Using a GFI Breaker in The Electrical Panel - Open Ground?

Question

I have an open ground in a couple of my outlets in my house. There has been some rewiring done before I bought it, and I had the electric panel redone since I have owned it. Some of the open ground outlets I am able to close off, but some I still need some of the outlets. Will a GFI outlet , or a GFI breaker be better ? will the town C/O inspector flunk me if I do this ?

Answer 1

The NEC only states that certain circuits have to be "ground fault protected" so the good news is that a GCFI breaker or a GFI outlet is just fine either way...
The bad news is that neither of these is going to fix an open ground. Check for plastic boxes, Romex with disconnected bare ground wire.. BX not well connected to the boxes or to the panel...

More details about the wiring in your house will help us answer better...

Let me know.

Answer 2

Yes you can install a GFCI receptacle on a circuit that has no ground wire. This will provide you with some added safety over the old ungrounded two prong receptacles. If you replace a receptacle with a GFCI all receptacles "downstream" in the circuit will also be protected. In some areas the electrical code will allow you to do this in order to be able to use modern three-prong plugs without rewiring for a ground. However, you will not get a true ground and will have to label the receptable with a "no equipment ground" sticker. Having a true ground wire will only matter for certain electronics, and GFCI shouldn't be added to any circuits where you'll plug in medical equipment in case the circuit interrupts and shuts off the equipment.

Answer 3

Let me tell you an open ground its a constant danger to the people living in a dwelling,first identify the designed circuit breaker that controls those two receptacles then with a proper tester trace it's path then open the boxes and follow the lead to where the ground its open . Fixing it is the way to go for safety purpose;if you try to use a GFCI or a GFI to correct the problem you going to be in deeper trouble because GFCI breaker says by it's abbreviation Ground fault circuit interrupt and obvious GFI receptacle it's not going to be able to work its function if you use on one of the receptacle locations trying to correct what you don't have;If you are required to have a GFCI on each bedroom receptacles by city ordinances and NEC compliance's then you going to have to do it right , just remember done right you don't have to worry about two things a hazard or a C/O inspector and its done well.good luck

Answer 4

erikfaraway is right on. You asked this same question two days ago, and the answer is still the same. Find the open ground and repair it. Then hook up your GFCI. An inspector is not going to pass your electric with an open ground.

Answer 5

For selective recep. just use the outlets.

Answer 6

if you cant repair it.. change the outlets to 2-prong instead of the normal 3 prong.