year of grounded switches?

[jumper]

With out a doubt. You are nothing less than a swirling mass of intimadation.

More like a fuzzy fountain of misinformation. I figure that if I answer enough posts, I am bound to get one right once in awhile.

 

[kwired]

It was new to the code in 1999. Article 380-9.

as it was explained to us (by our inspector) the main reason for grounding the switches was in case homeowners replaced our plastic plates with metal plates

we, at the time were grounding all devises in any size box, inspector told us that only one was needed in multi-gang boxes
receptacles are always grounded

Before the change in 1999, that may have been acceptable as the main concern was to ensure that a metal faceplate was grounded. Now they want to ensure all the yokes are grounded as well as a metal faceplate, if using a metallic box this is accomplished through the mounting screws (if metal to metal contact is made) if using a non metallic box each switch must have a grounding conductor attached to it whether there is a metal faceplate or not.

 

[cowboyjwc]

Texie, nobody on this site who has read your posts thinks you "just fell off the turnip truck".

Now me OTOH... I do believe that I scare a few people

Jumper didn't just fall off, he jumped. I think he might have even been driving.

I think he is greatly mistaken. Even with non metal faceplate you typically have metallic screws attaching them, which are a shock hazard. The 2011 code deals with this in 404.9(B). Take a look at it and the exceptions. It leaves very little doubt about the requirements and methods of grounding switches and faceplates.

:thumbsup:

 

[cowboyjwc]

More like a fuzzy fountain of misinformation. I figure that if I answer enough posts, I am bound to get one right once in awhile.

What's funny is that just this week I've been having a "discussion with a contractor over some lights they installed (we have some different rules here in CA). So yesterday while I'm on the job and he's trying to defend his install he get's the engineer on the phone and hands it to me. Of course I'm ready for the fight, so we talk for a couple of minutes and the engineer says to me, "your correct, we actually came to the same conclusion". Oh um, really? I've been married so long that I forgot what it felt like to be right.:lol:

 

[Gac66610]

I think he is greatly mistaken. Even with non metal faceplate you typically have metallic screws attaching them, which are a shock hazard. The 2011 code deals with this in 404.9(B). Take a look at it and the exceptions. It leaves very little doubt about the requirements and methods of grounding switches and faceplates.

Before the change in 1999, that may have been acceptable as the main concern was to ensure that a metal faceplate was grounded. Now they want to ensure all the yokes are grounded as well as a metal faceplate, if using a metallic box this is accomplished through the mounting screws (if metal to metal contact is made) if using a non metallic box each switch must have a grounding conductor attached to it whether there is a metal faceplate or not.

read 404.9 (all not just (b)) you're right it does say that, I will talk to inspectors see if there was an amendment to it (have my doubts)

Thanks

 

[kwired]

If you would happen to find a switch that has no exposed metal parts you would not have to ground it. I sure hope this would be obvious to installers and inspectors, but you never know. There are surface mounted devices with no metallic parts other than the conductive parts that make up the switching components themselves (try grounding those and see what happens:happyyesthat would not require a grounding conductor, but they often have grounding terminals mostly for the convenience of landing / splicing grounding conductors that do exist.

 

[jumper]

Jumper didn't just fall off, he jumped. I think he might have even been driving.

Hey!!

Okay, I admit that I am a jumpy little fella.

 

[hurk27]

If you would happen to find a switch that has no exposed metal parts you would not have to ground it. I sure hope this would be obvious to installers and inspectors, but you never know. There are surface mounted devices with no metallic parts other than the conductive parts that make up the switching components themselves (try grounding those and see what happens:happyyesthat would not require a grounding conductor, but they often have grounding terminals mostly for the convenience of landing / splicing grounding conductors that do exist.

I can remember a time when we had to use plastic cover screws in the face plate in bathrooms (local joke e'rr requirement) once:lol: and yes they do sell plastic plate screws in all colors of face plates