You are awesome and so is your information! I have ADHD and find it difficult to understand a lot of people's descriptions on how to do things, but you make your information clear, even for me! Thank you!

Nice detail at 4:25. I was wondering why my tester wouldn’t trip the gfci. I figured it was cuz there was no ground. Makes sense. 👍

20 years ago I was buying an older triplex with 2 wire outlets and the home inspector mentioned putting in a GFI to protect people and eliminate those adaptors. I am glad he shared the information just as you are. Thanks.

@mweezy

2 жыл бұрын

I had a conversation with a school instructor and he said, every device box must have its own GFCI receptacle based on the Canadian Electrical Code book. Now that can get pretty expensive and I don't know if people are doing that.

@im2yys4u81

Жыл бұрын

@@mweezy Here in the US you can put the GFCI on the first receptacle in the circuit and it will protect the other receptacles downstream.

@hinspect

Жыл бұрын

@@im2yys4u81 Ground fault Breakers are available too

@im2yys4u81

Жыл бұрын

@@hinspect When I did my panel swap a few weeks ago I went with dual function breakers, then had to go through the house and remove the GFCI receptacles.

@fromagefrizzbizz9377

11 ай бұрын

@@mweezy I think you misunderstood that. The rule is that every outlet must have GFCI protection, but not the actual GFCI device. You can either chain them with a GFCI first from the panel, or use a GFCI breaker. In fact, the rules are becoming stricter, and virtually all general purpose outlets must be AFCI/GFCI. The AFCI part can only be done in the panel.

Fantastic video. I've never seen this called out so clearly.

@millomweb

2 жыл бұрын

But wrong !

@sherrykendrick1765

2 жыл бұрын

@@millomweb how so?

@wellsnapyeah

2 жыл бұрын

@@millomweb how so?

@millomweb

2 жыл бұрын

@@wellsnapyeah They work on detecting an alternative current path than the pair of power wires that are supposed to be the only wires carrying current. The only way there's going to be an alternative current path is when that alternative path is complete. So if that path involves the use of 'ground', 'ground' has to be connected in to the circuit AT THE OTHER END - which usually means to the neutral wire - and that wire is connected back to the GFCI - so even without an identified earth/ground wire to the GFCI, there is actually still a ground connection. to it. WITHOUT that connection, an alternative circuit would not exist to cause an imbalance in the 2 wires supposedly providing the power. Having bought a generator about a year ago, I've spent SOME time getting my head around how all this works. If there's not alternative current path, the GFCI cannot trip (and is not actually needed ! BUT IF a circuit should happen it would work and would be a useful safety device.

many guys are talking about this application on youtube but your explanation is the most complete that i have seen...it explaines every aspect of replacing a 2-prong receptacle outlet with a gfci...thanks

Perfect explanation even though there are always those that will argue the point 'till hell freezes over. Remember, the question was if you "NEED" ground for gfci to work. The answer is no. If the question was if it was preferred, then yes.

@fromagefrizzbizz9377

2 жыл бұрын

In fact, you NEED GFCI to work on groundless circuits in order to bring two-wire circuits up to code when you make a modification to it. [When you modify an existing circuit, the code requires you bring that circuit up to current code. The code's being nice to you by allowing GFCIs as a legal alternative to tearing up walls to install 3 wire.]

@Tom-In-Ga

2 жыл бұрын

@@fromagefrizzbizz9377 Agreed. I'm just amazed at how so many people answered "no" to the simple question of whether it will work or not without ground.

@stevelopez372

2 жыл бұрын

@@Tom-In-Ga Yes I am amazed as well. I remember when it first hit the NEC about 1972. I was in High School and worked construction during the summer in SoCal. And even after my 35 years as a Building Inspector, there is still confusion about this device. ARC- Fault as well. Lol.

