Questions tagged [grounding]

Grounding (also called earthing) refers to the practice of providing an un-energized path back to the main neutral. This is done to allow any electrical faults to flow into that circuit, instead of anyone touching the fault. Use with the [electrical] tag.

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Is there a way to check if your breaker box is grounded?

I've got an old home, built in 1945. I assume the electrical box in the basement isn't that old. There's a ground to the main water line entry. There's also this other wire that looks like a ground ...
0 votes
3 answers
225 views

Connecting a smart switch ground wire to a metal junction box

I try to connect a smart switch with an integral ground wire. There is no ground wire connected to my old switch. Can I connect the integral ground wire to the small hole circled in red in my photo. ...
0 votes
1 answer
112 views

Why Surge Protection Device (SDP) fails and how to deal with that [closed]

The power surge from the electrical line has taken out electrical appliances from many houses not sure if it's a power sub station fault or primary lightning strike on power pole. But some of the ...
0 votes
1 answer
237 views

Replacing a 4-gang standard switches with smart Kasa switches

I am trying to replace a 4-gang standard switches with Kasa smart switches. How do I connect all the neutral white wires from the switches to the white neutral bundles in the box? There are too many ...
2 votes
1 answer
147 views

Can I use a 6AWG ground wire for a 100A feeder that has a section SER 1-1-1-3 and a section THHN?

I'm running a feeder to a 100A sub-panel. The total run is about 90 feet. 60 feet is in an attic, and I'm planning to use Aluminum SER 1-1-1-3, the other 30 feet is through a 1.5" PVC conduit on ...
1 vote
1 answer
116 views

How to Ground flexible metal conduit (FMC)

I’m looking to run 3 circuits 20A 120VAC (3 wires per circuit; H,N,& G, 12 gauge THHN) together through 3/4” FMC. Circuits will have ground fault and arc protection breakers. Residential basement ...
3 votes
3 answers
979 views

Does adding an explicit ground wire to EMT conduits provide any advantages?

I am well aware that NEC allows the EMT conduit to be used as grounding conductor. In my home, there is no dedicated grounding wire through the EMTs. I know this is fine. When I recently got HP/HPWH ...
5 votes
5 answers
40k views

Do I need to ground black gas pipe?

The backstory: My HVAC friend, my dad and myself installed new gas pipes in my house after the 40 y/o pipe started leaking. Suffice to say, the old pipe was beyond repair, every retightening of the ...
1 vote
0 answers
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Does a subpanel at boat lift need grounding rods?

I have a boat lift that is wired with 8/3+insulated ground (240v). I want to add a subpanel at the lift to install a 120 outlet and future overhead lights. Initially, I will have a GFCI 240 breaker ...
1 vote
1 answer
489 views

Common ground wire for multiple circuits with different wire sizes

I'm wiring my workshop and want to use a common ground wire for multiple circuits. I've found several answered questions here about using a common ground wire but I haven't found one for my specific ...
0 votes
1 answer
61 views

How far does my grounding wire wander?

I don't know if my question is even answerable, but I'd appreciate any insight. My home was built pre-1960. There is a grounding wire that goes into the ground (obviously) around 6 inches from the ...
0 votes
1 answer
93 views

Ground has power

Half of circuit works other half doesn't, until I use ground wire instead of neutral with black wire. Why does white wire read only 53V? All wires are hooked up the way they were previously and there ...
0 votes
0 answers
66 views

14 volts on bare copper ground wire at light switch with breaker off & low volts on hot wire with breaker on

so I have two light switches on each end of our hallway that controls the hall lights (3 way switches). For years it hasn't worked or one of the switches were bad, because you could wiggle it, and the ...
0 votes
1 answer
115 views

splice ground wires together in conduit bodies

Is it against code to crimp(Bond) ground wires together inside conduit bodies or to extend the ground. a city inspector(Bronx) stated it was not up to code and I'm unable to find any information on ...
-2 votes
1 answer
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Are Marbonite tiles good electrical insulator

I know whenever we handle Circuit breaker or Main Supply lever at home. We have to wear a footwear which is non-conductive and insulated glove. My question is , As far as I'm aware a tile which is not ...
1 vote
1 answer
565 views

Can I ground only part of my house?

Background: My house was built in the 50s (I think) or thereabout. Hence the electrical wiring reflects the understanding of that time and is not the way that current (2023) code and safety ...
1 vote
2 answers
943 views

How do I properly ground a 12V off-grid solar system?

