All Questions
1,077 questions
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Replace recessed light with flush mounted light
I'm somewhat new to electrical stuff but have dabbled a bit. I have experience changing outlets, light switches, and existing light fixtures.
I'm trying to change some recessed lights with some flush ...
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2
votes
1
answer
94
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Where should I connect ground in my new service panel?
I am DIYing my house from the ground up and have reached the point of electrical. I am in beautiful rural Michigan.
I mounted my 200amp meter socket. I have also mounted the 200amp disconnect. I also ...
- 149k
0
votes
1
answer
99
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Proper Connections for a Light Switch
I had an electrician out this weekend and he replaced 3 light switches. I just opened two of them to check and I noticed that none of the wires are wrapped around the two gold screws or the green ...
CommunityBot
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2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Details regarding mixing grounds from different panels
I read in other Questions here that grounds from different panels should not be comingled unless conduit is providing the ground. To very briefly summarize the reason: under certain failure ...
- 19.7k
3
votes
2
answers
690
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How can I properly ground my service disconnect panel?
I am not sure my house is properly grounded.
The meter outside connects to a single breaker panel with a 150 amp breaker (I will call this the service panel). This service panel is not connected to ...
- 7,116
0
votes
0
answers
37
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Grounding a Chandelier Properly
The ceiling box has a ground copper wire coming from above the ceiling wrapped around a green screw and then extending downwards. The mounting bracket also has a green grounding screw. The chandeliers ...
2
votes
1
answer
407
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Does Sub panel need ground rod?
Have a Outside Main Box that's Full. Want to add Outside Sub-Panel right next to it 12 inches to the right. I know the Sub-Panel uses separate Neutral Bar and Ground Bar. But, Does the Sub-Panel need ...
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36
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Copper grounding to water line
when grounding residential home with 4 gauge copper wire to main water pipe, does wire need to touch panel also? I already have panel grounded with 6 gauge copper wire touching same water pipe.
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2
answers
71
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How should I ground three switches in a box with one ground wire?
There are 3 switches in a junction box. Only one switch has a ground wire.
Can I extend the current ground wire to the other two switches? Can I do this by connecting all 3 ground terminals together ...
- 42.7k
7
votes
2
answers
397
views
Do I need a GFCI sticker when grounded by box
I have replaced a 3-prong bathroom outlet with GFCI. The metal box does not have any ground wire in it, so I just connected the hot and neutral wires. I was expecting the outlet tester to indicate the ...
3
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3
answers
623
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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 ...
- 7,116
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1
answer
495
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replacing my old galvanized pipes with pex, what do i do with the ground wires
so ive got galvanized water lines servicing my house, along with that 6 or 7 wires that are clamped to the pipes,im going to relace everything with pex, im pretty sure i cant just clamp the wires back ...
CommunityBot
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votes
1
answer
148
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Grounding for exterior cable/phone interface boxes
I have a cable and phone (currently unused) media boxes on the outside of the house to which the service is connected from the alley aerially. The picture does not show the conduit that goes between ...
CommunityBot
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-2
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1
answer
66
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Where does the ground go or use a different fixture thoughts? [closed]
I’m replacing track lighting in my garage there are two, one track at both ends of the garage and they run on the same switch.
When I took it all down it’s in a plastic housing and had one hot one ...
- 1,695
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1
answer
114
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Does short CSST line off of copper need to be grounded to main panel?
The LP gas in my house runs through soft copper tubing. I am adding a gas range and have a chunk of CSST left from adding heat to an outbuilding. If I tap into the copper and run CSST to the range (...
CommunityBot
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0
answers
53
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How to handle grounding of a hybrid inverter/grid system?
I am researching integrating a solar system into a house, in the USA.
Design goals:
The solar system and the grid need to be able to power the house simultaneously.
Ideally, I would like to have ...
