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    Timashinkle's Avatar
    Timashinkle Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Dec 8, 2007, 01:49 PM
    GFCI breakers when circuit lacks a ground wire.
    Greetings,
    My home, built in the early 1950's, is wired with a 2 wire conducter lacking the ground wire. I believe it is 14 ga. My question is , would installing GFCI breakers provide protection from shock and fire, or would a more costly repair be in store?

    Thanks Sparky,

    Timashinkle
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #2

    Dec 8, 2007, 01:54 PM
    Using a GFI breaker or receptacle is allowed to protect a circuit with no equipment ground, and it will protect from shock and ground fault short circuits.

    GFI devices do not protect from line to neutral short circuits, but that is where a breaker picks up.

    Where ever possible or practical, rewire as many circuits as possible over to 3 wire, for a better quality job, but not required by code.
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