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View Full Version : When did they quit selling non-grounded switches?

c2500
07-07-2009, 09:10 AM
I had a service call the other day. The elderly HO was shocked when she turned on her disposal with wet hands and touching the S/S sink. She touched the coverplate screw. When I opened the box up, the NM was grounded, but the Leviton switches had no ground screws. The place was built in the mid 70's. I read 11-12 volts to the sink off the switch body. I replaced the switches with grounded ones, and tied in with the grounds in the back of the box.

The wire was #12, and the grounds were #12 also. All the receptacles were properly grounded. I am curious about the transition point when switches were all grounded. Or did some EC have a bunch of old switches siting around?

Thanks,

c2500
electricmanscott
07-07-2009, 09:16 AM
Forget the switches, did you find and correct the problem? :confused:
dcspector
07-07-2009, 09:42 AM
Forget the switches, did you find and correct the problem? :confused:

Yeah agreed. Also, the change came in 99' NEC 380-9(b)
billisa67
07-07-2009, 09:43 AM
Hi, I could be wrong but when I started inspecting we were on the 1996 NEC. I believe that in that code, 110V switches were not required to be grounded. I just rewired my house and had to buy a stacked switch P&S Light ALmond ( 3-way and 1 pole ) that switch did not have a groung screw.
hardworkingstiff
07-07-2009, 09:52 AM
Forget the switches, did you find and correct the problem? :confused:

I thought it had to be the switch since it was not grounded.
LarryFine
07-07-2009, 10:06 AM
The elderly HO was shocked when she turned on her disposal with wet hands and touching the S/S sink.

I read 11-12 volts to the sink off the switch body.It's possible it was the sink that was energized, and not the switch yoke.

It's also possible there is a poor neutral connection.

I would have checked voltage to a known good ground.
dcspector
07-07-2009, 10:29 AM
It's possible it was the sink that was energized, and not the switch yoke.

It's also possible there is a poor neutral connection.

I would have checked voltage to a known good ground.

Larry good point. Could it be the disposal?
don_resqcapt19
07-07-2009, 11:07 AM
If the box is a metal box, there is no requirement that the switch have a ground screw. The yoke mounting screws are permitted to provide the required grounding for a switch installed in a metal box.
hardworkingstiff
07-07-2009, 04:20 PM
Was the box used metal or non-metalic? If metal, properly grounded?

(It makes a difference whether my earlier assumption can be defended).
realolman
07-07-2009, 05:02 PM
As to the OP's original question, I believe theystill sell ungrounded switches
iwire
07-07-2009, 05:24 PM
As to the OP's original question, I believe they still sell ungrounded switches

I agree, I am pretty sure you can go out and buy them today, it's up to the installer to know who to comply with any grounding requirements.
c2500
07-07-2009, 06:27 PM
The sink was grounded via the disposal. A known good ground also gave me the low voltage reading from the switch body (nearby receptacle...hot to ground 120+ volts). Also, these were back stab switches. After installing the grounded switch, there was no voltage from the switch body to ground. There also was no voltage from sink to known good grounded receptacle. Therefore I assume that that original switch was bad. Also, it was a plastic box.

Did I miss something?

c2500
220/221
07-07-2009, 07:09 PM
I have seen more than one hot switch cover plate screw in my travels.

They still make/sell non grounded switches. Metal box = compliant ground for switches.
LarryFine
07-07-2009, 10:02 PM
Did I miss something?This sounds like a case for grounding switches. It seems the water was getting into the switch body and conducting enough to tingle the fingers.
benaround
07-07-2009, 10:10 PM
This sounds like a case for grounding switches. It seems the water was getting into the switch body and conducting enough to tingle the fingers.

Well, some people don't like getting their fingers tingled !
hillbilly
07-08-2009, 09:42 AM
The sink was grounded via the disposal. A known good ground also gave me the low voltage reading from the switch body (nearby receptacle...hot to ground 120+ volts). Also, these were back stab switches. After installing the grounded switch, there was no voltage from the switch body to ground. There also was no voltage from sink to known good grounded receptacle. Therefore I assume that that original switch was bad. Also, it was a plastic box.

Did I miss something?

c2500


I don't think so...Sounds like you touched all the bases.:)

steve