New Light Fixtures Must Be Grounded?

[Ravenvalor]

Hello,

If I replace a light fixture in a livingroom in a home and there is no equipment grounding conductor in the light box do I need to install an equipment grounding conductor? If so, where is that reference in the code book.

FYI. I will be installing an AFCI / GFCI combo breaker for that circuit in the panel because there are 2-prong receptacles on that same circuit that I am replacing.

Thanks,

 

[JFletcher]

Closest I can find to the light fixture question is 410.42(B) exception #2 for replacement lights to 2 wire outlets. 2008 NEC

 

[kwired]

Another thought is if you have a wiring method with no EGC, you likely also have conductor temp rating issues to deal with if replacing a luminaire.

 

[Ravenvalor]

Another thought is if you have a wiring method with no EGC, you likely also have conductor temp rating issues to deal with if replacing a luminaire.

Thanks for the word of caution. Hopefully the inspectors will give us a little bit of leeway there.

 

[user 100]

Hello,

If I replace a light fixture in a livingroom in a home and there is no equipment grounding conductor in the light box do I need to install an equipment grounding conductor? If so, where is that reference in the code book.

FYI. I will be installing an AFCI / GFCI combo breaker for that circuit in the panel because there are 2-prong receptacles on that same circuit that I am replacing.

Thanks,

Closest I can find to the light fixture question is 410.42(B) exception #2 for replacement lights to 2 wire outlets. 2008 NEC

In the 2014, the 410.44 Exception #3 gives an out as long as the fixture is gfci'd:

"Where no equipment grounding conductor exists at the outlet, replacement luminaires that are GFCI protected shall not be required to be connected to an equipment grounding conductor."

And as kwired pointed out, it is highly likely their will be an issue w/ the temp limitations on the old conductors. So do nmb from jbox to new fixture and your good.

 

[user 100]

ADDED THOUGHT

ADDED THOUGHT

So do nmb from jbox to new fixture and your good.

Or maybe not......

You may want see if the ahj will accept heat shrink over the old conductors if temp is a problem- the egc in the nm-b is supposed to be connected to an egc also (no gfci exception it), and applyng 250.130(C), could work for you there- if you do that one, you will be ok code wise to use the nm-b fix for temp issues and you would have an egc for the fixture.

 

[Electric-Light]

EGC is a safety feature, but electronically ballasted equipment such as fluorescent and LED can also be dependent on it for RFI management

 

[GoldDigger]

EGC is a safety feature, but electronically ballasted equipment such as fluorescent and LED can also be dependent on it for RFI management

A good point, and some linear tube fluorescent fixtures also depend on the metal shield behind the tube being effectively grounded (via EGC or otherwise) to aid in starting the arc properly.

 

[JFletcher]

A good point, and some linear tube fluorescent fixtures also depend on the metal shield behind the tube being effectively grounded (via EGC or otherwise) to aid in starting the arc properly.

Ive only seen those foil strips on the older 2' T-12 "U" bulbs. Seen some that light perfectly when your hands are on them and touching the metal frame, then go *pfffffth* (dont work correctly/light off) when you let go. Never understood that one.

 

[GoldDigger]

Ive only seen those foil strips on the older 2' T-12 "U" bulbs. Seen some that light perfectly when your hands are on them and touching the metal frame, then go *pfffffth* (dont work correctly/light off) when you let go. Never understood that one.

As I understand it when there is capacitive coupling between the ionized gas inside the tube and the metal (or your hand) outside the tube there is a path for arc current (small, but important) which does not require the arc to strike directly from one end of the tube to the other.
Since the arc extinguishes with every current zero crossing, even though the filament and mercury in the tube are hot, this alternate current path helps to make a reliable arc in the tube.
This is most important when the available voltage from one end of the tube to the other is limited.
And it can also cause problems if you put too many of that design luminaire on a GFCI circuit.