I have an outlet upstairs in my house that has an open ground when tested. I tried putting in a GFI outlet, to try to fix the problem, however when I tried to trip the GFI with my tester, it wouldn't trip the GFI. The GFI is brand new and the tester works downstairs, I even tried replacing the GFI, but I still have an open ground and still can't trip the GFI. I also tried putting a ground wire to the metal box and the GFI should I remove this ?
2007-08-19 10:57:49 · 9 answers · asked by martin r 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Putting in the GFI was the right thing to do since it sounds like you do not have a ground wire coming to the box.The ground wire you put from the GFI to the box is not doing anything without one coming in from your panel box.Unless you have metal pipe or metal cable coming to your outlet boxes they probaly are not grounded.Code requires a GFI receptacle in that situation.Make you connected your wires correctly on the GFI ,the Line and Load terminals.Line would be the hot coming in.You will get an open ground reading until a ground wire is installed.The GFI will protect you from a fault.
2007-08-19 12:41:07 · answer #1 · answered by scott n 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
a gfci works by comparing the current in the hot wire with the current in the neutral wire. if the two are more than a few milliamps different, the gfci will trip and open the circuit. this protects you from current traveling outside it's intended path. the two guys above me are correct in that the gfci will protect you from a fault. the tester doesn't work because it works by connecting the hot to the ground thru a push button and a resistor to limit the current. no ground, no worky. if you use a voltmeter or a wiggy and touch one lead to the box and one lead to the hot on the gfci it will trip because current is flowing outside of it's intended pathway. while this situation is livable, it is still not technically legal as the house was wired with a ground and article 250 of the code requires that all metal parts of a raceway system, all metal boxes and all receptacle terminals be grounded by a specific size of wire.
2007-08-19 21:51:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The tester uses the ground for the test. With an open ground the tester won't work.
2007-08-20 00:02:28 · answer #3 · answered by John himself 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scott is right, using a gfci receptacle without a ground will work to provide fault protection, I left my code book at work, but in the US you may need to label the outlet indicating no ground present. Be safe, if in doubt call an electrician, don't burn it up.
2007-08-19 20:37:20 · answer #4 · answered by dtstellwagen 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An open ground means that your ground wires are not bonded to earth ground. You DO need this for safety. If you plug in a faulty appliance, instead of the voltage being on the surface of the appliance where it can kill you, the ground wire takes the voltage to ground, which will trip your breaker saving you a nasty shock.
Without a proper ground, your GFCI will not work properly.
You can use a ohm meter to trace where the ground is broken. If you aren't qualified to use an ohn meter, I suggest you call in an electrician.
2007-08-19 18:24:13 · answer #5 · answered by Bare B 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The GFI will still function because it reacts to difference in potential.
2007-08-19 18:08:13 · answer #6 · answered by Snoonyb 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
the only tester to be used on the GFCI is the one built into the GFCI . if it trips the unit it is OK.
2007-08-20 00:46:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take it your using one of those testers that you plug into the outlet. an open ground means your ground wire isn't connected somewhere. It can be a big pain in the butt to find where it is disconnected. You really don't "need" a ground wire, but it is a nice safety feature.
2007-08-19 18:10:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
call an electrician to find out why you have no ground. potentially dangerous.
2007-08-19 19:09:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