1

I have bought a 1974 built Condo that had GFCI issues. A bathroom has a GFCI outlet and no ground wire attached. It has a red/white wire hook-up that functions properly. There is a metal box, however it not attached to anything at all. It just flops loose in the wall opening having a hole in the vertical 2x with just the wires running through the hole. A previous owner tiled the entire bathroom and the electric box 'ears' are behind the ceramic and tension the cover into place. It fails the ground test needless to say and the inspector wants it fixed for occupancy. The red/white wires seem to come from the light bar. Should I remove the light bar and try to fish a ground-wire up to a proper metal box there if there is one? If so, is there a test I can do to check for ground-ability? Getting to the main light switch from the outlet would be a real trick.

Improve this question

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
3

GFCI with no ground is OK, though it should be labelled as such. The GFCI provides better safety than the ground would have.

In fact, installing a GFCI is a common fix when better safety is needed but no ground is available; I have three installed for exactly that purpose.

Improve this answer
2
  • Thank You Keshlam, However currently there are already 2 GFCI's in place that fail the inspectors test, which I need to pass.
    – Dean
    Commented Sep 7, 2015 at 18:34
  • 1
    You need to find out what the actual concern is. Get specifics from whoever did the inspection. If local code absolutely demands a ground, you will have to either find some way to get an acceptable ground there .... or dismount the outlet, properly cap the wires, cover the opening with a blank plate, and accept not having an outlet there, if that meets code. First step is to find out exactly what the inspector's complaint was.
    – keshlam
    Commented Sep 9, 2015 at 0:17
1

As to the loose box, a metal box should be grounded, but you can replace it with an "Old Work" plastic box. Just a few bucks. However, if you have to fix the ground connection (Not an NEC requirement as long as it labeled "No ground"), and you only have two wires running to that box, then your best to run new 12-2 romex to where that wire originates and make sure the wires are connected properly

Improve this answer
-1

If you have a GFCI outlet, it can accept a three-conductor grounded power cord. Therefore, that outlet must be electrically grounded. The only time an ungrounded outlet is permissible is when no ground connection is provided and only a two-wire power cord can be plugged into it.

Non-GFCIs are forbidden in bathrooms. Therefore, you cannot use a two-conductor outlet because nobody manufactures a two-conductor GFCI.

If this were mine, I'd open the light bar and look for a ground there. If one is there, it'd be an easy enough job to fish a bare copper down to the ungrounded GFCI outlet. Failing that (no good ground in the light bar), I'd try to find a way to drill up into that wall from the basement (assuming 1st floor), from where I could fish a ground wire to the outlet. Failing that, I'd cap off the wires in the outlet and cover it with a blank plate.

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Uhm... not so, in my experience. An ungrounded GFCI, labelled as such, is considered acceptable. Having a ground is better, but is not mandatory in all places. See David's answer as well as mine.
    – keshlam
    Commented Sep 11, 2015 at 3:26

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.