@MarkEmerAndersonII

2 жыл бұрын

@@Tom-In-Ga Yeah - the beauty of GFCI is how it measures the small differences in hot and neutral currents to trip. If the ground wire had to be involved it would be hard to detect it fast enough and still provide safety.

@fromagefrizzbizz9377

2 жыл бұрын

@@Tom-In-Ga It demonstrates I think wilful ignorance of a LOT of code/diy publications saying EXACTLY what GFCIs are intended for, and why they do work. On the other hand, such polls are pretty meaningless. Do they mean ground wire, or alternate grounding path. From the perspective of personal safety, it doesn't matter if there is one or not. If there is one, it trips, and saves you. If there isn't one, no current flows, no electrocution, and it can't hurt you even tho the GFCI doesn't trip. Then you get the pedants saying they don't work without a ground path - technically true. But misleading in terms of above. Then you get into how qualified are the respondents? If the guy answering doesn't do any wiring, what difference does it make? The only bad part is those making recommendations in videos or on comments, that say that GFCIs don't work without a ground wire. That's just plain wrong, and is in contradiction to code, official code-guides and everything else.

Without a ground wire, I couldn't figure out why the GFCI worked. This was the best description I've heard and completely clarifies it. Thank you very much!

That was beautifully explained. You also put my mind to rest, as my daughter's apartment has those labels on some of the outlets and we were unsure what sort of protection they actually provided.

Doing this project today and ran into every confusion mentioned. Wow everything explained clearly. Thank you.

Thanks for your excellent explanation! I knew all this but your explanation is much clearer than mine when trying to explain it to others.

This totally changes my plan for my class B camper van build. I wasn’t going to include a GFCI on the 120v system because I had read they wouldn’t add any protection without a true earth ground. The exception being of course if you’re connected to shore power where the supply is supposed to be grounded to earth. So much for experienced electrical “experts” on the ‘net. Thanks for the helpful vid!

@EverydayHomeRepairs

Жыл бұрын

You bet! Best of luck on the project, sounds fun 👍

Thank you for explaining WHY to those who didn't know this situation......I work on older homes where adding a ground is financially impossible..... otherwise adding a ground to every outlet is advisable

@trek520rider2

2 жыл бұрын

To make life more bearable you only need one GFCI outlet per circuit on the outlet nearest the circuit breaker. Finding the outlet nearest the breaker can be a challenge!

@theward1244

Жыл бұрын

How does one find out which outlet is the first one in the line?

@-agent-47-80

Жыл бұрын

@@theward1244 shut off power to the circuit remove hot(black) wires to outlets...turn on power and check which one has power.... that's your first one in line

@shanecompton2428

Жыл бұрын

@@trek520rider2 true but tell that to Section 8 people. I ended up switching all 2 prong plugs to gfci

@SiPuedesTambien

Жыл бұрын

@@shanecompton2428 you could also use a GFCI and to make it even better, a AFCI/GFCI breaker type. In this case the receptacles in that circuit are protected.

4:26 - saved me! Swapping out old outlets and then using my old plug-in GFCI tester and nothing was tripping. Thought I'd weird everything incorrectly. Thank you for explaining. Great video.

I just re-did all the two prong outlets in our place, which was built in the early 1950s. Was wondering why the Klein tool did not trip the non-rounded GFCI outlet. Great that there will be some protection from the GFCI outlet by itself. Thanks for the education.

@dandearman2871

11 ай бұрын

With a non-grounded outlet there is no path to ground to make any fault current for the GFCI to see. If you want to test your GFCI outlets plug your Klein tester into a cheater plug and then into your GFCI outlet. Find an electrical ground and run a wire from it to the grounding tab on your cheater plug and now the test button should trip the GFCI.

@fromagefrizzbizz9377

8 ай бұрын

@@dandearman2871 This is unnecessary. A gfci does not need a ground, the test is by drawing a small current with some of it bypassing the detection coil. If a gfci tester (or test buttons) fails to trip a gfci the gfci is either defective or it’s being supplied thru the load terminals, not the line ones.

