Abrignac
Sunday, February 28, 2016 6:26:34 PM
I'm gonna put up some new light fixtures in my Mom's den. The house is wired with 2 strand wire, hence no ground. The new fixtures have ground wires. Do I connect the fixtures ground wife? If so to what? I've read about running a ground to a copper pipe, but it's all black pipe up there.
edin508
Sunday, February 28, 2016 8:01:14 PM
You can put the ground wire to the metal box that the wires come in to. And be careful, with wires that old the insulation will probably fall right off the wire because it gets very brittle at that age.
mikey1597
Sunday, February 28, 2016 8:54:10 PM
One of our instructors is a Master Electrician, I'll ask him in the morning.
DrafterX
Sunday, February 28, 2016 8:56:04 PM
True... true... the box should be a ground... 😟
mikey1597
Sunday, February 28, 2016 9:10:32 PM
Should but if there is no ground wire it isn't. The neutral is connected on the same buss as the ground in the breaker panel but its still a safety thing to have a separate ground wire.
DrafterX
Sunday, February 28, 2016 9:14:38 PM
Older homes used metal conduit... only being there could we determine if that's the case... if I had to guess tho I'd say the box is grounded through the conduit. .. i could be wrong tho...😟
mikey1597
Sunday, February 28, 2016 9:21:21 PM
You be right. Metal is metal weather it be copper or steel.
bgz
  • bgz
  • Herf-A-Holic
Sunday, February 28, 2016 9:36:57 PM

I'm gonna put up some new light fixtures in my Mom's den. The house is wired with 2 strand wire, hence no ground. The new fixtures have ground wires. Do I connect the fixtures ground wife? If so to what? I've read about running a ground to a copper pipe, but it's all black pipe up there.

Abrignac wrote:

Yes, you connect the fixtures to ground the wife :)

Most bras have a metal hook that you can attach the wire too, lol.

Brewha
Sunday, February 28, 2016 10:13:10 PM
Whatever you do, don't connect it to the AC neutral. That would give the fixture a potentially shorter path to ground if you touch it. Find an earth ground if you can. You can test for one with an meter between the box and AC high. If the switch is old, and doesn't not cut off AC high and neutral, replace it - costs about $2.
JadeRose
Sunday, February 28, 2016 10:24:05 PM
220...221...whatever it takes
Abrignac
Sunday, February 28, 2016 10:26:58 PM

Older homes used metal conduit... only being there could we determine if that's the case... if I had to guess tho I'd say the box is grounded through the conduit. .. i could be wrong tho...😟

DrafterX wrote:

Not that old. But, I've remolded some really old houses that had metal conduit throughout.

It's standard 14/2 vinyl coated 2 strand. It's copper, not aluminum and in good shape.

But, whoever installed the fixtures needs his ass rubbed with a dried corn cob and sprayed with turpentine. He just ran the wire through the boxes, but didn't mount the boxes to the joists. So now I have to crawl up into the attic and mount new boxes before I mount the new fixtures.

There's a ceiling fan in one room that wobbles. I took the shroud off to see what needed to be done to stabilize it. The fan is being held up by the Sheetrock. I'm surprised it hasn't fell yet.

Abrignac
Sunday, February 28, 2016 10:31:01 PM

Whatever you do, don't connect it to the AC neutral. That would give the fixture a potentially shorter path to ground if you touch it. Find an earth ground if you can. You can test for one with an meter between the box and AC high. If the switch is old, and doesn't not cut off AC high and neutral, replace it - costs about $2.

Brewha wrote:

I got thinking the black pipe may actually me a drain pipe. The house was built in 1978. I'm sure copper was required by then. I'm gonna look more carefully tomorrow. If so, I'll run a ground to a copper pipe.

Brewha
Sunday, February 28, 2016 10:32:04 PM
They do sell what they call "old work" boxes and opposed to "new work" boxes.

Old work boxes are for retrofits, so you don't have to tear out the dry wall....

Covfireman
Sunday, February 28, 2016 10:46:46 PM
They also make a ceiling box that can be placed between rafters and adjusts to support ceiling fans . I used them in my mother's house for a hall light and a ceiling fan . Hers was installed a bit better . The box was nailed to a piece if the lath . Lol . I used the remodel boxes so I didn't have to go into the attic . I avoid fiberglass insulation like the plague I itch for weeks after I get around it .
Thunder.Gerbil
Sunday, February 28, 2016 10:48:21 PM
I just posted a question about cigars on an electricians forum....

"My mom likes Rocky Patel cigars, how do I get her to stop smoking dog rockets? HALP!"

Abrignac
Sunday, February 28, 2016 10:57:54 PM

They also make a ceiling box that can be placed between rafters and adjusts to support ceiling fans . I used them in my mother's house for a hall light and a ceiling fan . Hers was installed a bit better . The box was nailed to a piece if the lath . Lol . I used the remodel boxes so I didn't have to go into the attic . I avoid fiberglass insulation like the plague I itch for weeks after I get around it .

Covfireman wrote:

Yep. Picked up five today. Unfortunately, the existing light fixtures have their own mounting brackets. Would have to tear out too much Sheetrock to get them out without going into the attic. At least I don't have to pull nails since they are lying on the Sheetrock instead of being nailed to the joists.

Abrignac
Sunday, February 28, 2016 10:58:43 PM

I just posted a question about cigars on an electricians forum....

"My mom likes Rocky Patel cigars, how do I get her to stop smoking dog rockets? HALP!"

Thunder.Gerbil wrote:

At least you don't call the cops because someone sold you fake weed.

Covfireman
Sunday, February 28, 2016 11:28:20 PM

At least you don't call the cops because someone sold you fake weed.

Abrignac wrote:

I'd call the cops .[ram27bat]

Covfireman
Sunday, February 28, 2016 11:39:04 PM
I was lucky . I just had to pull out a couple of nail to get hers out . I hate to tell you how "2 light fixtures " turned out.

A kitchen remodel, rewiring the entire house, remodel back bathroom to match kitchen, and landscaping to repair where the kitchen remodelers parked and heavy rain sunk their truck. After I saw some other things I felt safer paying to replace the wiring. The kitchen cam from mom asking the electrician about under cabinet lights. I think it all came in under $45k for 2 $50 lights .

Thunder.Gerbil
Sunday, February 28, 2016 11:47:20 PM

At least you don't call the cops because someone sold you fake weed.

Abrignac wrote:

Well, duh, I wouldn't know chronic from oregano.

Actually, that's not true, I'd probably think you sold me a bunch of hops.

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