Originally Posted By: Greg Fretwell This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
As the shop stewart for the devil’s advocate I would say the biggest hazard might be the outlet cover/screws themselves if there was an ungrounded box with a fault. An upstream GFCI would go a long way towards protecting the user.
Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Was that on an older 2-wire system without ground/bond wires? And even though it wasn’t a GFCI receptacle, was it on a GFCI protected circuit (possibly from a downstream GCFI receptacle)? You know the drill … but just asking …
– Robert O’Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong
Originally Posted By: jpope This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Yes Robert, it was originally a two wire system. None of the two-prong outlets were still in the home, all had been upgraded to the three-prong type, but only a few (maybe 10%) tested to be grounded.
There was no GFCI or AFCI protection anywhere in the house or panel.
-- Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738
Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
jpope wrote:
There was no GFCI or AFCI protection anywhere in the house or panel.
Not good! Any 3-prong replacement receptacles on the old 2-wire system should have been the GFCI type marked "no equipment ground". And no GFCI protection for the damp/wet areas is really bad news ... 
bbadger wrote:
Just to be the devils advocate, what exactly would you plug in that outlet that needs or would benefit from a 'ground'?
How about a 3-prong extension cord (even though most modern hand tools are 2-prong double insulated), or a small stand alone space heater with a 3-prong cord to ground the metal case ... 
I have two of the small oil filled metal space heaters in my place ... one in the bathroom near the bowl and one next to my desk, to keep things nice and toasty there in the winter without blasting the heat through the whole house ...
-- Robert O'Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong
Originally Posted By: bbadger This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
In Roberts case (oil filled metal space heater) a grounding means would be a benefit.
In Joe's case (toaster) a grounding means will do nothing, he would still be flopping around like a fish. 
The GFCI is the real lifesaver in a bathroom, most of the appliances used in a bathroom are not of the grounding type.
I agree with Greg a good fix would be a plastic plate, a sticker that says no grounding means and a GFCI.
Mostly I was just trying to get something going on this forum that was not related to complaining.
Bob
-- Bob Badger
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Moderator at ECN
Originally Posted By: jmyers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Bob,
In would like to add to your post a little about the plastic plate, GFCI protection and no equipment grounding sticker.
You should also place a big sign next to the receptacle which reads, "don't be stupid, if your hands are wet DO NOT try plugging anything into a receptacle. 
Originally Posted By: dedwards This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
That would only work if they can read. There will always be those among us that go ahead and try it their way and pay the price. I see things every day where someone has ignored the obvious dangers and/or signs and do some of the dumbest things possible.
Originally Posted By: dbowers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Golly -
Youse guys are making me stop and think. Twice last month I saw a main electrical breaker panel and/or a sub-panel installed in a wall inside the shower stall. The seller had finished off the basement himself and must have SAVED a lot of $$$$$$ by not going to get a permit, etc.
I just thought that would be really convenient - being able to clean your circuit breakers off every so often, and so forth One of those houses had a 2-prong electrical outlet inside the shower stall. If I read this post correctly should I have suggested they put a sticker on the panels and outlet that said: "not GFCI protected" and suggested that they upgrade the 2-prong outlet?????
