Wiring Q

[sgrammel]

I am going to upgrade the lighting in my garage. The exisitng lights are the plain porceling single bulb type. I belive there are only two wires going to them. I am going to go with hardwired floursecent fixtures. My guess is those will have three wires, the 'extra' being for ground. My quesiton is there a problem with not having a ground wire to hook the fixture to?

 

[mrb]

how old is the garage? Have you removed (with the power off -not just the light switch) one of the lampholders to see what you have?

 

[sgrammel]

Garage is 13 years old. I haven't been into the box is quite some time, but as I recall there are only the two wires in a plactic box.

 

[mrb]

only 13 years old it should have a ground. look again....

 

[Mattlt]

Maybe the original owner clipped the ground wires off, since there was no place to terminate them? Probably clipped right next to where the outer insulation of the Romex starts.

If they have been clipped, you may have to run some new wire. Or, possibly relocate boxes slightly so you have a ground wire available.

 

[Nostraquedeo]

Yeah, a 13 year old house should have a ground wire. Might want to check again. Some fluorescent fixtures won't start without a ground. You could test one and see if it works without a ground. They can be installed this way, but you are losing an extra level of safety, by not having a ground wire attached.

 

[kbs2244]

If your wireing is in EMT (pipe) then it acts as the ground.

If it is Romex there will be the bare wire there.
As said it may be clipped off, but they don't sell it without a ground wire.

 

[mrb]

they don't sell it without a ground wire.

actually they do. its not common, -mostly used by central vac installers, but it does exist.

 

[FastEddieG]

only 13 years old it should have a ground. look again....

It is probably EMT conduit and only having 2 wires (hot and neutral/common) is the norm for that setup. The conduit acts as the ground so just take the ground from the light fixture and attach it to the box.

 

[mrb]

It is probably EMT conduit and only having 2 wires (hot and neutral/common) is the norm for that setup. The conduit acts as the ground so just take the ground from the light fixture and attach it to the box.

before blindly connecting the fixture's ground to the box, he needs to see what he has and verify the box is grounded if he doesnt see a ground wire.

 

[FastEddieG]

before blindly connecting the fixture's ground to the box, he needs to see what he has and verify the box is grounded if he doesnt see a ground wire.

Research/verification is always implied I'd like to believe, but I agree. While on the topic, he should also be sure to turn off the breaker before removing the switch or light for said verification. Also test with a multimeter or other electric sensing device to ensure the power is truly off.

-Ed

 

[sgrammel]

Thanks for all the responses. Once I get to the lighting section of the garage make over, I will double check not only the wiring at the fixture but at the switch. My gut feeling is that the electrician either cut or didn't pull the ground wire into the box. This was because the original fixture was porcelain. I read somewhere the porcelain and plastic fixtures are non-conductive and therefore don't need a ground wire. No idea if this is legit or not.

Hopefully the GW is either in the box and my memory is bad or its hiding behind the box and I can snag it.

Again, thanks for the input.

 

[Big N8]

Easiest way to do this with the least amount of worry would be GFCI out let with a plug in light. Thus negating the need for a ground yet still giving yourself full protection. But if you can take a picture of what you have we could give you a better way.