Electric Cert Question

[Tim The Enchanter]

have an electrican give it a once over every 15 to 20 years.

And do what? Wires in conduit, BX, Romex, I don't think these really deteriorate much over time, very slowly.
Electric outlets get loose with wear, switches, breakers too.
I guess I am answering my own question.

 

[Mr Rex]

And do what? Wires in conduit, BX, Romex, I don't think these really deteriorate much over time, very slowly.
Electric outlets get loose with wear, switches, breakers too.
I guess I am answering my own question.

I'm not an electrician and I have one of these:

http://www.idealindustries.ca/media/pdfs/products/suretest_circuit_analyzers_brochure.pdf

 

[Noreen]

And do what? Wires in conduit, BX, Romex, I don't think these really deteriorate much over time, very slowly.
Electric outlets get loose with wear, switches, breakers too.
I guess I am answering my own question.

And I don't abuse it either Lee, we have a lot of "home trained" electricians here twisting wires together and leaving them hanging, no caps, no junction boxes, that's when I will call for a "licensed electrician" to sign off on this funky stuff.

 

[Riick]

Age of the Breaker Box itself is unimportant, however, Code has changed in some respects.
I recently sold a property that had a breaker system that would not meet Code today, there was
no *Main* circuit breaker, while today's code calls for being able to shut off *all* the electricity with
only a few (3-4?) hand motions.
I guess it's possible that was the reason?
Also, as Terrell said, there are some circuit breaker systems that have a tendency to -ummm- overheat.
It shouldn't happen, but still it does, and, if the house wiring is made of aluminum instead of copper,
well, trust me, it can be a very sour pickle.

 

[Mr Rex]

6 hand motions at the main panel to cut off everything.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

My post is inquiring if others are based solely on age.

If old enough to have twp prong outlets yes, I'd flag it for inspection.

 

[Riick]

If old enough to have twp prong outlets yes, I'd flag it for inspection.

I had one once that had one, count 'em', one 115v, 15 amp fuse for the house. Not too many outlets there.
Flagged it as inadequate for modern needs. That one was during a period where I was working with a
team that handled a bank's CRA (Community Re-Investment Act) loans. Some of those homes were a little run-down.

 

[Don Clark]

On a VA Appraisal the appraiser can call for an inspection by any qualified person that involves something outside their expertise. It is the SAR's call if the SAR believes it is not warrented. If this is an old fuse box, there are nio replacement parts for them. If it is a very old breaker box, it may not be sufficient for the circuits it needs to serve. At any rate, the appraiser has a right to call for such an inspection if the appraiser believes it is warranted. This is what I put in every appraisal:


“Where applicable, based on report for or type utilized, Appraiser has made a visual inspection of what is readily apparent. The appraiser has not moved, relocated or otherwise performed an intrusive or invasive inspection. The appraiser’s "Inspection" is not to be considered to be the same as a Home Inspection by a Home inspection expert, contractor, or tradesman. The appraiser has not tested any system such as electrical, plumbing, heating/air conditioning. If requested, or if appropriate, the appraiser may have turned on lighting for photo taking, or flushed toilets to observe function. The appraiser will only report what was observed.”