All Questions
1,077 questions
3
votes
2
answers
13k
views
No ground bus in panel
Correct me if I’m wrong but there is no bus panel here. Working on a bath remodel and running new wires to two new breakers for new GFCI receptacle and one for heated floor. As this is main panel ...
- 33
3
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Broken ground wire in receptacle box
I’m pretty new to home DIY and had to replace a few outlets this weekend. On the last one the ground wire snapped as soon as I unscrewed the old outlet. It looks like the wire was clamped to the other ...
- 33
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Ground a dryer converting to a 3-prong cord - manufacturer hardware missing
I need to change the cord on an electric dryer from 4-prong to 3-prong. My questions concern 1) what to do with the ground when moving to the 3-prong dryer and 2) how to test whether the installation ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
455
views
What purpose is the GND screw serving in this vanity lighting setup?
Trying to install a bathroom vanity light. Here's the wiring coming out of the wall:
So 3 wires:
White
Black
Bare copper
Plus a green GND screw
This wiring was set up by our electrician before we ...
- 57
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Japan: Can I ground a dishwasher by connecting it to a sink?
This is a question about electrical safety in Japan. I know this isn’t a Japanese forum, but my Japanese isn’t up to much, and everyone I can ask either knows nothing about electrical safety or ...
- 145
3
votes
3
answers
12k
views
Should I double up grounding wires under lugs in panel or pigtail them?
I have a Square D Homeline panel. I recently had to open it to replace a breaker, and I noticed that the neutral bar has very few, if any, free lugs/screws under which to attach neutrals and grounds. ...
- 1,376
3
votes
1
answer
696
views
Square D QOC 12 125: Is it possible to bring this subpanel up to code?
I opened up this subpanel for the first time because when I opened the walls for contractors to install floor drains, I found a circuit with four splices that were any/all of:
not enclosed in ...
- 143
3
votes
7
answers
14k
views
Why won't my furnace complete the startup sequence when powered by a portable generator?
We recently had a power outage that lasted several days and the house was down to 41 degrees and expected power restore was several days in the future.
I purchased a 3500 watt (5250 starting watts) ...
- 33
3
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Is it bad to have multiple grounding electrodes?
I think this question gets close to answering my question, but I am not quite sure. I have a detached structure, powered by a feeder from the main panel where the ground and neutral are bonded. The ...
- 2,218
3
votes
4
answers
11k
views
Looking for or adding a ground to an existing NEMA 10-30 socket
I have an unused older 3-wire dryer socket (NEMA 10-30R) in my garage, I would like to upgrade this to a NEMA 14-30 socket with an separate ground. I'll be using this for an EVSE unit for electrical ...
- 349
3
votes
2
answers
92k
views
How to fix an "open ground" on a receptacle that seems grounded?
In the master bedroom on one wall there are two receptacle that when tested shows “open ground”, I have replaced the receptacle on both (with new tamperproof receptacles) and while doing that checked ...
- 297
3
votes
3
answers
543
views
NEC Code requirements for location of neutral and ground connections
I have one 20amp circuit that runs from the panel box to an accessible junction box in my attic via 12/2 romex. This junction box also contains the 12/2 romex switch leg runs of all six lighting ...
- 31
3
votes
2
answers
814
views
What did cable installer use to tap onto my service ground?
I have a somewhat mysterious service ground apparently underneath a concrete entryway. All that is visible now is a heavy gauge bare copper wire coming through the cement. When the cable company ...
- 203
3
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Using receptacle mounting screws for ground connection
I will soon be adding some outdoor wiring using weatherproof metal boxes and EMT conduit. I noticed when I was playing around with a multimeter that without a ground conductor between a receptacle and ...
- 2,218
3
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Must I ground my dishwasher to a metal plate?
I bought a Bosch 800 Series Dishwasher Model SHP68T55UC to install into my year 2000 house. Whenever I read tutorials online for installing dishwashers, I see that the ground wire goes to a metal ...
- 449
3
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Is it safe to ground/earth an extension cord with the radiator?
I just moved into a dutch student house without any grounded plugs which is quite usual around here. I get the 'Macbook Tingle' after some time, which solved by nudging the Macbook to the Radiator. ...