I have a 12V DC system I just built (see image below), which I intend to ground to the DC negative side (see dotted green lines) but not quite sure if it's correct / best-practice. From what I've read ...
1 vote
1 answer
54 views

Grounding in a main panel and indoor subpanel

Our outdoor main panel does not have a ground bar, but there is stranded bare wire that leaves the panel and goes through conduit into the ground. We want to add breakers to this box for a spa panel, ...
0 votes
1 answer
236 views

Running power to detached garage

The time has come for me to run power to my detached garage. A little bit of background - I am well versed in all aspects of home improvement, am fairly comfortable and have done my fair share of ...
1 vote
1 answer
104 views

How do I properly ground metal conduit (outdoor application)?

I am trying to add an exterior outlet to the rear of my house using an existing circuit that was once wired to a floodlight, and want to make sure I am grounding the circuit properly with my ...
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

How does metal bracket provide ground?

I am replacing an old light fixture. The junction box has no ground wire coming out of it. The instructions say that if this is the case to attach the ground wire from the light fixture to the green ...
3 votes
1 answer
859 views

Can I use bare aluminum wire for a ground in conduit?

Can I use #8 bare aluminum wire for a ground with 3 insulated #8awg wires in PVC pipe? I have this wire just lying around. Or should I use all insulated wires?
32 votes
5 answers
491k views

Is it ok to have mixed grounds and neutrals on bars in a breaker box?

So to continue my line of electrical questioning (and perhaps narrow down my flickering light problem), I took a look through the two panels in this house. There is a 200amp main service in the ...
0 votes
3 answers
117 views

Grounding rod conflicts with circuit tester

I built an off-grid shed with solar system. The output from the solar panels goes to a charge controller, then to a 12V LiPO4 battery. I convert the 12V from the battery to 120V ac using a 1500W ...
3 votes
1 answer
181 views

Should I oversize conduit and grounding wire size?

I'm getting ready to place my materials order and have a few last details/checks I could use help with. This is for installing a subpanel in a detached pump house. I'm putting a 60 amp two-pole ...
2 votes
1 answer
857 views

Add Junction Box for Double Oven

California house built in the 1960s. Here's the existing junction box for the ovens. Ovens are busted and needed to be replaced Right away, I am confused: Red looks like 8 AWG Black, White look ...
3 votes
3 answers
473 views

NEC gurus: What does condition 2 mean in the exception to subsection 250.32(B)(1), to not run an equipment ground in a feeder to an out building?

I'm trying to understand the exception in the NEC, subsection 250.32(B)(1), which gives permission to use the grounded conductor as the ground fault current path. Apparently, in earlier code cycles ...
0 votes
1 answer
84 views

Is my ceiling box sufficiently grounded?

I just installed a new (ceiling fan rated) metal ceiling box (something like this) and a new ceiling fan. After completing everything, I just remembered that I forgot to explicitly ground the ceiling ...
2 votes
1 answer
132 views

Size of conductor from UFER to main panel upgrade

I am doing a service upgrade from 100 to 400A. I recently passed the mandrel inspection for the conduit. The power company, PG&E, now wants a meter release from the city. I met with the city ...
0 votes
1 answer
58 views

Is this an outdoor ground rod?

This is outside my house. I can't find any wires going to it. Is this a ground rod? Is it safe to run new ground wire from the house to it? Due to the rust, should I remove it and install a new 8ft ...
11 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is this outlet safely grounded?

I was replacing one of the outlets in the kitchen in my home and I noticed the ground wire goes to a screw on the back plate of the outlet box, and a green ground wire runs from the same screw on the ...
0 votes
1 answer
80 views

Dead Electrical Leg - Ground or wire-nut and “Abandon”/Tuck?