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votes
1
answer
34
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Is it ok to use a wood screw with a washer when installing outside lamp into metal mounting bracket but also screws into the wall
I had 2 hard grounding wires coming out of the wall and had a thin wire from the outside light I was installing. The grounding screw was just too short so I found a screw that along with a washer ...
- 30.3k
2
votes
0
answers
54
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house water pipe is energized
this is a mobile home, the owner tried to shut off the main water and got a shock when he touched to valve, I found, with the main house breaker off and the electric meter pulled, I had 35 volts A/C ...
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0
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2
answers
88
views
Will my panel inside be considered a subpanel, and now be un bonded
I have installed a 200 amp distribution panel w/socket head. Will this be considered my main panel, and my panel inside now becomes my subpanel?
Should my subpanel be unbonded, and 2 lines, 1 neutral, ...
- 7,116
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votes
3
answers
45
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Upgrading to smart 3-way switch with existing non-grounded switch
I have been upgrading my dumb switches with some new matter based smart ones. My home was built in 1997, so there are ground bundles in the boxes, but the existing switches do not have a ground ...
- 1,695
3
votes
7
answers
99k
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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 ...
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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 ...
- 30.3k
1
vote
0
answers
88
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Bare copper conductor for grounding a sub panel
Several years ago, my father converted a 240V sub panel to 120V by re-purposing one of the 3 available conductors for the ground wire and using the other 2 conductors for the hot and neutral.
Now he ...
- 7,116
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vote
2
answers
87
views
Why do we ground receptacles to their metal boxes?
I believe you need to ground receptacle boxes. What benefit is offered in doing so vs. running bare ground wire from the romex straight to the receptacle?
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1
answer
41
views
Will running bare wire to this part of the box properly ground my receptacle?
I had an outlet with wiring that did not touch the box itself. Here's what it looks like now.
Here is the spot I hope is designed for a ground screw:
Here is how I want to wire it. Would this work ...
- 8,929
1
vote
1
answer
65
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Question on installing NEMA 14-50 for EV charging
I have a question with regard to installing a NEMA 14-50 for EV charging. I know these outlets are not fantastic for this purpose, but I’m looking to install one just temporarily to be replaced by a ...
- 86k
2
votes
2
answers
986
views
Is this screw inside a 2-prong receptacle a possible ground?
My house was built in the 1920s and I don't know how old this wall box is. Is there any hope that the bottom screw is a ground? If not, what are the metal circles for?
- 383
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2
answers
53
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Safely grounding RV site which has no ground conductor to house main panel?
Gordian Knot here-
200A Square-D meterbase has ground rod with #4 bare copper + 2/0-2/0-1 URD -> 1974 mobile home 200A Square-D Homeline main panel.
2/2/4 URD ON 100A 2 pole breaker in this box ...
- 7,116
8
votes
4
answers
84k
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No Ground Wires - Can I connect a wire to the metal box for ground?
I want to install new z-wave light switches that require a ground, but it appears that none of the electrical boxes in my house have ground wires and the previous light switches didn't use a ground.
...
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1
answer
2k
views
Does my generator interlock require a ground rod?
I will back feed the main panel of my home with the portable generator, power inlet box and breaker. The schematic for the generator shows that neutral is connected to the ground inside the generator.
...
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0
answers
70
views
Propane tank too close to ground rod?
My propane tank for my home was leaning at a really bad angle after it was set in place. It wasnt too bad at first, but it got worse. I waited until it was empty to move it so I could regrade the ...
- 37.4k
24
votes
3
answers
22k
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Why don't I have ground wiring on any of my outlets?
My house in California was built in 1989 (I believe) And in the last 5 years I've replaced at least 20 outlets myself (successfully), and noticed there were never any ground wires to connect to the ...
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1
answer
51
views
Do you separate grounds and neutrals main box?
do you need to separate the grounds and neutrals in main box when adding a subpanel? what about just ground subpanel in same wall as main box with ground from main not from outside rod?
- 7,116
10
votes
1
answer
19k
views
What do I do with the ground wire in a smoke detector install?
