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Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Question:

A house has ungrounded receptacles with only a hot and neutral feeding each box.

Does it meet code to run a separate equipment ground (#12 green THHN) from the panel and fish it in to each box?  Also, there will need to be some extra junction boxes in the basement just for the equipment ground.

Thanks, Kent

A

Answer:

Hey Kent thanks for your question. Assuming the non-grounding receptacles were acceptable when installed, meaning it was permitted by the NEC edition at that time, they can remain in use. You can also replace them with non-grounding types as stated in 406.4(D)(2)(a). A separate equipment grounding conductor can be installed as stated in 250.130(C) for replacements or extensions. A 12 AWG copper conductor could be installed as you describe but would need protection from physical damage unless located within hollow spaces of framing members as stated in 250.120(C). But if you going to go through all of that, why not just replace the wiring method with one that includes an equipment grounding conductor?

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