In my house I have mostly 2 prong outlets and I would like to replace them with grounded 3 prong outlets. From what I can tell I do not have a ground wire coming into the boxes and the boxes arent connected with EMT, just the wires running from the box downstairs. Its a 100 amp service which is code and I want to avoid running new romex up there to get my ground wire. GFCI breaker?
2007-08-28 02:37:30 · 7 answers · asked by undeadvirus 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Lots of wrong answers. As usual. You had the correct one. The national electric code allows you two options. Replace the 2 prong receptacle with another 2 prong receptacle. Or install a GFCI receptacle, (not breaker). You will still not have a ground, but the installation will comply with code and not be unsafe. The alternative is to rewire with a 3 conductor circuit. Ground wires must terminate in your electric panel, not on some pipe or such. A GFCI installed on the first receptacle in the circuit can protect any other receptacles down stream. Don't take electrical advise from untrained people.
2007-08-28 10:38:28 · answer #1 · answered by John himself 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A GFCI breaker won't provide a ground.
"Just wires running from the box downstairs"??????
Do you see the wiring anywhere except inside the box.
If the house is old, and the boxes are steel, there's a very good chance that they were wired with armored cable, ('BX'), the jacket of which is grounded.
Do the wires enter the box through a metallic fitting?
You can do a continuity check with a cheap meter,
(the 'ohms` scale), between the box and the white,
(neutral), wire to confirm the existence of this ground.
There are grounding clips that attach to the box to connect to the ground screw of the new outlets if your boxes are grounded.
Good luck.
2007-08-28 02:53:35 · answer #2 · answered by Irv S 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You need a ground wire for the third prong. If the outlet boxes are metal, you can run a single wire between them, attach it each one with a screw with a serrated lock washer. Run a pigtail(short piece of wire) between the new three prong outlet ground screw and the box(the ground screw will be painted green). Use green, bare or green with a yellow stripe for the wire. 14 Gauge should be adequate for home wiring. Ground all your outlets to a water or gas pipe using a clamp designed for this. Do not forget to clean the paint from the pipe! If you are not sure that your water or gas pipe are deep and metal, drive a separate ground rod. You also need to tie this back into the ground bar inside your main panel box. Do not tie grounds to neutral together anywhere except in the main panel box.
2007-08-28 02:53:01 · answer #3 · answered by john the engineer 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If the boxes are connected with EMT just run a green wire from box to box and connect to your receptacles ground screw. At the panel end there should be a ground lug that grounds your panel or a grounding strip,which if there is I dont know why they didnt run a ground to begin with. Your best bet ask a licensed electrician.
2007-08-28 05:15:11 · answer #4 · answered by petethen2 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hey there....
You really need to make sure you have a good ground connection. I think you will probably have to start running new cable....
I think you have been unlucky as some 2 prong sockets had the box grounded, allthough this may not be up to current standards it is an option.
Good luck and try not to take any chances.....
2007-08-28 02:44:23 · answer #5 · answered by Andy 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
easiest way is to add the new 3 prong(grounding screw ) outlets and run the ground wire on the green screw to a metal box or copper pipe anything that you know to be grounded
2007-08-28 05:16:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Give the 10 to John.
2007-08-28 03:28:36 · answer #7 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