Electriceel
New member
- Location
- Iowa
When using an ungrounded electrical tool, are you required to use a drop cord with a built in GFCI?
GFCI
- Thread starter Electriceel
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
This is not an NEC requirement but probably an OSHA rule. It seems like it is always possible to get a shock even from an insulated tool as cords can get frayed etc. I believe it would be required but let others respond.
jxofaltrds
Inspector Mike®
- Location
- Mike P. Columbus Ohio
- Occupation
- ESI, PI, RBO
70E 110.4(B)(2) says you do not need a grounding conductor if that tool is (rated) double insulated.
70E 110.4(C)(1) GFCI's
My words - basically areas that require GFCI protection require the tool and cord be GFCI protected.
If I had this on PDF I would post the Articles.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
NEC 590.6 would require GFCI protection for receptacles used as part of a temporary installation for construction, etc.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Yes but the op was not necessarily talking about a temp installation. I am thinking he goes to a job site and needs power to grill a hole and there is no gfci available.
cadpoint
Senior Member
- Location
- Durham, NC
jxofaltrds
Inspector Mike®
- Location
- Mike P. Columbus Ohio
- Occupation
- ESI, PI, RBO
That applies to construction sites.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
But allows the use of portable GFCI devices and doesn't require permanently installed GFCI devices.
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Who plugs in a drill anymore? Drills with attached power cords will soon be common things in antique shows and shops, and people will be asking "does it still work?"
Outside of lighting most of the temp power needed on many job sites anymore is needed for battery charging, and an occasional bigger load power tool like a table saw, but even a table saw is not as common on site as it used to be, they use cordless circular saws for cutting plywood or other sheet goods that they used to do on a table saw.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
This still would be covered under 590.6 specifically (A)(2) which would require some type of GFCI protection even it were of the portable type.
jxofaltrds
Inspector Mike®
- Location
- Mike P. Columbus Ohio
- Occupation
- ESI, PI, RBO
As I read that if I came to your home I would need a GFCI protected cord to use a receptacle in one of your bedrooms.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
That is correct. And OSHA does back that up in it's own way, so even if you are not familiar with NEC you still have other references that make you use a portable GFCI.
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
Yet another reason to use cordless tools.
Tapatalk!
Tapatalk!
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Cordless tools have been around for a very long time.
One of the original cordless drills:
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
Anybody still have one of the Yankee brand long spiral screwdrivers?
Tapatalk!
Tapatalk!
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Yup I have a few of them. One was my father's the other, my grandfather's.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
My first job as an electrician the Yankee was the preferred method to mount switch and receptacle devices.
Wasn't long though and the cordless drill became preferred, wasn't a drill like we commonly see today, but was still great for driving screws.
yes sir, have a couple in my box. remember how weak the cordless drills were when they first appeared?, they were only used by the tinners for screws..:lol:
jxofaltrds
Inspector Mike®
- Location
- Mike P. Columbus Ohio
- Occupation
- ESI, PI, RBO
Cordless tools have been around for a very long time.
One of the original cordless drills:
Had one as a helper. Got laughed at. Battery drill died. "Hey Mike you got that drill thingy?"
- Status