The electrician ran 14/3 to a metal box. There is no grounding post on the Kiddie i12010s smoke detector. Can I just cap the ground and call it done? Doesn’t seem right but I’m not sure how to ...
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0
answers
75
views
What do I do with the ground wire when I replace a two prong cord with a three prong one?
My father in law gave me an old corded Dewalt orbital sander. It's rated at 120 volts and says it draws 2 amps. The attached power cord is a two prong (hot and neutral), and it's terrible. FIL says ...
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9
answers
46k
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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 ...
- 149k
3
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Connect electric cable with 4 wires to 3-prong 30 Amp 125-Volt/250-Volt outlet?
I purchased a 3-prong outlet for my dryer. The cable coming out of the breaker box has 4 wires (white, red, black, bare).
I was looking at a youtube tutorial, and it says to connect the white wire to ...
- 383
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1
answer
54
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How can I add a ground conductor to outside GFI outlets?
I have 3 GFI outlets in and around my garden, they all are showing an open ground. Can I fix this by putting in a grounding rod and grounding them to that?
- 149k
1
vote
3
answers
134
views
No Ground wiring seen in Main Lug
So I just found out that the Federal Pacific Stab-Lok main lug in my apt has got to go. After opening the cover, I was surprised to see no ground wires at all in there. There is only a neutral bar. ...
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4
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Can armored bx cable come into contact with other metal objects?
I am running armored 12/2 bx to wire 4 high hats, the armored cable is grounded. There is a heating duct which I must go over, but the AC will come in contact with it... Is this ok or do I need to ...
2
votes
1
answer
100
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Install a second ground, or do I need to feed back this new ground to the main building?
We have a garage separate from the house. The electricity is provided by 2 wires connected from roof of the house to roof of the garage on a 20 amp breaker.
Therefore no ground was provided (because ...
1
vote
2
answers
96
views
I do not see a ground wire to stake at the meter pole. Is this a utility problem?
I do not see a ground wire to stake at the meter pole.
Is this a utility problem?
Do I have to remove the smart meter to add a ground?
- 20.6k
2
votes
1
answer
82
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Is this part of the grounding electrode network and does it need to be hooked into my new service?
I found this on the outside of my house. As a note, the house was build in the 50s and the electric probably hasn't changed much since that time - the grounding all around is pretty bad. I'm doing a ...
- 19.7k
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 ...
- 86k
2
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Can I plug an extension cord into a GFCI outlet with an adapter?
I’m setting up a bidet in America that has a three-pronged plug rated at 120V. Currently I’m using an extension cord (rated at 125V) which plugs directly into the bathroom’s GFCI outlet, but I want to ...
0
votes
1
answer
158
views
Do service panels in new homes in Texas need to be grounded?
Is there an NEC code that explains if a NEW construction breaker box is installed in a NEW house construction, it has to be grounded (not replacing an old breaker box)? In other words, doesn't a new ...
12
votes
3
answers
24k
views
Is it safe to use the ground as a neutral when other grounds are available?
I moved into a new house and was working on making a three way switch work properly when I came across some creative wiring. The traveling wire between the switches was only two wires, and the ground ...
6
votes
5
answers
61k
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Can I safely ground a light fixture if the ceiling box has two hot and one neutral wire (no ground wire)
Checking for dupes, I saw this question, but the situation appears different as my box is metal, among other things.
I'm fairly new to electrical projects, so bear with me. I recently installed a new ...
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1
answer
152
views
Where is my service panel grounded?
I'm wanting to install a critical loads panel connected to an EG4 6000xp.
This is my main panel and I see the two hots and a neutral but do not see the ground.
Is the main panel grounded?
Top of ...
- 7,116
3
votes
3
answers
1k
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Converting NEMA 10-30 to 14-30 using ground from adjacent 15 amp receptacle
In the picture is the NEMA 10-30 I want to change for the safer grounded 14-30. I learned of the danger of this old receptacle here As you can see in the picture there's a ground that I can use to put ...
- 133