By code, GFCI’s must trip between 4-6 mA’s. A Hubbell rheostat type tester is a great tool to properly test a GFCI. It ranges from 1-7 mA, 1 mA at a time so when it pops, you know exactly what mA set it off. Anything less than 4 mA that trips it is considered a nuisance. Anything over 6 mA is not enough protection. Toss the GFCI for a new one if it’s outside the 4-6 mA range.

@alistair1978utube

2 жыл бұрын

By code, apostrophes aren't used to form plurals.

@jcwoods2311

2 жыл бұрын

@@alistair1978utube They're just being possessive..................(On my period, don't judge me!)

@ronb6182

2 жыл бұрын

@@alistair1978utube who the blank cares. The point is made . Go and teach all the Hispanics to speak English you would be better off. There are hundred's of reason's why!. 73

@sherrykendrick1765

2 жыл бұрын

@@alistair1978utube who cares. We get the meaning.

@alistair1978utube

2 жыл бұрын

@@sherrykendrick1765 people with an IQ over 90 usually care about getting things right...

Very informative video! Been a lab tech do-it-yourself for years and never knew about GFCI and grounding! Super to learn!

They also make DFCI receptacles (dual function) which provide ground fault and arc fault protection as well. They are the same size and shape as a standard GFCI receptacle and can also be used for the same application.

Thank you. With your instructions, I just completed the installation of multi GFCIs. My Family is safer now given your gracious assistance. Bless you!

GFI or GFCI are a wonderful device. They measure the current that travels out on the hot lead, and what returns on the white Neutral wire. If there is any difference it will shut off, and potentially protect you. Normally it will trip at 10 miliamps and has saved many many people. If you took the Hot and Neutral and pretended they were on a sea saw, if they get out of balance, the circuit will open with a GFI. Its one of my favorite upgrades as a electrician to bring a house up to code with minimal investment for the customer. Ideally I would do a whole house rewire, because that would make me more money, however, this option is not really great most of the time because of the amount of labor it is to run new circuits threw the home. Arc Faults are finally getting better then when they were introduced are a different animal that works by listening to the wire and tripping of there is any arc. Different job, reason and purpose.

@eapbg

2 жыл бұрын

Small correction. A GFCI does not measure the current. It uses "one simple trick". When both hot and neutral wires pass thrugh the same current ransformer their magnetic fields cancel. The current transformer does not register any current. Only when there is an imbalance does the current transformer register a current. So effectivly the GFCI measures the imbalance of current, not the current itself.

@johnd5398

Жыл бұрын

good thing you were here to parrot what the fucking video just said...

These things are great for old homes without a ground wire. Love the option.

@sminthian

2 жыл бұрын

These cost like $20 vs a normal $1 outlet. You might as well just do it correctly and run some 3-wire Romex out to it....

@TylerTron21

2 жыл бұрын

@@sminthian without pulling permits or without an electrician? Because it cost a ton of money to run Romex everywhere, to code. Especially through solid walled homes.

@hammerridecycling7630

2 жыл бұрын

just bought a house 1960 and no ground wires.gfci not grounded so this helps understand now.and i still have that zinsco panel😪

@TylerTron21

2 жыл бұрын

@@hammerridecycling7630 I had a zinsco as well and just had it replaced by my electrician friend for 1200$. New panel with new circuits. Definitely recommended, mine was faulty and the main breaker didn't even cut power.

@vlad1889

2 жыл бұрын

@@sminthian Where I live everything needs to be piped pretty much. So good luck.

Thanks for the info on a very informative video. I’m a licensed GC and I installed GFI’s on an old apartment. I labeled the load outlets with the No equipment label but I didn’t put the GFCI protected labels. I will do so in the future! Thanks

You always explain things so clearly. Thank you.

