Old house electrical question.

[tncatadjuster]

This is where the ac window unit was in my rental. I wanted to put a new unit in and wondered why the ground is so little. Is this safe to use? The entire house was updated to circuit breakers and functions good as far as I know, only this outlet is in question.

TIA

 

[kamlung]

is that BX wire in there? if so most likely you will be grounded on the box from the sheathing of the wire anyway... so when you screw the receptacle in it will ground on the wire and all around the house to the box... should be fine...

 

[rburke65]

The ground wire is short because someone didn't allow for a proper length wire cut it thinking it will be easier to ge the wire and the outlet back into the box. As someone who rewired house for 11 years, that box is an old work box, that was obviously added after the house was built, and can be easily removed if necessary, by bending the 4 thin metal tabs out ....perpendicular to the wall. The box will come right out. The " hold its" ....the thin metal tabs.....might fall back into the wall. They are readily available at big box stores, elec. supply houses. Inexpensive. Looks like..?..# 12-2 wire or BX cable. There is enough wire there to install an outlet.

 

[Norcal]

The reduced size grounding conductor was used until the late 1960's or so, code changed and the full size grounding conductors that are used today for 10,12,14 AWG replaced them.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The ground wire is short because someone didn't allow for a proper length wire cut it thinking it will be easier to ge the wire and the outlet back into the box. As someone who rewired house for 11 years, that box is an old work box, that was obviously added after the house was built, and can be easily removed if necessary, by bending the 4 thin metal tabs out ....perpendicular to the wall. The box will come right out. The " hold its" ....the thin metal tabs.....might fall back into the wall. They are readily available at big box stores, elec. supply houses. Inexpensive. Looks like..?..# 12-2 wire or BX cable. There is enough wire there to install an outlet.

Ummm he said little as in small NOT short.

Hes referring to the ground wire being #14 which is how it used to be sized as pointed out by Norcal above.

This is where the ac window unit was in my rental. I wanted to put a new unit in and wondered why the ground is so little. Is this safe to use? The entire house was updated to circuit breakers and functions good as far as I know, only this outlet is in question.

TIA

 

[torqueman2002]

Ummm he said little as in small NOT short. ....

Oh boy.

There's a joke there, but I'm NOT touching it!

 

[tncatadjuster]

Found out the new ac unit is going to require a new run of #10 for all three conductors. Much bigger unit and has supplemental heat.

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Found out the new ac unit is going to require a new run of #10 for all three conductors. Much bigger unit and has supplemental heat.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Do you need the heat?

 

[tncatadjuster]

Do you need the heat?

Yes, this is a rent house.

I removed the 1954 Coleman central heater due to age and liability. Was told to go with a window heat pump. Had absolutely no luck finding a window heat pump as such. After many hours of research decided to go with this unit.

http://www.frigidaire.com/Home-Comfort/Air-Conditioning/Window-Mounted-AC/FFRH2522R2/

There is no way that I would use the existing wire that I found in the wall for 30 amp service, so I'm running a new dedicated circuit for the unit.

The price that was quoted for mini split systems was more than 50% of the purchase price of the home. The window unit was supposed to arrive today but the freight line lost the unit in transit from Seattle to Memphis. That give me a week to finish the new circuit and finish the floors.

The house cleaned up real nice, new roof and lot's of paint. The garage is a major asset, I added a couple of windows, opener and a epoxy floor.

Attractive place if I can cool and heat it.