[gante]

Hi all,

Just wondering how the GFCI outlet protection capabilies are affected by not connecting a ground. In my kitchen I only have the white and black wire sticking out. I installed one GFCI but I did not connect a ground wire. I do not remember exactly if there were two bare cooper wires connected, one coming from the source and one from the load. I may have to go back and add a wire to connect the ground?.

 

[joed]

The GFCI will function just fine without the ground. It is in fact a legal way to install three prong receptacles when no ground is present.
IF there is a ground present in the box you must connect it to the GFCI receptacle.

 

[Speedy Petey]

IF there is a ground present in the box you must connect it to the GFCI receptacle.

Exactly.

Why would you leave it off in the first place?

 

[gante]

Exactly.

Why would you leave it off in the first place?

The grounds (one from the line and one from the load) were connected to each other. Ther was no wired tap from this two for the GFCI. I just was not sure if I could add a wire to connect the GFCI ground to these two wires. I will go back and add that extra wire for grounding. What gauge are these cables 14 AWG?

 

[rgsgww]

Ground gauge...

15 amp breaker= 14 or 12 awg
20 amp breaker= 12 or 10 awg

I would keep the pigtail the same size as the wires in the box.

 

[AllanJ]

The ground wire from the source and the ground wire to the load remain connected together. Do add one short length of bare or green wire (a pigtail) to connect the GFCI unit ground to these ground wires.

All ground wires are connected together wherever they come together (in junction boxes, etc.).

 

[gante]

The ground wire from the source and the ground wire to the load remain connected together. Do add one short length of bare or green wire (a pigtail) to connect the GFCI unit ground to these ground wires.

All ground wires are connected together wherever they come together (in junction boxes, etc.).

Yes, I will be doing this. Thank you