Loose wires, cause fires.

The title of this blog comes to me from an old AC/DC song.  No, not some tune that an electrician sings on the job.  I'm talking about the boys from Down Under.  It couldn't be more appropriate for the next few pictures.  At the rate I am finding this kind of stuff out there does anyone really care about doing it right?  Now some of these photos in this and previous blog entries were done by homeowners trying to save a buck, but will only succeed in costing them dearly down the road.  However, the rest of these were done by paid contractors who the owner trusted to do the right thing.  

I do not leave work like this.

First off, I need to give them credit on using a deep octagon steel box.  However, this box was going to be used to support a ceiling fan.  The box itself would have done it.  The sheetrock screws used to fasten the box to a block of wood won't however.  1/4" Steel panhead or lag screws need to be used as the shear strength of those screws is rated for support like this.


Secondly, notice where the white insulated romex wiring is coming into the box.  There needs to be a clamp here.  The wobbling from the fan will eventually wear the insulation away causing a direct fault, this means LOTS of sparks in layman's terms, and a possible fire.

Thirdly, the metal box is not grounded.  The bare ground wire should not only be connected to the other bare ground wires and have a lead to the green/bare wire on a fan or light, but also should be connected to the steel box to ground it as well.

And forthly (is that a word?) just look at the crappy job they did trimming out the wires.  The white sheathing of the romex should be removed along with the paper separator in the wire to a point where a clamp holds the wire. I guess since the installer didn't use a clamp he figured he'd just go ahead and make it a totally messed up job and leave this too.


Please, please, please - if you have something like that shown above in your home you should repair it.

The picture above here is a proper fan rated support box.  Romex wire clamps should be placed in the round wire knockouts to support the wires and keep them from rubbing on the box itself.    Notice the green screw for attaching the ground wire to also.  Imagine a ceiling fan falling on you while you sleep.  You know you have one above your bed or couch.  Do any of these things apply?

I'll keep finding these things.  You keep reading and call me when you need help fixing them.