This home I inspected today has a 60-amp service. The distribution panel could not be accessed due to a cabinet being installed directly on top of the panel screws. This 1960’s home had been remodeled and all of the receptacles are new and tested out appropriately - no open ground like I would expect from 60-amp service. I suspected a false ground so I took an outlet cover off. You’ll see in the first picture the green wire inside the junction box. The 2nd picture is in the crawl space where all of the green wires coming from the various receptacles around the home are pigtailed together. I could not locate where they all run to.
Of course I’m going to defer to a licensed electrician because there are variables that I just can’t determine, but does anyone know if this type of grounding “retro” is legit?
Thanks in advance!
This may apply:
Matt,
It appears they added a true ground wire to the original ungrounded system.
A false ground IMO is when they install a jumper wire at the receptacle from the neutral to the ground lug.
Yep!
However, that exposed wiring splice needs to be in a junction box.
Since those ground wires have the potential to become energized, should that junction take place in a junction box?
You would think so but I cannot find a NEC section that would require it for EGC’s.
IMO: All wiring splices should be in junction boxes with cover plates installed.
Taps to a GEC do not need to be in a junction box.
Even if the grounds carried a current it would only be for a few cycles or less.
Isn’t it cover at 300.15 if I remember correctly?
Since most equipment ground conductors are bare wire, I don’t think a junction box would be necessary. But they don’t appear to be very well secured at the splice.
I don’t see single conductors on that list.
Understood.