rjr@mgweed.UUCP (Bob Roehrig) (02/06/85)
I agree with what Bill Mitchel said regarding grounding of outlets. I was just looking in one of those "do it yourself" wiring books (from Sears, or whatever) and it shows a ground wire from the ground screw on the outlet to the box, in the case of conduit, and the conduit serving as the safety ground conductor. The counduits and the main box are connected to the neutral bus bar via a "bonding screw" in the box. An earth ground also connects to this neutral bus. In the case where non-metallic cable is used (like where I live Romex is permitted) the safety ground conductor from the box is provided by a third conductor in the cable,. The outlet and box are still connected to each other via a wire. I do have one question, however, regarding house wiring. I have been told it is not good practice, or may not be "code" in some cases, to solder connections. WHY??????? I always twist the wires in a box tightly with pliers, then solder them and install the wire nuts. There have been many times that I have pulled an outlet or switch out of a box and the wires have easily pulled out of the wire nut. I can't think of a better connection than a soldered one. Mobile home dwellers should check into their wiring! I have had 2 "homes on wheels" and in both cases there were serious wiring problems. In both cases, the problem involved a hot wire that was not cut off after being wrapped around a wall switch screw. the wire protruded thru some holes in the rear of the box and was touching the outer shell of the mobile home. (Both units used stranded wire and the boxes were plastic. There was at least a 20 year age difference between them and one was a Shasta camper, while the older one was a 30 foot job). The older home had just 2 fuses and only the one side was switched with the main switch. Unfortunately, when I bought it it was connected to the pole so that the switch and fuses were in the neutral side! I really got shook when the water heater element broke down to frame ground and stayed lit like a flash bulb. Turning off the main switch did not kill the water heater!!! After disconnecting disconnecting the power via the outside twist-lock connector, I reversed the wires at the pole. Then I reconnected the trailer connector. When I grabbed the door handle to go back inside, I got knocked on my ass! Then I pulled out all the switches and receptacles and found all the "tails" on the screws. Too bad it did not have a safety ground in the power cable. Bob K9EUI