Mixing
Old construction, replacing light switch, bundled ground
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I am replacing the light switch in my old home (1981). I can see that all grounds are at the back bundled together. Do I still have to legally connect the ground to the light switches' ground screw?
PS: The light on the ceiling is properly connected to the ground.
switch ground
asked 2 hours ago
Michael
256313
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I am replacing the light switch in my old home (1981). I can see that all grounds are at the back bundled together. Do I still have to legally connect the ground to the light switches' ground screw?
PS: The light on the ceiling is properly connected to the ground.
switch ground
asked 2 hours ago
Michael
256313
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I am replacing the light switch in my old home (1981). I can see that all grounds are at the back bundled together. Do I still have to legally connect the ground to the light switches' ground screw?
PS: The light on the ceiling is properly connected to the ground.
switch ground
asked 2 hours ago
Michael
256313
I am replacing the light switch in my old home (1981). I can see that all grounds are at the back bundled together. Do I still have to legally connect the ground to the light switches' ground screw?
PS: The light on the ceiling is properly connected to the ground.
switch ground
switch ground
asked 2 hours ago
Michael
256313
asked 2 hours ago
Michael
256313
asked 2 hours ago
Michael
256313
asked 2 hours ago
Michael
256313
asked 2 hours ago
Michael
256313
256313
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
Yes. Modern code requires switches to be grounded. If you are not using self grounding switches and metal boxes (and you are not), you need to run a wire from the switch ground screw to the bundle. Attaching to the end of any one of those wire will do.
Supplement: While the electrical police are unlikely to come pounding on your door, there is a reason for code. The ground serves as a safety if the switch gets damaged. It prevents the (rare) chance of you flicking a damaged switch and getting a shock. It's worth the trouble. In general, when you do an upgrade or a fix, you bring the device or system up to code if it is possible and reasonable. In this case it is both.
answered 1 hour ago
bib
30.6k85290
Does the legal requirement apply also for old construction? I've seen many houses that do not even have wiring in the walls that has a ground.
– Michael
1 hour ago
@Michael -- since there's a ground wire there, you have to connect to it.
– ThreePhaseEel
59 mins ago
Rare? I've had it happen to me. And 1981 isn't old. Grounding came in in the 60‘s.
– Harper
32 mins ago
Will it be okay if I pull the ground from spare romex that I have and loop it around the existing bundle and then to the screw? Normally I would use the plastic screw top to merge wires together but since these are already bundled using a copper compression thingy, I wonder what would be the best way to connect the ground to the screw.
– Michael
27 mins ago
Wrapping is not likely to be sufficient. You need a wire nut or a push in connector or a crimp connector to be sure of a real bond. It looks as if the bundle has ends that could be flared a bit to accommodate. Check the electrical connections aisle of your hardware store for one that would fit. It does not need to be insulated.
– bib
16 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
Yes. Modern code requires switches to be grounded. If you are not using self grounding switches and metal boxes (and you are not), you need to run a wire from the switch ground screw to the bundle. Attaching to the end of any one of those wire will do.
Supplement: While the electrical police are unlikely to come pounding on your door, there is a reason for code. The ground serves as a safety if the switch gets damaged. It prevents the (rare) chance of you flicking a damaged switch and getting a shock. It's worth the trouble. In general, when you do an upgrade or a fix, you bring the device or system up to code if it is possible and reasonable. In this case it is both.
answered 1 hour ago
bib
30.6k85290
Does the legal requirement apply also for old construction? I've seen many houses that do not even have wiring in the walls that has a ground.
– Michael
1 hour ago
@Michael -- since there's a ground wire there, you have to connect to it.
– ThreePhaseEel
59 mins ago
Rare? I've had it happen to me. And 1981 isn't old. Grounding came in in the 60‘s.
– Harper
32 mins ago
Will it be okay if I pull the ground from spare romex that I have and loop it around the existing bundle and then to the screw? Normally I would use the plastic screw top to merge wires together but since these are already bundled using a copper compression thingy, I wonder what would be the best way to connect the ground to the screw.
– Michael
27 mins ago
Wrapping is not likely to be sufficient. You need a wire nut or a push in connector or a crimp connector to be sure of a real bond. It looks as if the bundle has ends that could be flared a bit to accommodate. Check the electrical connections aisle of your hardware store for one that would fit. It does not need to be insulated.
– bib
16 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
Yes. Modern code requires switches to be grounded. If you are not using self grounding switches and metal boxes (and you are not), you need to run a wire from the switch ground screw to the bundle. Attaching to the end of any one of those wire will do.
Supplement: While the electrical police are unlikely to come pounding on your door, there is a reason for code. The ground serves as a safety if the switch gets damaged. It prevents the (rare) chance of you flicking a damaged switch and getting a shock. It's worth the trouble. In general, when you do an upgrade or a fix, you bring the device or system up to code if it is possible and reasonable. In this case it is both.
answered 1 hour ago
bib
30.6k85290
Does the legal requirement apply also for old construction? I've seen many houses that do not even have wiring in the walls that has a ground.
– Michael
1 hour ago
@Michael -- since there's a ground wire there, you have to connect to it.
– ThreePhaseEel
59 mins ago
Rare? I've had it happen to me. And 1981 isn't old. Grounding came in in the 60‘s.
– Harper
32 mins ago
Will it be okay if I pull the ground from spare romex that I have and loop it around the existing bundle and then to the screw? Normally I would use the plastic screw top to merge wires together but since these are already bundled using a copper compression thingy, I wonder what would be the best way to connect the ground to the screw.
