I have an older house in which the electric cables to all the switches and
receptacles have only 2 wires: one black (hot) and one white (neutral). I
would like to upgrade the receptacles to the newer type that have a third
opening in them for a ground. I would like to avoid running new cable with
three wires (black, white, ground) as this would be a fairly tough job to
fish new cable through the walls. The new cable is also pretty expensive.

Is it acceptable to just run a ground wire (either bare or green) from the
ground bar in by service panel to the receptacles. In many locations this
would be easier than fishing a whole new cable as well as less expensive.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Herb

Are the existing cables non metallic?
"Herb S" wrote in message
...
I have an older house in which the electric cables to all the switches and
receptacles have only 2 wires: one black (hot) and one white (neutral). I
would like to upgrade the receptacles to the newer type that have a third
opening in them for a ground. I would like to avoid running new cable
with
three wires (black, white, ground) as this would be a fairly tough job to
fish new cable through the walls. The new cable is also pretty expensive.

Is it acceptable to just run a ground wire (either bare or green) from the
ground bar in by service panel to the receptacles. In many locations this
would be easier than fishing a whole new cable as well as less expensive.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Herb

"install a GFCI receptacle. The ground lug
should not be connected to anything, but the GFCI
protection itself will serve instead. The GFCI
will also protect downstream (possibly also two prong
outlets). If you do this to protect downstream outlets,
the grounds must not be connected together. Since it
wouldn't be connected to a real ground, a wiring fault
could energize the cases of 3 prong devices connected
to other outlets. Be sure, though, that there aren't
indirect ground plug connections, such as via the sheath
on BX cable.

The CEC permits you to replace a two prong receptacle with a three
prong if you fill the U ground with a non-conducting goop.
Like caulking compound. This is not permitted in the NEC.

The NEC requires that three prong receptacles without ground
that are protected by GFCI must be labelled as such."
this and more at:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/electrical-wiring/part1/

Yes, they are non-metallic.

"RBM" rbm2(remove wrote in message
...
Are the existing cables non metallic?
"Herb S" wrote in message
...
I have an older house in which the electric cables to all the switches
and
receptacles have only 2 wires: one black (hot) and one white (neutral).
I
would like to upgrade the receptacles to the newer type that have a
third
opening in them for a ground. I would like to avoid running new cable
with
three wires (black, white, ground) as this would be a fairly tough job
to
fish new cable through the walls. The new cable is also pretty
expensive.

Is it acceptable to just run a ground wire (either bare or green) from
the
ground bar in by service panel to the receptacles. In many locations
this
would be easier than fishing a whole new cable as well as less
expensive.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Herb

Yes, they are non-metallic.

"RBM" rbm2(remove wrote in message
...
Are the existing cables non metallic?
"Herb S" wrote in message
...
I have an older house in which the electric cables to all the switches
and
receptacles have only 2 wires: one black (hot) and one white (neutral).
I
would like to upgrade the receptacles to the newer type that have a
third
opening in them for a ground. I would like to avoid running new cable
with
three wires (black, white, ground) as this would be a fairly tough job
to
fish new cable through the walls. The new cable is also pretty
expensive.

Is it acceptable to just run a ground wire (either bare or green) from
the
ground bar in by service panel to the receptacles. In many locations
this
would be easier than fishing a whole new cable as well as less
expensive.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Herb

I haven't got a current code book handy, but unless something has changed.
250-130 (C) (5) says you can



"Herb S" wrote in message
...
I have an older house in which the electric cables to all the switches and
receptacles have only 2 wires: one black (hot) and one white (neutral). I
would like to upgrade the receptacles to the newer type that have a third
opening in them for a ground. I would like to avoid running new cable
with
three wires (black, white, ground) as this would be a fairly tough job to
fish new cable through the walls. The new cable is also pretty expensive.

Is it acceptable to just run a ground wire (either bare or green) from the
ground bar in by service panel to the receptacles. In many locations this
would be easier than fishing a whole new cable as well as less expensive.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Herb

Herb S wrote:

Yes, they are non-metallic.

Then, IIRC, you can do as you propose since the cable is nonmetallic.
Use Tyraps to secure the equipment grounding wire to the existing
cables as much as possible. It's a lot of work. Using GFCI
receptacles at the first outlet in each circuit would be a lot easier.
All downstream receptacle outlets could then be 3 prong.

"buffalobill" wrote in message
oups.com...
: "install a GFCI receptacle. The ground lug
: should not be connected to anything, but the GFCI
: protection itself will serve instead. The GFCI
: will also protect downstream (possibly also two prong
: outlets). If you do this to protect downstream outlets,
: the grounds must not be connected together. Since it
: wouldn't be connected to a real ground, a wiring fault
: could energize the cases of 3 prong devices connected
: to other outlets. Be sure, though, that there aren't
: indirect ground plug connections, such as via the sheath
: on BX cable.
:
: The CEC permits you to replace a two prong receptacle with a
three
: prong if you fill the U ground with a non-conducting goop.
: Like caulking compound. This is not permitted in the NEC.
:
: The NEC requires that three prong receptacles without ground
: that are protected by GFCI must be labelled as such."
: this and more at:
: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/electrical-wiring/part1/
:

But, that won't do anything for providing an earth connection for
computers, surge protectors, etc. although it certainly DOES add
in the safety factor for the GFCI lines.

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