adding lights to a 2 wire circuit - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

jwjrw · 04-05-2010, 05:18 PM

I think I know the correct answer but Ill put it out there anyway. Kitchen light fed with a 2 wire no ground. Customer wants to remove light and add 4 can lights. Can I add them or do I have to pull a ground wire or a new circuit to it? Code ref???

**480sparky** · 04-05-2010, 05:21 PM

410.40 pretty much hoses you.

jwjrw · 04-05-2010, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 480sparky

410.40 pretty much hoses you.

What is the code art that allows you to run a seperate ground? Would that apply to what I have?

**480sparky** · 04-05-2010, 05:41 PM

300.3 (b)(2).

jwjrw · 04-05-2010, 05:58 PM

Thanks 480!

SparkYZ · 04-08-2010, 01:16 AM

In all honesty, (call me a hack!), if I'm tapping into a metal j-box, that is flexxed in, Ill just drill and tap a ground screw hole in the box, and loop my ground wire around that screw.

william1978 · 04-08-2010, 09:40 AM

You can't extend that old cir. without it having a ground. From what you have already posted I think you already know that, but just passing it along.

**480sparky** · 04-08-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparkYZ

In all honesty, (call me a hack!), if I'm tapping into a metal j-box, that is flexxed in, Ill just drill and tap a ground screw hole in the box, and loop my ground wire around that screw.

What's hack about it? As long as two threads make contact with the box, you're golden!

SparkYZ · 04-08-2010, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 480sparky

What's hack about it? As long as two threads make contact with the box, you're golden!

The fact that steel flex is not and was not an approved EGC. It works as one yeah but its not approved

william1978 · 04-08-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparkYZ

The fact that steel flex is not and was not an approved EGC. It works as one yeah but its not approved

You sure? Check 250.118

jwjrw · 04-08-2010, 02:09 PM

I was talking about 2 wire romex in a metal box. I knew it had to be grounded but wanted to make sure. The panel is in a kitchen cabinet and will be hard to get a new circuit out of. Oh well it is what it is.

SparkYZ · 04-08-2010, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william1978

You sure? Check 250.118

A proper fitting for grounding, would that be the older styled set screw flex connectors? Do the screw in ones work? And I'm sure these flex runs are more than 6'.

william1978 · 04-08-2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparkYZ

A proper fitting for grounding, would that be the older styled set screw flex connectors? Do the screw in ones work? And I'm sure these flex runs are more than 6'.

As long as the conn. are listed for grounding they should be fine. I agree with you the runs are probably longer than 6'.

zen · 04-08-2010, 07:34 PM

the most important thing i have learned on this web site is to do whats right even if the code doesn't make you,,,and providing a proper ground in a way that meets or exceeds the code is all you can do...

jwjrw · 04-09-2010, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zen

the most important thing i have learned on this web site is to do whats right even if the code doesn't make you,,,and providing a proper ground in a way that meets or exceeds the code is all you can do...

So does a PROPER ground mean you use a self tapper?

I agree.

bauler · 04-09-2010, 11:08 AM

Ok, what do you do if the house is wired in old 2 wire romex and the customer wants to add a light to a circuit? Or flex, how far
back do you go? So now one set of lights in the house is grounded per code.

I have one of those now. Bath remodel, existing wired with flex, no ground. The bath I'm completely re-wiring with NM, taking homeruns back to the panel, but what about the other 10 circuits coming out of the panel? I just explained the code to the customer, and let them make the call.

jwjrw · 04-09-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bauler

Ok, what do you do if the house is wired in old 2 wire romex and the customer wants to add a light to a circuit? Or flex, how far
back do you go? So now one set of lights in the house is grounded per code.

I have one of those now. Bath remodel, existing wired with flex, no ground. The bath I'm completely re-wiring with NM, taking homeruns back to the panel, but what about the other 10 circuits coming out of the panel? I just explained the code to the customer, and let them make the call.

The other 10 are "grandfathered" in and can stay. But if you add lights you either run a ground to them or pull new cicruits with a ground.

william1978 · 04-09-2010, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwjrw

The other 10 are "grandfathered" in and can stay. But if you add lights you either run a ground to them or pull new cicruits with a ground.

Yep.

bauler · 04-09-2010, 03:24 PM

Yea, thats what I'm doing. But by explaining the problem to the customer I'm getting more work to replace some of the old wiring that is easliy accessible

.

The big question I have is what to do as asked above. You have an old 2 wire system and the customer wants to add a light. Is that grandfathered in? I know outlets you can just use a GFI plug, but lights???

jwjrw · 04-09-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bauler

Yea, thats what I'm doing. But by explaining the problem to the customer I'm getting more work to replace some of the old wiring that is easliy accessible

.

The big question I have is what to do as asked above. You have an old 2 wire system and the customer wants to add a light. Is that grandfathered in? I know outlets you can just use a GFI plug, but lights???

You have to run a seperate ground wire or pull a new homerun. Or put up a plastic fixture.