Grounding receptacles and switches

[Junkman]

If you are using a metal box, and have attached the ground wire to the back of the metal box with a dedicated ground screw, is it necessary to put a ground wire onto the receptacle and / or the switch that is screwed to that metal box? To me, it is redundant, and when I wired the garage in 1985, the person that helped me (licensed electrician), said that it wasn't necessary. I will be doing some other work in the garage, and if that needs to be corrected, I might as well do it now. thanks

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Depends on the device and whether its self grounding or not.

Check the device and see if the yoke is connected to the ground screw.

 

[LutzTD]

I would pigtail to the ground on the switch/outlet, the screw tab is a casual connection and could get dirty or corroded easier than a firm connection

 

[Junkman]

The receptacles are 20 amp, and all the wiring is 12 gauge. Can I put a 14 gauge pigtail onto the grounding bundle and put that to the receptacle? It will be a lot easier than fighting 12 gauge wire. thanks

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The receptacles are 20 amp, and all the wiring is 12 gauge. Can I put a 14 gauge pigtail onto the grounding bundle and put that to the receptacle? It will be a lot easier than fighting 12 gauge wire. thanks

Why are you using 20a outlets?

What size breaker feeds this? If 20a, then no u cant use #14 for the grounds...

 

[Junkman]

Everything in the home was wired with 12 gauge, and the breakers are all 20 amp, except for those that are for the stove, air conditioner, etc..

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Everything in the home was wired with 12 gauge, and the breakers are all 20 amp, except for those that are for the stove, air conditioner, etc..

U can use 15a receptacles on 20a circuits as long as there is more than 1 outlet on the circuit.

Very hard to find any tool these days with a 20a plug on the cord..

 

[Marctrees]

I think Junkman is misspeaking... means a 20 a breaker, rather than actual 20 a recepts.

Pretty odd to have 20 a recepts all over a home.

Never seen that.

Pretty sure he meant he has 15a recepts, on 20a ckts,or 15a, which is most common and normal.


Wylie sed - "Depends on the device and whether its self grounding or not.

Check the device and see if the yoke is connected to the ground screw."

Ya, but whats the current code on differentiating between bearing like on a mud ring, rather than like an "industrial cover"?

On surface work, open boxes.... I used to of course pigtail when using ind cover, but not on mudring, whether or not the grounded screw retained yokes.

Was I wrong?

Code is virtually always logical common sense.

Marc

 

[EOC_Jason]

If they have this little tab, then they will be grounded to the metal box and no extra ground wire is required to the typical ground screw.

 

[6PTsocket]

I would pigtail to the ground on the switch/outlet, the screw tab is a casual connection and could get dirty or corroded easier than a firm connection

That has always been a concern with me. Often the receptacle is loosely screwed in to be even with the sheet rock. I feel safer carrying the ground to the recptacle with a ground wire.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[klassenl]

In Canada all receptacles have to be bonded to the box and the receptacle....no exceptions.

 

[yeldogt]

I always run a wire to the receptacle -- they make a pigtailed wire nit that would great with the large plastic boxes i always use.

 

[matt_i]

I ground the (metallic) box and the wiring device (switch, outlet) no matter what. I keep a larger size of wire nut as the grounds always end up with more conductors inside of them.

That said I just do wiring jobs for myself and am not bound by the time = money conundrum.

 

[Zeke]

That has always been a concern with me. Often the receptacle is loosely screwed in to be even with the sheet rock. I feel safer carrying the ground to the recptacle with a ground wire.

Totally agree.

I ground the (metallic) box and the wiring device (switch, outlet) no matter what. I keep a larger size of wire nut as the grounds always end up with more conductors inside of them.

That said I just do wiring jobs for myself and am not bound by the time = money conundrum.

If you guys will pull out 1 foot of wire when pulling you can cut the ground wire long and wrap it around the box screw and have enough for the device same as your current carrying conductors. If you have the circuit passing through that box you can use the green wire nut with the hole in the end to save one additional wire used in the pigtail.

Takes not a moment longer to do this.