@millomweb

2 жыл бұрын

But wrong ! The GFCI needs a ground - and if it doesn't look like it has one, it'll use the neutral wire as that will be connected to ground usually somewhere.

@nicwelch

2 жыл бұрын

@@millomweb Can you provide a source or a statute? I don’t see how what he said is wrong. It doesn’t need a ground to work. Edit. In fact I just double checked and you don’t seem to know what you’re talking about.

That's a terrific explanation and the way you were so deliberate in your delivery made it clear how important the topic is and to take the time to fully understand it.

something I already knew but great explanation of the safety feature a gfci can provide when there is no equipment ground.

Awesome explanation, simple and concise. Thank you

What is happening if you push the test button on a GFCI receptacle which is not connected to a ground?

@nickellis7775

2 жыл бұрын

That’s a great question. A GFCI WITHOUT a ground wire WILL trip when you push the ‘TEST’ button on the GFCI itself, because it is wired differently from a portable tester. The button on the GFCI test circuit is wired (through a resistor) from the live wire on the upstream side of the sensing transformer (CT) to the neutral wire on the downstream side of the sensing CT, thereby causing the required 5mA imbalance current needed to trip the GFCI within 5mSec.

@jeffkardosjr.3825

2 жыл бұрын

@@nickellis7775 Not with a GFCI I just tried recently.

Excellent explanation. I had always wondered "why" a GFCI was still advised with an ungrounded outlet.

I've been looking for these answer over 30 different videos. THANK YOU

Thank you for another great video. the information you provide is so precise and to the point.

Great info. Your channel is very informative. I have taken home electric courses and I’m a Diyer so everything you share is very helpful. Thanks for sharing your knowledge 😊 Artie

I was going to make a video explaining this exactly as you stated for my friend. You nailed it. Your video was very detailed and easy to understand you. Great job!

This was a GREAT VIDEO! with all the details needed on this subject. Thank you very much for your service!

Excellent information, thank you!!! I just rewired my entire house (born in 1942) and I obviously installed a couple gfcis but EVERYTHING I did is grounded!! If it wasn't before, it is now!!!

This is what I thought. Thanks for the info. I'm an Ironworker and I'm rewatching an old Csi episode where a construction worker dies from electrocution and the super says a gfci won't work if the tool's ground prong is cut. But I KNEW that couldn't be correct.

Great info. You are my go-to channel for electrical questions. Well-deserved subscription! MD

OK, I was one of the 66% that had this wrong. Great explanation. Clear, concise, simple and Very Useful! Thanks..

Great Info! Clarity is paramount!!

I watched your previous video where you were fixing someone's receptacles. I am glad I did, I just ran into that at my daughter's house in Tampa. She had a relative install a gfci on an interior wall so they could be put a outside receptacle in. The gfci would not stay on. There was no ground, just the old two wires with like a cloth outside. I took apart the inside gfci and separated the wires. They had two whites on the line side and two blacks on the line side. I determined the gfci was bad ( I was wrong). Bought a new one, installed with only the line side with one white and one black, everything else went on the load side. Still did not work. Took apart the outside receptacle, they put a jumper from ground to white side. Needless to say, everything worked, I already knew without a ground it would be ok from having watched your previous video. Thanks. not an electrician, previous carpenter lol

Thank you for all your very informative clips and outstanding presentations. I did use your Amazon link to order several of your recommended tools.🔌

Super great and concise video. Maybe I am nitpicking but the only thing a might change is the bare copper is the grounding conductor, the white is the grounded conductor, and the black is the ungrounded conductor.

Thanks for the link to the GFCI electric outlet tester, I ordered the one with the LCD display thru your link as well as the Wago connectors which I had been wanting...

Great video! I have an outdoor GFCI outlet mounted to a plastic box and was going insane trying to figure out how to ground it. This was very educational.

