[TowerTalk] Wiring

[Kevin Stover]

>
>
>I designed my barn wiring on
>actual current measurements, not NEC specs.  The 50A breaker is not really
>needed on the lighting circuit.  It is what I had for the mains box at the
>time.  The mains breaker box is no longer manufactured and a new 30A breaker
>costs about $50.
>
Using oversized breakers is just as dangerous as using undersized or 
wrong wire type. You always match the size of the breaker to the max 
current capabilty of the wire not the projected load. If you've got more 
load than can be supported safely by the romex in a circuit then you 
wire another cicuit with the appropriate breaker in the box.

>One can not wire stuff any way they want, either legally or
>morally.
>
Au Contraire. In a retrofit I can legally wire it any way I want.
I'm then responsible both financially and criminally if the place goes 
up in flames. The insurance companies love that.
Woe is be to me if I decide to ignore the local code, wire it like I 
think it should be wired, and someone gets killed either in the 
resulting fire or putting it out.
This pertains to retrofits not new construction. In new construction 
you've got inspections and building permits.
I saw one city inspector make a developer rip the romex out and have it 
re-wired because the boxes weren't the right distance off the floor in a 
$300K house. The new owner wanted them there and the city said no.


R. Kevin Stover, ACØH