Why are the grounding conductors visible?

[tonype]

High-hat wiring - is there any explanation why the grounding wires are visible - homeowner installation?

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/TonyPE/IMGP0652.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/TonyPE/IMGP0661.jpg

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Ask the homeowner. Looks like he/she picked up a ground for something else. Is the house old with no grounds? Why it is outside the box -- I don't know.

 

[tonype]

Ask the homeowner. Looks like he/she picked up a ground for something else. Is the house old with no grounds? Why it is outside the box -- I don't know.

This portion of the home was supposed built c. 1979, so not that old. Unfortunately, present owner was only there a couple of years and has no idea when stuff was installed.

 

[480sparky]

Are they all like that?

 

[tonype]

Are they all like that?

Most are to some variations of the 2 shown in the photos

 

[mkgrady]

Most are to some variations of the 2 shown in the photos

Are all the grounds spliced together? The reason I ask is because I have seen many ground wires treated like they serve no purpose. That would still not answer why they are outside the JB.

 

[tonype]

Are all the grounds spliced together? The reason I ask is because I have seen many ground wires treated like they serve no purpose. That would still not answer why they are outside the JB.

Hard to tell with all the insulation and limited access. I'm just going to flag it as a concern and refer client to a licensed electrical contractor for further analysis.

 

[LarryFine]

That's very strange. Most DIYers clip the EGC's off at the sheath. :roll:

 

[paul]

I did a trouble call on an apartment complex that was wired in the late 50's. All the grounds are made up on the back side of the boxes. I think they just didn't know what to do with that new, strange, bare conductor. So they got it the heck out of their electrical boxes.

That's about all I can figure.

 

[BillWiley]

Could it be that there was no more room in the 4X4?

 

[growler]

High-hat wiring - is there any explanation why the grounding wires are visible - homeowner installation?http://

I find that due to lack of training many homeowners like to be creative when doing an install. Some actually think they are doing a better than standard job.

Try to re-invent the wheel so to speak.

We electricians can do the same job over and over a thousand times and do it just as we have been trained.