In duct blower motor not installed to code

[bw77]

I found this in a family member's home.

This is an 8" duct with a blower motor. The motor comes with a 6' power cord.
It looks like the plug and all of the insulation was removed and the 3 wires were wire nutted
to romex wires outside the box.

I see 2 options to get this up to code.

1- Buy a new blower motor, and connect the plug to a switched receptacle.

2- Buy a round appliance cord, connect one end to the motor and plug it into a switched receptacle.

Comments?

 

[mm08822]

Provide mfr/part# to be able to comment.

A cord used to plug into a fixed recept is needed or a service switch if hard wired.

Either way, need info.

 

[Bert_]

I don't think those come with cord. Just individual wires coming out of the housing.

I think I would attach a box to the housing, with the wires going into the back of the box. Probably have to take the blower loose and rotate the whole thing so the wires come out where you can access them

 

[bw77]

Provide mfr/part# to be able to comment.

A cord used to plug into a fixed recept is needed or a service switch if hard wired.

Either way, need info.

It's a Suncourt DB208. I can't find info for that model, only for the DB208C which is the corded version,
I would say. So it never had a cord.

 

[mm08822]

It's a Suncourt DB208. I can't find info for that model, only for the DB208C which is the corded version,
I would say. So it never had a cord.

Move the jbox onto the blower as Bert's suggestion. Put a service switch into jbox.

Remove the existing strain relief and replace with a chase ****** or squeeze connector with metal locknut.

(I'm not sure how this uncorded version was able to satisfy a UL Listing equivalence unless someone field modified it as pictured.)

 

[walta]

Try removing it don’t tell anyone most likely the only thing they will notice is that it is quieter than before. I don’t think the inline blowers do much if anything but make people think they did something. If the big blower in the furnace can’t move air thru the ducts this 1/16 HP blower is really going to the change that? If the duct system is really that poor then install a proper system and really fix the problem and stop playing placebo mind games.

 

[Codyboy]

Just curious. If its working , why even mess with it at all?
Honestly I don't get it.
Is it just because there is exposed wire, exposed wire nuts?

 

[bw77]

Try removing it don’t tell anyone most likely the only thing they will notice is that it is quieter than before. I don’t think the inline blowers do much if anything but make people think they did something. If the big blower in the furnace can’t move air thru the ducts this 1/16 HP blower is really going to the change that? If the duct system is really that poor then install a proper system and really fix the problem and stop playing placebo mind games.

It's not connected to the furnace.

There is a wood stove in the dining room, and when they burn wood it warms that area well, and the furnace
does not run. They wanted to direct heat from the dining room to the basement, so the pipes don't freeze.

 

[bw77]

Just curious. If its working , why even mess with it at all?
Honestly I don't get it.
Is it just because there is exposed wire, exposed wire nuts?

It would only be an issue if the house was sold and an inspector noticed it.

Sometimes I notice things and wonder why it was done that way.

 

[PCustoms]

Sometimes I notice things and wonder why it was done that way.

Because they're cheap and/or didn't know any better.

 

[dscheidt]

Because they're cheap and/or didn't know any better.

Or too lazy to walk to the truck to get the part they needed, and they know no one is checking their work.

 

[bw77]

Update - I removed the wiring to the blower motor. It is on a 20amp circuit that was extended
from a receptacle with 14awg wire. And when I removed the back stabbed wires from the
receptacle they both pulled out, did not have to push in the release. And the hot wire had
a bare spot that was taped over with scotch tape.

Very poor quality work.

 

[mm08822]

Now that's a good find to make it all worth while.
Keep your eyes open for more discount specials.

 

[75gmck25]

My experience with folks who are "scared of electricity" is that they really have no concept of what is safe and unsafe, or would meet code. They have so little understanding of electricity that they often can't see the difference between a dangerous shortcut and a proper installation.

The irony is that these are sometimes the same folks who buy an old vehicle to restore and decide that installing an all new wiring harness is easier than troubleshooting a few problems with the existing wiring. I often wonder how that installation goes for them.

 

[dscheidt]

The irony is that these are sometimes the same folks who buy an old vehicle to restore and decide that installing an all new wiring harness is easier than troubleshooting a few problems with the existing wiring. I often wonder how that installation goes for them.

Poorly. I have fixed a few vehicles like that, often when the guy who bought the unfinished prject gave up. I saw all sorts of just plain stupid work, like the guy who cut all the terminals off, to install crappy quick connect ones. Or the one where the harness was basically a “Y”, and they had reversed the two branches, and then run a bunch of jumpers to make it almost work. All one color wire, of course….

 

[rust in the eye]

Update - I removed the wiring to the blower motor. It is on a 20amp circuit that was extended
from a receptacle with 14awg wire. And when I removed the back stabbed wires from the
receptacle they both pulled out, did not have to push in the release. And the hot wire had
a bare spot that was taped over with scotch tape.

Very poor quality work.

Comprehensively inept.
What was your solution?