Neutral and Hot Reversed on Receptacle

[jar546]

If you were to perform a final inspection and test a few receptacles and found reverse polarity, what NEC code section would you cite?

 

[ICE]

200.10 Identification of Terminals.

(A) Device Terminals. All devices, excluding panelboards, provided with terminals for the attachment of conductors and intended for connection to more than one side of the circuit shall have terminals properly marked for identification, unless the electrical connection of the terminal intended to be connected to the grounded conductor is clearly evident.

Exception: Terminal identification shall not be required for devices that have a normal current rating of over 30 amperes, other than polarized attachment plugs and polarized receptacles for attachment plugs as required in 200.10(B).

(B) Receptacles, Plugs, and Connectors. Receptacles, polarized attachment plugs, and cord connectors for plugs and polarized plugs shall have the terminal intended for connection to the grounded conductor identified as follows:

(1) Identification shall be by a metal or metal coating that is substantially white or silver in color or by the word“white” or the letter “W” located adjacent to the identified terminal.

If the terminal is not visible, the conductor entrance hole for the connection shall be colored white or marked with the word “white” or the letter “W.”

 

[wwhitney]

200.10 Identification of Terminals.

That's not going to do it, unless the Hot/Neutral Reverse is due to mismarked terminals on the receptacle. That section only regulates markings on the device; it does not regulate how you land the conductors on the device.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[ICE]

That's not going to do it, unless the Hot/Neutral Reverse is due to mismarked terminals on the receptacle. That section only regulates markings on the device; it does not regulate how you land the conductors on the device.

Cheers, Wayne

Alrighty then...point us in the right direction.

 

[wwhitney]

Alrighty then...point us in the right direction.

I don't have anything better than 110.3(B): the receptacle installation instructions will surely tell you to land the grounded circuit conductor on the silver screw. If there's something more explicit in the NEC, I didn't find it during a brief perusal.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[fatboy]

Me neither...........

 

[ICE]

110.3 (B) Installation and use. Equipment that’s listed, labeled or both shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.

That would be the first electrician that ever read the installation instructions that comes with a receptacle.

 

[ICE]

what NEC code section would you cite?

I wouldn’t. Well maybe if I were in Montana ….everywhere else it would be “Polarity is reversed”

 

[jar546]

That's not going to do it, unless the Hot/Neutral Reverse is due to mismarked terminals on the receptacle. That section only regulates markings on the device; it does not regulate how you land the conductors on the device.

Cheers, Wayne

Correct. You beat me to it. Ice, you’re in the correct chapter though

 

[jar546]

Try 200.11

 

[ICE]

Try 200.11

200.11 Polarity of Connections. No grounded conductor shall be attached to a terminal or lead so as to reverse the designated polarity.

 

[ICE]

Ice, you’re in the correct chapter though

Close only counts with horse shoes and shotguns.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

110.3 (B) Installation and use. Equipment that’s listed, labeled or both shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.

That would be the first electrician that ever read the installation instructions that comes with a receptacle.

There's a joke here about electrical installation being "plug and pray."

 

[steveray]

Close only counts with horse shoes and shotguns.

And things having to do with the splitting of atomic neuclei...

Can't the terminals identify as whatever they want?

 

[mtlogcabin]

Well maybe if I were in Montana

You would have to call the CO OP and let them know the crossed the wires during the installation of their equipment.
Happened twice in the same subdivision a couple of years back.

Poor electrician apprentice was getting chewed on until the journeyman finally got out of the truck and started actually overseeing the work being done.