I have a mess of a “finished” basement in CA (California) that was wired atleast 4x 1922, 1940-50, 1980 and again in 2020, before I came to own the pile of garbage. I am redoing a lot of the wiring ...
0 votes
2 answers
873 views

Grounding metal electrical boxes [closed]

I would like confirmation on the following: Is any metal box automatically grounded if it is supplied by an armored cable (without a ground wire) that is properly connected to the box and back to the ...
1 vote
2 answers
74 views

AWG for grounding Romex circuits that meet EMT

Consider 3/4" EMT running from a main panel to a workshop. It has THHN wires for a 240V 30A circuit and a 120V 20A. The EMT is the ground. In the workshop, the EMT ends at a metal box, and from ...
2 votes
2 answers
283 views

How do I connect a separately run equipment ground to a grounding electrode conductor? [duplicate]

Jurisdiction Kentucky, USA; 2017 NEC / NFPA 70 Background I live in a house built in the 50s that was originally wired with ungrounded outlets. Many parts of the house have been rewired, but a room ...
0 votes
2 answers
354 views

Self-grounding clip

If a receptacle has a self-grounding clip and is being installed in a metal box, but the metal box does not have ground, does the clip itself provide ground?
1 vote
0 answers
40 views

2 out of 3 sets of (black) wires in receptacle are hot

I am trying to replace old receptacles in my 1952 home. None of the receptacles have ground wires, so I am replacing the first ones on the line to protect the ones connected to the load using a GFCI ...
8 votes
4 answers
2k views

Alternative GFCI Wiring in Strict 240V Scenario?

I have a strict 240V wiring situation (i.e., two hots + ground, no neutral) with a hot tub as the only load on the circuit. Now, I think it’s very prudent (and generally mandated) to have a local ...
0 votes
2 answers
126 views

Ground bus for sub panel?

I am replacing an old fuse box in our (detached) garage with a modern breaker panel. What I've discovered is that the breaker boxes I can get from Home Depot have a neutral bus in them, but no ground ...
2 votes
4 answers
1k views

Is is safe to only use a gfci with no ground wires downstream?

If you use a GFCI outlet and the rest of the outlets downstream don't have a ground wire attached, are they still considered grounded and are they safe?
5 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is this form of self grounding outlets really safe?

I am installing some of these outlets (link to lowes.com or link to amazon.com) which claim to have automatic grounding. It looks to me like the grounding is provided solely by that little strip of ...
0 votes
1 answer
93 views

Safely dealing with an "open ground" temporarily

We have a few outlets with an open ground (the power does work). But because of the bad heat right now, I can't ask an electrician to go up in the attic to investigate until the winter. I'd like to ...
2 votes
2 answers
462 views

Can I wire smart switch to two panels?

I've seen some similar questions but not my exact situation (forgive me if I missed it). I am wanting to replace a switch that controls the light in my swimming pool with a smart switch. Background... ...
2 votes
1 answer
37 views

Separate structure subpanel electrode grounding - Rod count and separation requirements

Having a subpanel replaced in garage (60 amp). No prior electrode grounding exists, which needs to be added. Most information I've come across cites use of 2 electrodes, minimally spaced 6 feet apart ...
3 votes
3 answers
560 views

Is GFCI and surge suppressor needed on a grounded 3-prong plug?

Recently a plumber installed a VIQUA IHS12-D4 Whole Home Integrated UV Water Treatment at our cottage. It plugs into a standard wall electrical socket with a 3-prong plug. The socket and panel are ...
0 votes
1 answer
145 views

Can I reuse the old dryer wiring for a generator plug? it's missing a ground

My generator needs a four wire connection but the dryer plug is only a three wire type. Can I just run a new ground wire along the path of the dryer wires? I know that electrically it would work but ...
20 votes
9 answers
28k views

I live in an older home without ground wiring. Is it safe to install 3-prong GFCI with only a hot and neutral?

I live in an older home that doesn't have any ground wiring. Is it safe to just install 3-prong GFCI outlets and use devices and appliances that expect a ground wire connection when I just have the ...
5 votes
1 answer
376 views

NEC 250.148: Can I splice separate circuit grounding wires to a junction box's grouding wire, resulting in a single grounding wire exiting the box?

Working on my first electrical project (laundry room conversion), so all of this is new to me. I'm splicing one 20A and one 30A circuit within a steel junction box to transfer from NM-B to THWN-2 for ...
0 votes
2 answers
213 views

Ungrounded outlet, power strip with ground LED, mild shocks

I moved into an older house with mostly ungrounded circuits. I do plan to upgrade the electrical system to install a proper ground, but I needed to get my workstation up and running right away for ...
2 votes
2 answers
341 views

Do I remove the screw keeper on a self-grounding outlet?

I'm installing Leviton 16252 Backwire Outlets into properly grounded metal boxes. These are self-grounding outlets, so I will, thankfully, be leaving the green screw alone. At one mounting screw is ...

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