Good info video. Most older homes, post knob & tube era and pre romex era have BX cable attached to metal electrical gang boxes. Most of the breaker panels in those post k & t homes are grounded, and the BX cable continues that ground up to the boxes. By using that gray grounding adapter and screwing it onto the outlet plate screw a grounding path will occur. An easy test should be performed to confirm that the screw is part of the house's panel ground.

@yani365

Жыл бұрын

Came here to say this.

Great video - useful and well explained info. Thank you!

You did a great job explaining this. 👍🏼

Outstanding electrical education and explanations!

Nicely put. Slow & clear. Thanks

Thanks! Great info I'll be using this if a complete rewire is too big of a job.

An excellent discussion of the issue. Thanks for this video.

I have never heard of the labels. Great information as always from this channel.

Great vid. Another point to consider is that gfci should never be used in series on the same circuit. If multiple gfci’s are to be on the same circuit they must be connected to the line side to line side NOT load side to line side. Or else the most upstream gfci will trip and be a nuisance. Nice.

@kenbrown2808

2 жыл бұрын

note that daisy chaining GFCIs will not cause malfunctions - it will just be annoying because a fault may trip multiple devices.

Yeah, I wondered about this. I live in an older home. I had the fuse box upgraded to a proper breaker box about 15 years ago. I also have had to change outlets to GFCI around the bathroom and kitchen sink about 12 years ago. But I still run into issues with DYI electrical issues that I am not always sure if it is O.K. Since it is an older home, at some time (don't know when) extra wiring has been added to handle more modern appliances. One issue is a 30-amp wiring to a large window AC unit. The AC is the only thing on that circuit (nothing else upstream or downstream). However, testing all the outlets I found out that one is not grounded. However, all the normal 15-amp outlets throughout the home are grounded. The AC unit itself has a breaker on the plug (so my understanding is that essentially acts like a GFCI to the unit itself). The outlet has a 3-prong outlet with an open ground. I was not sure if this was safe with no ground. Even though the cord has a breaker, I should still probably install a GFCI to prevent possible elicitation (especially being 30-amp).

Important and very well explained, well done.

Excellent, thank you for the refresher ! 👍👍👍👍👍

From Buffalo, N.Y. Thank You explaining this. It does most certainly help.

excellent explanation. Our home inspector did highlight for us that, while recepticles had been changed from 2-prong to 3-prong (not GFCI) the underlying wires had not been changed. He described this as "common". (No label, either.) He did recommend GFCIs be put in wet areas. Based on your and other youtube input, we will be letting him know he is not giving the best advice to potential home buyers.

@okaro6595

11 ай бұрын

Yes, when you do not have a ground wire it is always GFCI. The wet rule is for new installations with a ground wire.

Very good information, thanks!👍👍.

Great! You mentioned how to replace other two prong outlets in the circuit after the GFCI, by connecting them to the load terminals. That was a bit of info I've sought for long time. At 5:30, you showed the cover plate for a normal three prong outlet with the two labels. That three prong outlet would have no ground wire, but would still be protected by the upstream GFCI.

Excellent and very thorough explanation. Thank you.

@EverydayHomeRepairs

9 ай бұрын

You bet!

Thank you! I couldn’t figure out why my GFCI tester wasn’t making it trip while testing it.

I already knew the answer to the poll because I watched your 2 prong to gfci install before doing it myself 💪

@millomweb

2 жыл бұрын

Actually, the GFCI will most likely be grounded via the neutral wire.

@Michael-nt7yx

2 жыл бұрын

@@millomweb I feel like you responded to the wrong person

Thank you my friend you have been a great help.

Cheers. Ive got one that has a load output on the back, but only had two wire inputs for that outlet, didnt seem right. Didnt know if i had to short the input ground to load ground.

Thanks for the information is very helpful.

