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    Oneill474's Avatar
    Oneill474 Posts: 427, Reputation: 2
    Full Member
     
    #1

    May 23, 2008, 02:52 AM
    Outlet box is hot
    I accidental drop a wrench, it hit the electric outlet box and it sparked.
    It seems the outside of the outlet box is energized.

    Should this box be ground to something like a water pipe
    If so, where do you run the wire too??
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
     
    #2

    May 23, 2008, 03:29 AM
    NO, it should NOT be grounded to a "water pipe"! It should be bonded to the circuit ground.
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
     
    #3

    May 23, 2008, 03:30 AM
    Besides, if it hit just the box it would NOT have sparked. It HAD to hit something else. You need TWO paths to form a circuit, even a short circuit.
    Dwall174's Avatar
    Dwall174 Posts: 26, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #4

    May 23, 2008, 11:36 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by stanfortyman
    NO, it should NOT be grounded to a "water pipe"! It should be bonded to the circuit ground.
    Not intending to hijack a post here, but Stanfortyman could you explain a little more on this grounding/bonding issue on a related post.

    This Post is the one related

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