My narrative below:

Neutral wires are doubled or bundled together under the same lug on the neutral bus bar. This is unsafe due to the potential loss of neutral connection to the remaining shared circuits in the event of a loose connection or when servicing or isolating the circuits using this common connection. A loss of neutral may result in over-voltage condition of an energized circuit, and damage or potential fire may occur. Recommend qualified electrical contractor repair as necessary and per standard building guidelines.
While this practice has been commonly installed by electricians, and approved by local building authorities in the past, most service panel manufactures have explicitly prohibited it for several years. Current building standards now enforce this restriction.  For more information please visit: http://static.schneider-electric.us/docs/Electrical%20Distribution/Panelboards/0100DB0705.pdf

It boils down to cost Sean.

The primary reason for the allowance with A/C units is that the sustainable load while the unit is operating will never reach 40amps... it may surge upon start-up near that, but the sustainable load will be around the minimum ampacity rating on the data tag.

Certainly works for me... and has saved me from an angry homeowner more than once who claimed I broke something or a client who claimed the furnace never worked... that "clutter" has come in very handy.  I find it no more time consuming to quickly review those images than it is to sort through several pages of scribbled notes.  In fact, it works better and faster for me as I have certain photos I take that tell me exactly what the defect to be written up is, while others are simply descriptive notes.
I got in this habit from doing thousands of rehab field inspections for a large lender.  They required every room, every below sink, every elevation, etc, etc to be documented with a photo. Writing the 30 minute report later was simply reviewing the pics. It's just stuck with me.

Each inspector has their own thing, and no one is better than the other.  I teach from day one to all my students that they need to find what works for them and stick to it... so long as they miss nothing. 

Yeah... it's a fantastic camera. I can zoom in on a nail head on a 2nd story roof from the ground.  Plus the flash reaches out 29 meters which is awesome in crawls and attics.
I think it's more a professional end camera and those images typically don't have t/d stamps on them.
I have 2 of them... bought them used through amazon and ebay.  I would buy again most certainly.

I use a Sony DSC-H2

It surprised me as well that it does not have the option to imprint the time date stamp on images.

But it was still good! 

David nailed it. 
Most 40A breakers I run across are typically controlling HVAC equipment.  You would have to look at the data tag on the HVAC unit to determine the minimum ampacity circuit rating and the maximum allowable amp rating for the overcurrent protection device.  If you look at the next data tag you come across, you will see they are different and don't necessarily match wire size to breaker amperage.

If you look at the photo I attached, the data tag indicates Minimum circuit amps at 23.6A (which would be 12ga conductor) and Maximum Fuse or HVACR breaker rating at 40A.  This is what you must base your assessments upon of the breakers and conductors in the panel.  In this case, if you called out a 12ga conductor on a 40A breaker protecting the air conditioner... you would be incorrect in calling it out.

Hard to say in those photos... but if you saw tinges of copper, then most likely was tinned copper.  Often you can trace the wire for some length outside the panel and find identification markings on it somewhere to help with identification.

I also take lots of photos. That is how I take my notes.  400-600+ not uncommon for an inspection.  but only about 10% ever show up in the report.  ALL unedited originals stay in my files for future record.  I never delete any of them.

I know... turkey sandwich with mustard... doesn't get better than that!!!

ditto! 

I don't have the option with my camera, but they are included in the exif data I save with the original photos.

Some E&O insurance providers strongly recommend including them date and time stamps in your report images.

I know what you mean Marcel...  we're having leftovers tonight though! 

Hope everyone had their fill of turkey and fixin's and pleasant gatherings with family and friends.

Here's some IR images for your viewing pleasure...

Turkey and the fixin's....














Name that side dish...











Guess what is for desert? 





The oven got a workout...

Joey,

an excellent resource for starters is http://www.inspectapedia.com/structure/mobileinspections.htm

I treat them as a normal home inspection but NEVER discount them based on size... WAY too many more things I find with these especially if they're 10 years old or older.

I've told others before... if you didn't find moisture intrusion, go back and look again because you missed something. 
Typically you'll find numerous concerns in every section of whatever SoP you follow.

Yes that would be nice if possible.

My reports are long anyhow, but the option you are describing would work well.  Have you toyed with an option of throwing the caption above the photos then?  (just a thought...) 


Sweet!!!!

Dom,

Perhaps this has been discussed or already on the list, but I'll post anyhow...

1. I would like to place photos directly with or below each comment/damage item rather than at the bottom of each section.

2. I would love the option to turn off the summary section completely rather than rename it to something like "client notes" and print a blank page if I'm not using a summary. -Added in 2.7.5 -Dominic

Those sub panels sure look scary Marcel! 

Nice job.

Preston,

Dave is dead on!  I'll add that you should wait to purchase a camera until you have attended Level 1 training.  This way you'll get some hands on experience with a few cameras, plus you will be able to truly understand the camera specs that the vendors will throw at you (and may withhold on purpose).  As Dave said, cameras are not the same. Basing you purchase decision on price alone will be a grave mistake.  Making a purchase decision and not fully understanding the specs will also be a grave mistake.  I see too often the regrets of inspectors who made unsound purchase decisions and realized it very quickly (within the first 6 months).

As far as pricing is concerned, Dave pretty much covered that as well.  Once you truly understand the training and equipment costs associated with this technology, you'll be able to set your prices accordingly.  If you're thinking of spending $500 dollars for a certification... DON'T.  Save your money.  I hear from guys all the time who took the course and are FAR from adequately prepared to perform thermal imaging in a residential application.  You truly, truly, truly get what you pay for in this industry in both training and equipment. 

If I can be of further assistance to you or answer any other questions you can email me or give me a call as well. 937-423-2949 or bcwarner@gmail.com
I stay very busy ,so if I don't answer the phone, please leave a message and I WILL return your call! 

If I were closer I would help.

Yo hablo espanol un poco y muy despasio