One thing people shouldn't do is make their own extension cord with a standard GFI in a box on the end. For the GFI to work there must be power to it from the hot and common wire. If the cord would somehow get damaged and the neutral wire breaks, the GFI will no longer trip leaving the hot side of the GFI energized. The commercially made GFI extension cords have a voltage monitoring circuit that removes both hot and neutral from the receptacle if there is a break in either conductor. If you still want to make your own GFI extension cord, Hubble sells a cord end that has a GFI and the voltage monitoring circuit together.

@tek4

2 жыл бұрын

I can see the logic, but if someone was dead set on doing the box on a cord route, I would hope the minimum would be a gfi outlet on it.

@fromagefrizzbizz9377

2 жыл бұрын

If you wire an extension cord with a GFCI on the end, and the neutral in the cord breaks yes, the GFCI won't trip. But, while the hot wire is still energized it likely will still trip if the hot conducts any current (like thru you to a copper pipe). Because the neutral current flow is zero, and the hot isn't.

@MarkLawry

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for pointing that out. Makes sense.

@xHadesStamps

Жыл бұрын

Ideally it's plugged into a GFCI protected outlet. Ideally.

@okaro6595

11 ай бұрын

That is why in Europe, at least in Finland RCDs need to be voltage independent i.e. not electronic. As there is no electronics it works even without power. But if you make an extension cord it is better to put the protection to the plug so it protects if the cord gets damaged and you get shocked from it.

Thanks. You got my subscription. I have a home built pre1860

Great explanation. Thank you

well done! Nicely explained. Thank you.

Thank you. You answered all my questions

Fabulous Video. THank you, Sir.

I didn't know about the tester not working w/o a ground, thanks. Also, the GFCI has to be installed in the location closest the the breaker in order to protect all outlets upstream.

Keep up the great content

Great video, can't thank you enough for breaking things down to simple explanations. Would you then recommend replacing 2 outlets over to 3 prong GFCI over using the 3 prong adapters for safety? (if you have an old house like you mentioned)

@kenbrown2808

2 жыл бұрын

yes. if you know the circuits aren't using combined neutrals, and you have a newer model breaker panel, you can use GFCI breakers - or better yet, combination GFCI.AFCI breakers, since older homes frequently use circuit designs that would have you needing to put a GFCI in every receptacle location.

I have a house from the 1960s and many (but not all) outlets do NOT have a ground, and I am glad to learn a GFI will make the circuit at least more safe if not entirely as safe.

Thank you very much for this informative video

I immediately subscribed because you answered the question immediately instead of stringing it out

They are now highly recommending gfci/afci for these scenarios, more safety coverage. I would love to hear you take on that or if you already covered it provide the KZread link. By the way, great channel.

Great explanation , I learned something today( The more you know the more you know you don't know).

Great explanation

Good info here.Thanks.

Really helpful, thanks!

@millomweb

2 жыл бұрын

But technically wrong !

On old two wire systems, can you pigtail the ground lug to the white to make the tester work?

@okaro6595

2 жыл бұрын

No and the question is strange anyway. Why would you want the tester to work? The proper way to test is the test button.

My 1961 home in Thousand Oaks had two prong receptacles. Installed GFI's on two wire wiring.

67% I got it wrong too! Thanks for another excellent and informative video.

Outstanding explanation. Thank you!

@EverydayHomeRepairs

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Very clear explanation. Do i need to ground my whole house or gfci in garage outlet?

Thank you. I was wondering about this just the other day.

@EverydayHomeRepairs

2 жыл бұрын

You bet 👍

@millomweb

2 жыл бұрын

The ground to a GCFI will most likely be provided by the neutral wire. If not then a GFCI is not needed !

Awesome Explanation

Very good info, thanks.

Does running a bare jumper from the neutral post to the ground post on the GFI receptical, and the downstream recepticals, help? Thanks for the reply.