– Michael
27 mins ago
Wrapping is not likely to be sufficient. You need a wire nut or a push in connector or a crimp connector to be sure of a real bond. It looks as if the bundle has ends that could be flared a bit to accommodate. Check the electrical connections aisle of your hardware store for one that would fit. It does not need to be insulated.
– bib
16 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
Yes. Modern code requires switches to be grounded. If you are not using self grounding switches and metal boxes (and you are not), you need to run a wire from the switch ground screw to the bundle. Attaching to the end of any one of those wire will do.
Supplement: While the electrical police are unlikely to come pounding on your door, there is a reason for code. The ground serves as a safety if the switch gets damaged. It prevents the (rare) chance of you flicking a damaged switch and getting a shock. It's worth the trouble. In general, when you do an upgrade or a fix, you bring the device or system up to code if it is possible and reasonable. In this case it is both.
answered 1 hour ago
bib
30.6k85290
Yes. Modern code requires switches to be grounded. If you are not using self grounding switches and metal boxes (and you are not), you need to run a wire from the switch ground screw to the bundle. Attaching to the end of any one of those wire will do.
Supplement: While the electrical police are unlikely to come pounding on your door, there is a reason for code. The ground serves as a safety if the switch gets damaged. It prevents the (rare) chance of you flicking a damaged switch and getting a shock. It's worth the trouble. In general, when you do an upgrade or a fix, you bring the device or system up to code if it is possible and reasonable. In this case it is both.
answered 1 hour ago
bib
30.6k85290
edited 59 mins ago
answered 1 hour ago
bib
30.6k85290
answered 1 hour ago
bib
30.6k85290
answered 1 hour ago
bib
30.6k85290
30.6k85290
Does the legal requirement apply also for old construction? I've seen many houses that do not even have wiring in the walls that has a ground.
– Michael
1 hour ago
@Michael -- since there's a ground wire there, you have to connect to it.
– ThreePhaseEel
59 mins ago
Rare? I've had it happen to me. And 1981 isn't old. Grounding came in in the 60‘s.
– Harper
32 mins ago
Will it be okay if I pull the ground from spare romex that I have and loop it around the existing bundle and then to the screw? Normally I would use the plastic screw top to merge wires together but since these are already bundled using a copper compression thingy, I wonder what would be the best way to connect the ground to the screw.
– Michael
27 mins ago
Wrapping is not likely to be sufficient. You need a wire nut or a push in connector or a crimp connector to be sure of a real bond. It looks as if the bundle has ends that could be flared a bit to accommodate. Check the electrical connections aisle of your hardware store for one that would fit. It does not need to be insulated.
– bib
16 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
Does the legal requirement apply also for old construction? I've seen many houses that do not even have wiring in the walls that has a ground.
– Michael
1 hour ago
@Michael -- since there's a ground wire there, you have to connect to it.
– ThreePhaseEel
59 mins ago
Rare? I've had it happen to me. And 1981 isn't old. Grounding came in in the 60‘s.
– Harper
32 mins ago
Will it be okay if I pull the ground from spare romex that I have and loop it around the existing bundle and then to the screw? Normally I would use the plastic screw top to merge wires together but since these are already bundled using a copper compression thingy, I wonder what would be the best way to connect the ground to the screw.
– Michael
27 mins ago
Wrapping is not likely to be sufficient. You need a wire nut or a push in connector or a crimp connector to be sure of a real bond. It looks as if the bundle has ends that could be flared a bit to accommodate. Check the electrical connections aisle of your hardware store for one that would fit. It does not need to be insulated.
– bib
16 mins ago
Does the legal requirement apply also for old construction? I've seen many houses that do not even have wiring in the walls that has a ground.
– Michael
1 hour ago
Does the legal requirement apply also for old construction? I've seen many houses that do not even have wiring in the walls that has a ground.
– Michael
1 hour ago
@Michael -- since there's a ground wire there, you have to connect to it.
– ThreePhaseEel
59 mins ago
@Michael -- since there's a ground wire there, you have to connect to it.
– ThreePhaseEel
59 mins ago
Rare? I've had it happen to me. And 1981 isn't old. Grounding came in in the 60‘s.
– Harper
32 mins ago
Rare? I've had it happen to me. And 1981 isn't old. Grounding came in in the 60‘s.
– Harper
32 mins ago
Will it be okay if I pull the ground from spare romex that I have and loop it around the existing bundle and then to the screw? Normally I would use the plastic screw top to merge wires together but since these are already bundled using a copper compression thingy, I wonder what would be the best way to connect the ground to the screw.
– Michael
27 mins ago
Will it be okay if I pull the ground from spare romex that I have and loop it around the existing bundle and then to the screw? Normally I would use the plastic screw top to merge wires together but since these are already bundled using a copper compression thingy, I wonder what would be the best way to connect the ground to the screw.
– Michael
27 mins ago
Wrapping is not likely to be sufficient. You need a wire nut or a push in connector or a crimp connector to be sure of a real bond. It looks as if the bundle has ends that could be flared a bit to accommodate. Check the electrical connections aisle of your hardware store for one that would fit. It does not need to be insulated.
– bib
16 mins ago
Wrapping is not likely to be sufficient. You need a wire nut or a push in connector or a crimp connector to be sure of a real bond. It looks as if the bundle has ends that could be flared a bit to accommodate. Check the electrical connections aisle of your hardware store for one that would fit. It does not need to be insulated.
– bib
16 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
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