electricain stated that this wasn't a problem and was actually in an unenforceable location of the NEC. No repair was made from there. My question is...what, if any, language do you use or recommend to relate this issue to the client and keep from being impeached by uneducated contractors? thank you in advance.