Xref: utzoo misc.consumers.house:7250 sci.electronics:7543
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tank!ncar!unmvax!ogccse!blake!uw-beaver!tektronix!zephyr.ens.tek.com!orca!nevermore!alanj
From: alanj@nevermore.WV.TEK.COM (Alan Jeddeloh;685-2991;61-201;292-9740;orca)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house,sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Grounding old electrics
Keywords: Electrical, Ground, House, Hints
Message-ID: <4324@orca.WV.TEK.COM>
Date: 24 Aug 89 17:25:43 GMT
References: <2171@netcom.UUCP> <5057@teklds.CAE.TEK.COM> <26924@amdcad.AMD.COM> <12073@ulysses.homer.nj.att.com> <1619@unccvax.UUCP>
Sender: nobody@orca.WV.TEK.COM
Reply-To: alanj@nevermore.WV.TEK.COM (Alan Jeddeloh)
Followup-To: misc.consumers.house
Distribution: misc
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Wilsonville, OR
Lines: 22

It is not necessary to run the grounding conductor all the way back to the
load center.  The NEC allows that, when doing "old work" (modifications
to an existing installation), the box may be grounded by running a separate
grounding conductor to the nearest good ground.  This can be another box
that is properly grounded, a metal *cold* water pipe, metal building frame,
conductor buried in the foundation, separate ground rod, etc., etc., etc.

Waste (sewer) pipes, gas pipes, plastic(!) water pipes are not considered good
grounds (the NEC does allow gas pipes, but most local codes forbid them.
In this area (Portland, OR) new gas installations use plastic gas pipes to
run to the house, so the gas pip in the hose is not a good ground, anyway.)

The new grounding conductor must not be less than #12 and at least some
(forget which) percentage of the size of the hot/neutral pair.  The grounding
conductor must be properly protected from damage.

IT IS NOT LEGAL OR SAFE TO CONNECT THE NEUTRAL TO THE GROUND!!!!

	-Alan Jeddeloh      (503) 685-2991
	Tektronix ITD Networking; D/S 61-201; PO Box 1000; Wilsonville, OR 97070
	{decvax|ucbvax}!tektronix!orca!alanj  -or-  alanj@orca.wv.tek.com
	This space available for Bush's first blunder.