Illegal Electrical Trick of the Trade

[jar546]

The head of this screw was suspicious to begin with and seeing that the back of the box was on wood, it was obvious what the electrician had done. After asking him to back the screw out, the suspicions were confirmed.
It was a wood screw with different threads and not engaged at least 2 threads in the box -NEC 250.8(A)(5)&(6) along with NEC 250.148(C)

 

[north star]

% ~ % ~ %

So, after finding this, did you now go and inspect every
other J-Box in the project, or other ?.......What did you
do, and what should a good conscientious Inspector
do upon finding this ?........Also, what did the EC say ?

% ~ % ~ %

 

[jar546]

% ~ % ~ %

So, after finding this, did you now go and inspect every
other J-Box in the project, or other ?.......What did you
do, and what should a good conscientious Inspector
do upon finding this ?........Also, what did the EC say ?

% ~ % ~ %

I then proceeded to find 4 more with similar issues and other issues such as loose grounds. I said I was done and I will recheck those and others so they need to check all the boxes before the next inspection.

 

[e hilton]

Actually it looks like a #8 non-self tapping sheet metal screw, not a wood screw. But the threads are too coarse to get enough threads to bite.

 

[jar546]

Actually it looks like a #8 non-self tapping sheet metal screw, not a wood screw. But the threads are too coarse to get enough threads to bite.

Yes, you are correct.