Grounding a non-grounded receptacle

12-06-2005, 02:58 PM	#1
lee73401 Newbie   Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2	Grounding a non-grounded receptacle I have recently bought an older 60's home which has no grounded receptacles. A friend told me I could replace the old 2-wire outlets with grounded ones and just jump a piece of copper wire from the ground screw to the neutral on the new outlet and it would be grounded. I think I'm repeating his instructions right. Is this true, or should I replace the old outlet with a GFCI until I can do some rewiring? Is there any other way to do a pigtail and ground a non grounded outlet? :confused: Last edited by lee73401; 12-06-2005 at 03:10 PM.

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12-06-2005, 03:16 PM	#2
jbfan Electrical Contractor   Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Newnan GA Posts: 5,004	Grounding a non-grounded receptacle Your friend is wrong!!! I would go with the GFCI idea until you can rewire. It may be possible that you have a ground at the outlet, but I woould get an electrician to check it before assuming anything. __________________ Yes I am a Pirate, 200 years too late. "Jimmy Buffett"

12-06-2005, 06:47 PM	#3
Speedy Petey Licensed Electrical Cont.     Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,152	Grounding a non-grounded receptacle Friends who have NO clue about electric should not be giving electrical advice. __________________ Sometimes I feel like if I answer any more questions it is like someone trying to climb over a fence to jump off a bridge and me giving them a boost.

12-07-2005, 07:31 AM	#4
donkey Newbie   Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Woodbridge,Va Posts: 20	Grounding a non-grounded receptacle Quote: Originally Posted by lee73401 I have recently bought an older 60's home which has no grounded receptacles. A friend told me I could replace the old 2-wire outlets with grounded ones and just jump a piece of copper wire from the ground screw to the neutral on the new outlet and it would be grounded. I think I'm repeating his instructions right. Is this true, or should I replace the old outlet with a GFCI until I can do some rewiring? Is there any other way to do a pigtail and ground a non grounded outlet? :confused: If you have bx with metal boxes you will have to test the metal box to see if it is grounded.If it is just buy some grounding pigtails(green wire with green ground screw). Attach the screw to the back of the metal box and the other end to the plug.

12-09-2005, 03:25 PM	#5
jmic 2nd half   Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ct. Posts: 48	Grounding a non-grounded receptacle Ditto on the Donkeys advise!