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[Ray Aberle]

I see that after the accident someone was smart enough to plug it back in.  :-(

And it would be simple to get a flush mount male outlet to install in the space. Even better, an L5-20 twist lock male, so that it is difficult to remove and still presenting a female cable end when you do remove it.



... Not to justify their method of energizing the circuit, but even a regular twist-lock L5-20 there would have made it much more difficult for the toddler to remove it...

I noticed something I'm sure is an electrical code violation at my local post office yesterday, but didn't say anything at the time. Think I'm going to take a picture of it next week and send it to our county inspectors. I'm sure it's been like that for decades, but it's not only potentially dangerous, it's also a bad example to the public since this is in plain view of customers at the main counter. 

I'd bring it to the attention of the postal station master first, let him know there's a problem. If he brushes you off, then go to the county. Give him (her) a chance to do the right thing first.

-Ray

[Mike Sokol]

More Code Clusters from EC&M. I LOVE these things...

http://ecmweb.com/violations/code-clusters-fork-it-over-dude

BTW: I'm getting hungry for a hot dog with some Whirlwind Salsa. Wonder why??? 

EDIT ADDED: I just noticed the handles of the forks are insulated with e-tape. Yeah, THAT'S safe!!! 

[Doug Hammel]

Well, that would depend on who did it. If it was the owner/facility/whatever, then yeah, probably not going to fly with insurance. But if an electrical contractor did so (and presuming that they are properly licensed, etc) then you could certainly go after them.

None of this would, of course, preclude a lawsuit being filed by the parents of the toddler against everyone involved regardless of who is to blame!

-Ray

I should have added on the part of the owner of that "setup". The parents of that toddler definitely have a claim/lawsuit. It is not only illegal, but just plain stupid to wire something that way. What a world we live in. Mike is right, how many more violations are out there nationwide.

[Frank Koenig]

I see the problem! They didn't use a proper enclosure for the switch and pilot light. Those knockouts could get pushed in and contact a live part. -F

[Mike Sokol]

I see the problem! They didn't use a proper enclosure for the switch and pilot light. Those knockouts could get pushed in and contact a live part. -F

Besides the hot-dog cooker, I really like the No Cover Charge Cluster a lot.

http://ecmweb.com/violations/code-clusters-no-cover-charge

[Stephen Swaffer]

The sad thing is, if this is a typical commercial setup with drop ceiling, a few feet of metal clad would have made a relatively easy compliant fix at roughly the same material cost.  Or, a couple wiremold boxes-no less unsightly than the "fix" and safe!   Around here a problem like this would be caught during final inspection, and it would have to remedied before passed-but I guess if you are the one doing the inspections you can do as you see fit.

The liability thing costs everyone though.  Had a couple young boys die at a pool during a night youth activity a few years ago near here.  During construction the electrician had messed up the underwater lights, so the municipality that owned it sued him and got a breach of contract settlement.  A couple years later, without doing repairs they were still doing night swims and the boys drowned.  Since in Iowa muni are immune from wrongful injury lawsuits, the only entities they could find to sue were the organization that held the activity and the electrician.  But after paying the breach of contract, what other action could the electrician take to prevent problems?  Don't know if he had to pay-but I am sure he had to spend time and money on a lawyer! 

[Mike Sokol]

EC&M's Code Clusters Bracket Challenge. A real contest with prizes. 

http://ecmweb.upickem.net/upickem/registration/login.asp?contestid=122904#&NL=ECM-01&Issue=ECM-01_20140320_ECM-01_449&[email protected]&YM_MID=1454883&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1_2

[Jeff Bankston]

I like the splice in a bottle.  Reminded me of the power supply to the shed in my last house.

A few months after moving in, I noticed the lights flickering then after a while the trip would cut out.

Eventually I dug up the cable.  It was ordinary three core cable with solid copper conductors as used internally.  About ten feet away from the shed, there was a join.  The wires were just twisted together, wrapped up in insulating tape and buried in the ground!


Steve.

they shood a ben rapped in duck tape

[Jeff Bankston]

The picture below came from the State of Washington Labor & Industries (the department responsible for both workplace safety and electrical inspections in the State of Washington).

The company that posted the picture on Facebook said "this was used to energize an isolated circuit. A toddler pulled the energized male end out of the receptacle and stuck it in his mouth. Fortunately, the toddler survived a very dangerous electrical shock with minor burn."

thats F 'd up beyond belief !

[Frank DeWitt]

He is about to plug it in.  In use, it flexes every couple of seconds.  From this video
https://www.youtube.com/v/_mKSKZau9qs  Starting at 7:50

[ProSoundWeb Community]