- 155
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Do I need to ground Ethernet cable run beneath a pier & beam house?
I'm fairly amateur when it comes to home networking, though I get the basic concepts.
I bought a 1000' spool of this Cat6 Ethernet cable, simply because it was the only outdoor-rated cable sold by ...
- 223
3
votes
1
answer
1k
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?
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Copper vs Aluminum ground wire
My house was built in the 70s and originally had all aluminum wiring. New circuits have been added over the years and the house currently has a mix of both aluminum circuits and copper circuits, ...
- 57
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
So is my 1950s/60s era 2-prong outlet junction box grounded or not?
Background:
The kitchen area outlets, all 2-prong, seem to be original to our 1950s California house, or perhaps modified in the late 1960s. In preparation for installing a grounding wire "bus&...
- 4,594
3
votes
1
answer
900
views
isolated grounds in branch circuits? How does this work with conduit?
I recently was told that grounds from different branch circuits in a box need to be isolated. I'd really like to understand the purpose of this. It doesn't really seem like it would contribute to ...
- 1,299
3
votes
3
answers
925
views
Is an ungrounded outlet for a gas stove a safety hazard?
House was built in the 50's and there is a 3 prong outlet but no ground wire. I've tested it best of my knowledge, the metal casing is not ground either. 2 black and white wires. Basically, am I ...
- 31
3
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Japanese Appliance has a Green/Yellow Ground Wire coming out of it, What should I do?
So I recently purchased a Japanese Toiletseat thing (I can't read japanese but I've just been translating little by little), and it has a ground wire (a green/yellow wire) Coming out of the back, ...
- 440
3
votes
1
answer
178
views
What are the bonding and grounding requirements for my heavy-up and new panel?
Jurisdiction is Dayton, OH - currently on NEC 2023.
I'm upgrading from a 100A service going through a meter on the outside of my house and into a main service panel inside my house.
The new system ...
- 831
3
votes
1
answer
304
views
Stove plug wiring
This guy was installing a stove plug and the only wires inside were size 6 and 2 hots and a ground and he split the ground wires in half and put half on the neutral screw and half on the ground screw ...
- 39
3
votes
1
answer
287
views
Ensuring building ground is safe and code-compliant
Summary: My electrician plans to install 2 ground rods and a continuous ground wire to the front spigot where the water enters the home. How can I make sure that it's legal and code-compliant?
One ...
- 71
3
votes
2
answers
250
views
NEC 250.148(b) vs. Luminaire Grounding
I'm always trying to learn more and improve my methods for home wiring.
Most examples I see regarding 250.148(b) simply illustrate use of a pigtail and wire nut.
(B) Equipment Grounding Conductor ...
- 7,164
3
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Hang ceiling fan grounded box but no ground wire
I'm trying to hang a ceiling fan and connect the ground wire from the mounting plate but I don't have any ground wire coming from my box. I have verified that the box itself is grounded though by ...
- 33
3
votes
1
answer
763
views
What wire do I use to retrofit a ground wire from new range back to breaker box?
Redoing my kitchen and installing a new range while also moving the location of the range outlet (thus, I am required to bring it up to code). Existing range is 8/3 with no ground and a 3 prong outlet ...
- 65
3
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Metal box grounding question GFCI outlet
What is this wire for? The picture shows a wire connected to the grounding screw and back to the outlet. Is this commonly done to get a connection to the metal box? My outlet tester shows this outlet ...
- 516
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
help me interpret the results of an outlet tester on some GFCI receptacles
I'm trying to figure out what might be wrong with some exterior GFCI receptacles that I have.
The problem is that this is an old house, and I'm not really sure what is happening between the ...
- 221
3
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Should I install GFCI outlets or run new grounded cabling in my older home?
I am renovating an old home(90 years) that my wife and I just purchased. The electrical system in the house is outdated - some of the outlets appear to be knob and tube but most are the brass and ...
- 204
3
votes
2
answers
29k
views
Why doesn't my motion sensor light work?
I want to install a simple motion sensor (Lutron Maestro MS-OPS2) on a single pole switch in my garage. When I installed it the light would not turn off. The instructions (PDF) that come with the ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is this orange clip my ground wire is connected to?
