Forum Discussion
Mike134
Jul 26, 2021Explorer
larry cad wrote:Mike134 wrote:Bobbo wrote:Mike134 wrote:
That is exactly why the National Electrical code does not permit electricians to replace old 2 slot receptacle's with 3 slot outlets UNLESS a ground wire or metal conduit system is present.
I may be wrong, but I thought it was OK to replace a 2 pin outlet with a 3 pin outlet without adding a ground wire as long as it is then labeled "NOT GROUNDED." I am also pretty sure it is approved to replace a 2 pin outlet with a GFCI outlet without adding a ground wire.
Disclaimer: I am not an electrician, and I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Your very close to being correct, you can replace a 2 slot outlet with a 3 slot GFI without adding the ground wire but you must also label the GFI "not Grounded". You cannot just switch from 2 slot to 3 and add a label must be a GFI.
I am an Electrician 38 years now retired.
Mike134, you too are "very close", because you forgot to mention that a two prong receptacle can be replaced with a three prong receptacle and protected with a GFCI BREAKER! That too is allowed by code.
And I'll see your "Electrician 38 years", and raise you by "Electrician 44 year, Licensed Electrical Contractor, Electrical Engineer"
By the way, the code section regarding our discussion is 406.4(D)(2) Non–Grounding-Type Receptacles, however, there are (as usual) additional sections that must be referenced as well.
Yep you got me......but they would need to be sure that the breaker they are changing is not part of a multi-wire branch circuit. That's why it's always better to change to a GFI at the point of use for the average handyman.
You may find this link helpful if you ever need to check codes from various years it cover the most recent all the way back to 1968. It's a free access.
https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=70
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