House with no ground

[Anonymous]

Posted by: ldv3117 (old forum transfer)
Posted - 01/28/2002 : 17:00:44

I have a home built in 1952 with no ground. 90% of the recepticles are the old 2 prong and a few have been replaced with the new 3 prong. Is there a way to ground my entire electrical system without having to rewire my home. Need some ideas. Would GFCI's be acceptable? The old romex has just two wires
running through it. My other question is, are the new recepeticles with the ground prong, but no wire running to it, unsafe?

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Wgodorich
Posted - 01/28/2002 : 19:55:15

You have three methods of replacing two prong receptacles with three prong receptacles. Special note; Most likely your home is wired with the power coming from the panel to the light fixture boxes then octopussing out to each receptacle. Therefore if you opt to install a GFI protective device you will have to install a GFI breaker in the panel of a fuse that is routed through a GFI receptacle mounted below the panel then to the existing branch circuit. Otherwise there is no first receptacle on that circuit that can protect all receptacles on that one circuit. You will need to install the GFI breaker of Receptacle to protect each branch circuit that has two prong receptacles replaced by three prong receptacles.

Below is a copy of the 2002 NEC rules that apply to the replacement of two prong receptacles with three prong receptacles.

If you have more questions on this subject after you have read the rules then please hit the reply button at the bottom of this page where my reply is being read.


2002 NEC
406.3
(D) Replacements. Replacement of receptacles shall comply with 406.3(D)(1), (2), and (3) as applicable.
(1) Grounding-Type Receptacles. Where a grounding means exists in the receptacle enclosure or a grounding conductor is installed in accordance with 250.130(C), grounding-type receptacles shall be used and shall be connected to the grounding conductor in accordance with 406.3(C) or 250.130(C).
(2) Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters. Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protected receptacles shall be provided where replacements are made at receptacle outlets that are required to be so protected elsewhere in this Code.
(3) Nongrounding-Type Receptacles. Where grounding means does not exist in the receptacle enclosure, the installation shall comply with (a), (b), or (c).
(a) A nongrounding-type receptacle(s) shall be permitted to be replaced with another nongrounding-type receptacle(s).
(b) A nongrounding-type receptacle(s) shall be permitted to be replaced with a ground-fault circuit interrupter-type of receptacle(s). These receptacles shall be marked “No Equipment Ground.” An equipment grounding conductor shall not be connected from the ground-fault circuit-interrupter-type receptacle to any outlet supplied from the ground-fault circuit-interrupter receptacle.
(c) A nongrounding-type receptacle(s) shall be permitted to be replaced with a grounding-type receptacle(s) where supplied through a ground-fault circuit interrupter. Grounding-type receptacles supplied through the ground-fault circuit interrupter shall be marked “GFCI Protected” and “No Equipment Ground.” An equipment grounding conductor shall not be connected between the grounding-type receptacles.

Hope this helps

Wg