I am trying to replace a dome light with a nice small ceiling fan. When disassembling the old light, I notice an odd orange/clear clip connecting the lights ground to the house. What is this called, ...
user6769
3
votes
3
answers
20k
views
Can a grounding issue with newly installed light fixtures cause a short circuit/blown fuse?
I have installed three lights (60 Watt Bulbs) on the same line (wire) connected to one light switch. The fuse blew when I hit the switch. I’ve connected all of the white to white and black to black....
- 31
3
votes
3
answers
176
views
Why do electrical fixtures with multiple live/neutral terminals have only one earth terminal? [duplicate]
As can be seen in this illustration:
I became curious about this while rewiring my house recently, in which I've installed a lot of these. Live and neutral almost always tend to have paired line and ...
- 157
3
votes
2
answers
386
views
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 ...
- 716
3
votes
1
answer
338
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 ...
- 121
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why do we still need protective earth with an RCCB/RCBO?
If most of your devices at home are already double-insulated, does the protective earth still serve a purpose when you have an RCCB/RCBO installed in your panel board?
I'm asking this since I live in ...
- 123
3
votes
1
answer
882
views
Suitable run type for 4 gauge copper ground wire connecting buried grounding rods?
The earth ground for our circa 1968 outdoor electrical panel in California is apparently a single maybe 8 gauge(?) solid copper wire running from a capped galvanized pipe driven into the ground (50+ ...
- 4,594
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
8 AWG solid EGC in raceway for 100 amp subpanel
I'm adding a 100 amp subpanel to my detached garage and have a question about the EGC I've already pulled through the underground LFNC-B raceway.
Taking the advice from a similar post on this forum, I ...
- 33
3
votes
1
answer
647
views
Grounding branch circuits in gutter instead of in panel
Replacing a sub panel (with neutral from main panel and local ground rod). The branch circuits will come in via a Wiegmann gutter above the subpanel.
Is there an issue having a grounding bar in the ...
- 55
3
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Converting Nema 10-50 receptacle for car charging
I might be buying an electric car soon and i was wondering if I could use my current nema 10-50 dryer plug for my 240v evse? The plug is not used since I have a gas dryer.
The receptacle was ...
- 31
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Move grounds to subpanel when I moved 8 single pole breakers to same subpanel?
When I move 8 breakers from main panel to a subpanel (a few feet away) can I simply move the hot and neutral only to subpanel? The 8 breakers are grounded in the main panel already.
A 100 amp breaker ...
- 221
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How do I ground a new outlet that only has the black/white wires?
I am adding a new outlet but want to make sure it is correctly grounded.
I have outlet A that I am going to be creating a new outlet B. I tested A and it says it is grounded and want to ground ...
- 61
3
votes
1
answer
816
views
Attaching a grounding pigtail to a junction without a tapped hole?
I'm trying to ground an outlet in my home to the metal of the junction box. I'm using a grounding pigtail of 14AWG wire with a 10/32 terminal attached to one end. Unfortunately it seems the metal ...
- 33
3
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Ground wires crimped in copper sleeves in switch box?
I had to move a two-gang switch box to a new location on my wall. This meant disassembling everything, moving the box, and reassembling it as I found it.
The only thing that seems a bit sketchy is ...
- 133
3
votes
7
answers
99k
views
Grounding requirements for main panel and subpanel
I recently had my main service professionally upgraded to 200A and had a 60A subpanel installed in my master suite to support future additions. All work passed city inspection, for whatever that's ...
- 133
3
votes
1
answer
459
views
What to do with ground wire downstream from ungrounded GFCI?
I am replacing an ungrounded receptacle with a GFCI receptacle, and I will be adding two new receptacles downstream from the GFCI receptacle.
In another post, someone had quoted from one of the code ...
- 33
3
votes
1
answer
120
views
Grounding Help! (System equipotential bonding vs Array bonding vs AC conductor PEN earth stake)
I've been doing a lot of reading trying to get my head around what the right grounding system is to implement for a theoretical small PV minigrid (<10kW with distribution distances <300m), ...
- 31