Ground to Neutral and Extra Wires

[TiredDude]

A tree fell on my post lamp by the sidewalk.

I had to buy a new lamp. When I went to install it I found the ground wire connected to the neutral (white) wire. Additionally, inside the post were unconnected red and black wires.

What do I need to do?

I assume that my ground wire running to the lamp is not really grounded? This is a 1960 house and grounding in the house is through the boxes with metal clad wire.

What would the extra red and black wires be doing in there?

Thanks

 

[pattenp]

You need to trace the wire back to the source to figure out what wire is for what. The extra black and red could have been for some separate switching or an unswitched power source.

 

[plow]

Houses that old may not have been equipped with a ground wire. Its possible that a 2 wire run was used to power your light.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

No way to say for sure what way it was wired. Have to trace the wires as pattenp already said. The ground and neutral should definitely NOT be tied together to avoid any parrallel return paths!

 

[TiredDude]

You need to trace the wire back to the source to figure out what wire is for what. The extra black and red could have been for some separate switching or an unswitched power source.

I have been thinking perhaps the original lamp was wired with just the black and the red. The lamp as I found it had UF with the ground and neutral twisted together.

Perhaps they abandoned the black and red wires, but didn't pull them out?

In any case, tomorrow I will trace back the wires and see if I can determine where they go and what they are connected to.

 

[TiredDude]

Houses that old may not have been equipped with a ground wire. Its possible that a 2 wire run was used to power your light.

Are you saying the black and red were previously used as 2 wire run?

Should they not have pulled the wires out if they weren't using them anymore?

Thanks

 

[TiredDude]

No way to say for sure what way it was wired. Have to trace the wires as pattenp already said. The ground and neutral should definitely NOT be tied together to avoid any parrallel return paths!

I was wondering if this could be dangerous....

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Are you saying the black and red were previously used as 2 wire run?

Should they not have pulled the wires out if they weren't using them anymore?

Thanks

Without seeing it, there's no way to know for sure how it was previously wired. Everyone is making a WAG!! Do u have any pics?

Abandoned wires dont have to be pulled out code wise. They could even be left live if properly capped!

I was wondering if this could be dangerous....

Yes, it can be!