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profsr314159 · Jul 16, 2009, 07:55 AM

I just bought a house with many ungrounded outlets. I opened up one outlet and there is no grounding wire in the box. I read that I can replace this outlet with a GFCI outlet and it will provide grounding protection.

When I replaced the outlet there was power going to the outlet, but when I plugged in a digital clock no power went to the clock.

I need help.

ebaines · Jul 16, 2009, 08:16 AM

Two suggestions:

1. Try pressing the "test" button - when you do this, the "reset" button should pop out. Then press the reset button and see if you have power through the outlet. If pressing the "test" button does not cause the "reset" to pop, something is wrong.

2. Could it be that you connected the power leads to the "load" side of the GFI rather than the "line" side? If you did, the GFI won't work.

profsr314159 · Jul 16, 2009, 09:24 AM

There is a sticker on the load side terminals of the outlet, so I don't think that is it.

I eventually put the old outlet back on and everything works fine.

ballengerb1 · Jul 16, 2009, 09:59 AM

"When I replaced the outlet there was power going to the outlet" if this is correct try resetting the GFCI and try a different appliance. Could be that clock tripped the GFCI.

walt17 · Jul 16, 2009, 10:11 AM

When you put in the GFCI outlet, did you run a ground wire? Without it the GFCI would not function properly. It can not provide grounding protection without the ground wire.

I have seen the situation you describe in an old home. All the outlets had the 3 prong connection. But all the wiring in the house was two wires and there were no ground connections. If that is your situation you may need to rewire your home.

ebaines · Jul 16, 2009, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by walt17

When you put in the GFCI outlet, did you run a ground wire? Without it the GFCI would not function properly. It can not provide grounding protection without the ground wire.

I have seen the situation you describe in an old home. All the outlets had the 3 prong connection. But all the wiring in the house was two wires and there were no ground connections. If that is your situation you may need to rewire your home.

Not true - the GFI will indeed serve its main protection function and properly trip if it sees that there is an imbalance in current flow between the hot and neutral leads, even if there is no ground wire. In fact, using a GFI is the only approved method for adding a "3-prong" outlet to an ungrounded system. Obviously the ground pin is not connected to ground, but you are properly protected from shocks.

ballengerb1 · Jul 16, 2009, 03:42 PM

I agree with ebaines but do want to remind readers a GFCI without a ground wire is not a true griounded outlet, it is however protected from ground faults.

rlopez22epik · Jul 16, 2009, 04:35 PM

All I can to say is that according to Nec 210.8 Gfci are requried to be in Bathrooms, Kitchen, garages,crawl space,attics,outdoors unfinish basements (laundry,utility,wet barsinks) and boat houses. So other than that you could put (AFCI) in the rest of them to play it safe.