Electrical inspection issue.

B

Bob Boldman

Guest
Here is my situation. I recently requested an electrical inspection for three phase electrical wireing in my garage. For your information I have the Mill and Lathe in place and wired in. The inspector briefly looked at the mill and wireing without comment. He then looked at the lathe and asked for a UL certification tag or insignia which the machine does not have. MY QUESTION:
Has an electrical inspecter questioned UL Certification on your machine(s) and if (most machines do not) so what did you have to do to pass inspection. Does a commerical lathe require UL certification? Please tell me your experience. There are so many different lathes in basements, garages and in businesses today; Please keep your comments within the topic I have brought up. Thank YOU.
 
Kinda makes you say HUM???? I will have to look and see if my Jet has a tag on it. Most it would involve would be a motor change, still not great but workable.

Joe

P.S. Don't send that inspector over to my house.:eek:
 
Bob Boldman said:
Here is my situation. I recently requested an electrical inspection for three phase electrical wireing in my garage. For your information I have the Mill and Lathe in place and wired in. The inspector briefly looked at the mill and wireing without comment. He then looked at the lathe and asked for a UL certification tag or insignia which the machine does not have. MY QUESTION:
Has an electrical inspecter questioned UL Certification on your machine(s) and if (most machines do not) so what did you have to do to pass inspection. Does a commerical lathe require UL certification? Please tell me your experience. There are so many different lathes in basements, garages and in businesses today; Please keep your comments within the topic I have brought up. Thank YOU.
Click to expand...


There are complete forums on 3 phase installations, VFDs & Phase converters on the Home Shop Machinist web sites........may provide more feedback on this limited subject....................Don
 
Another option is to wire in a 3 phase outlet, Paul Uhn or such, that meets code.
 
UL listing is basically a grounding/ insulating issue (earth as opposed to neutral) None of my machine tools in my shop have a UL listing plate on them, but most are antiques by today's standards.The system here is referred to as grounded B 3 phase. For your issue as I would guess you are using a 3phase converter, either rotary or static, sink a 4' or longer grounding shaft outside and then bring a lead in to your unit (6gage or so) connected to Machine frame also to frame of converter, vfd, ect. If the motor of your lathe and associated electrical components are isolated from the machine frame you will need to tie that grounding lead in also. As always when dealing with GOV. Inspectors it is best to have a locally licensed electrician check your work and sign off on it, saves so much grief down the road. Hope this helps somewhat and that I am not leading you astray.
 
Wire to a disconnect for your machines, and don't wire the machines to the disconnect (you should have one anyway). Tell the inspector you're selling it or whatever. When you call for a re-inspection, ask for this guy's supervisor to do the inspection. Wiring to a disconnect is all you have to have inspected, just like wiring the receptacles in your house, they don't inspect each lamp you plug into it. If there still is grief, demand they WRITE DOWN the exact code that is in violation. You are entitled to know what code is not being met.

Chances are the inspector doesn't really know what 3 phase is since it is mostly used in commercial work.
 
Bob Boldman said:
Here is my situation. I recently requested an electrical inspection for three phase electrical wireing in my garage. For your information I have the Mill and Lathe in place and wired in. The inspector briefly looked at the mill and wireing without comment. He then looked at the lathe and asked for a UL certification tag or insignia which the machine does not have. MY QUESTION:
Has an electrical inspecter questioned UL Certification on your machine(s) and if (most machines do not) so what did you have to do to pass inspection. Does a commerical lathe require UL certification? Please tell me your experience. There are so many different lathes in basements, garages and in businesses today; Please keep your comments within the topic I have brought up. Thank YOU.
Click to expand...
Bob,

This inspector has you over a barrel and he knows it. Find out what is really required to get your machine running and your wiring up to code. The master electrician that you hired for the job should be able to speak the man's language better than you. If everything else fails contact the chief electrical inspector in his office and get to the bottom of this. Be reasonable and hope that the inspectors are too.

Having an over zealous inspector is a possibility. If that is the case, you may just have to work around him. Keep in mind, he knows the code better than you. I am reminded of a case where a millwork wholesale company built a large building on their land in a major city for a door unit shop. They bought a great deal of brand new door unit equipment only to have an electrical inspector to refuse to sign off on a final inspection because he could not find a UL label on some of the highly specialized wood working equipment.

The building was finally approved after factory men from the equipment company came in and convinced the local building inspection department.

The inspector is suppose to be inspecting the electrical wiring job. Would it have passed if there were no equipment sitting around on site?

Concho Bill
 
Electrical Inspection

Yes Bill, I did my own electrical and it passed the inspection. The inspectors only issue was not seeing the UL on the lathe.

Since my original post I have spoken with a senior inspector, he said he would look into this and if needed offer suggestions. I am waiting...
 
Bob,

I have looked around my shop and it seems to be the rule that large machines don't have a UL label. The electrical parts do but not the machine as a unit. Smaller more common tools do carry the UL label. I think that the Underwriters Label is a devise to help insurance underwriters.

Concho Bill
 
Resolved...

Received the call from the senior inspector. I was told that they were passing the inspection. I didnt bother to ask why; I was too pleased to go any futher with this issue.

Thank you all for responding...

Bob Boldman
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top