Good Info, as usual, Thanks

Great video! Had a fee questions. I have a home that was built in 1955 and had a lot of thise two prong outlets that were replaced with 3 prong outlets. Some of the circuits have a ground back to the panel and some don't. Most outlets were converted from one gang to two gang. There are also some outlets added to existing circuits via metal junction boxes that are not grounded because there were no grounds to bond the box. These GFCI sound like they could make my situation safer. I will replace the breaker though instead of individual outlets so the whole circuit is protected. If I put the GFCI breaker in will circuits that have ungrounded metal junction boxes be protected as well as any otjer ungrounded outlet. Also, can I continue to use the 3 prong outlets with no grounds as long as I have a GFCI breaker in and I label the outlet "not grounded"? In other words does the gfci have to be in the outlet because of the 3 prongs or is the gfci breaker ok?

@RadioRich100

Жыл бұрын

This jackass wont know.

Thank you for your hard work really appreciate it your knowledge

You explained well how the external gfci test button doesn’t work. But you should have said that the internal gfci test button DOES still work. This is because the testing current travels from the load side hot to the line side neutral. Meaning it doesn’t go on the ground wire like the external testing device. Also, the external testing device when you press the button energizes the metal frame of a three prong connected device plugged into your gfci at the same time as it’s tested. This creates a hazardous condition when using external testers on ungrounded outlets.

Great video, you got a new subscriber.

Great video! You mentioned the duplex outlet that run from the load side for GFCI protection - Im looking to do this, do have a video detailing that by chance? Half of my house is ungrounded and looking to do that.

In an old condo, where the ground is provided by the metal conduit attached to the breaker panel, and metal conduit is used to connect all the outlet locations, CAN you screw a short piece of wire to a metal outlet box then to the ground on the GFCI ? Would that possibly have ground? How do you test for ground?

You forgot about a few places like Cook County Illinois where we use metal conduit and Romex is prohibited. The metal conduit acts as ground and is routed back to the Fusebox as such. In situations that have flexible metal conduit over 6ft or over a specific amperage you must run a dedicated ground back to the nearest rigid conduit metal box.

Thanks for this awesome video!!!! Quick question. So if I am using a GFCI on an ungrounded outlet, I shouldnt get electricuted if I plug a heating pad into the same outlet correct?

@okaro6595

6 ай бұрын

You would not get electrocuted even without it. It always requires an equipment fault for the risk to actualize. With a GFCI the power is cur before you get a dangerous shock. It may still sting.

I was raised in a home built in the early 1940's with post and tube wiring. When Dad put bedrooms in the attic he used Romex with no ground. I had a couple of Short Wave radios up there and to improve the reception we ran a bare ground wire beside the septic tank stack down to the basement where it was connected to the copper pipe bringing our water in from the street. My Mother was vacuuming my room when the vacuum cleaner's metal wand contacted the bare copper wire with a bright blue spark and the fuse blew. We were fortunate no-one was electrocuted! I have worked since then in a large metal stamping plant and noticed that heavy bare ground wires in the open had green insulation. We tend to think that a bare ground wire is safe because it is at zero volts; BUT combine it with a hot appliance or tool in your hand and it now very dangerous!!

@KevinT3141

2 жыл бұрын

In that particular case it was the vacuum cleaner that was dangerous, the exposed ground just highlighted the problem for you before it killed someone. Edit to add: A GFCI outlet would have prevented the blown fuse.

@michaelholliday100

2 жыл бұрын

Ground Wires never carry electricity to ground unless there is a short circuit.

@goodun2974

2 жыл бұрын

@@KevinT3141 , There are advantages to our modern vacuum cleaners and double-insulated power tools made with plastic cases: it's far less likely that the user will contact a hot or live chassis in the event of an internal fault in the device. I can remember getting zapped as a kid when using my dad's old metal-case Stanley power drill while standing on the basement concrete floor barefoot or in damp sweaty leather mocassins. A few years later we upgraded to double insulated double insulated Bosh tools with plastic cases, which didn't give you shocks even though they did not have a grounded cord. This was of course in the long ago days when powerfull cordless tools weren't available.