GFCI Install Ground Question

You may want to get a new leg to that circuit then a good soild ground to earth asap . Hard for me to explain or tell unless I am seeing what I'm talking about Larry maybe able to explain it better to be sure you have protection . Sounds like they have the box to a ground of some sort if it works O.K

 

I hear your concern Tangster - it seems ok, but I will run around the basment a bit and see there is a pipe or the like I can run something too. Thanks for your help!

 

An acceptable method for adding a grounding-type three-prong receptacle to a non-grounding two wire circuit is to install a GFCI receptacle labeled "No Equipment Ground".

You are covered and no further grounding action is required, unless you want to rewire your entire house of course!

 

the way I rewired my house the 1st time, was to tie the ground to the neutral at the box. then you ground the neutral side of the bar. Its called neutral ground and its the way electricians wire stuff up on older houses.. The second time, after a hurricane, I ran new wire over the whole house, but the house was gutted, so it was an option. Look into neutral grounding the breaker box.

 

It's the way I do it, but I'm told it's not code.

 

Thanks all. I am going to leave as is until I speak to my landlord a bit... I ran a 12 amp vacuum with it yesterday without problem.

 

I am an electrician, I don't think you grounded, test switch will trip it even when its not hooked up. The metal box MUST be grounded to a pipe or a ground wire in some way, don't like to use plumbing copper if you have it. I prefer black iron myself, Protect your equipment/investment a little better and have piece of mind....

 

Are you saying look for a black-iron pipe to ground to?

 

Make sure it is not a gas line!

Matt, I am going to give my explanation again, this time straight from the horses mouth if you will, the 2008 NEC:

Article 406 - Receptacles

406.3 - General Installation Requirements

406.3 (D) Replacements

406.3(D)(3) Non-Grounding-Type Receptacles. Where attachment to an equipment grounding conductor does not exist in the receptacle enclosure, the installation shall comply with (D)(3)(a),(D)(3)(b), or (D)(3)(c).

406.3(D)(3)(b) A non-grounding-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-type receptacle.

Hope this helps clear things up!