Older homes without an equipment ground

[retirede]

In my 2 wire home, I just added gfi to the bathroom and laundry. Anywhere and everywhere else 2023 code wants would be ridiculous.


Although when I upped to a newer QO PoN to replace the garbage push-matic, when I properly grounded everything, I stopped getting tickles when I grabbed beer from the garage refrigerator barefoot on moist cement..... Must be grounding is important?

GFCI protection in a garage is not ridiculous. Your second paragraph confirms that!

 

[mtnelect]

I am going to (slightly) disagree with this and with Rob's having agreed to this.

Many years ago, manufacturers started offering tools with "double insulation." What that meant is that if a live wire contacted the case from the inside, the outside of the case (the part being held in the user's hand) would not become energized. Such tools were safe to use despite having a cord with a 2-prong plug.

However, any tool or appliance that has a metal exterior that is not adequately insulated from its interior can give the user an unpleasant shock, if a live wire contacts the case from inside.

So my answer to cppoly's question is, "sometimes, but not always."

My understanding of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) ... Both the grounded and ungrounded conductors are monitored by the GFCI. So, when there is an imbalance between the two conductors, it will trip. The current difference is going elsewhere.

 

[tortuga]

I stopped getting tickles when I grabbed beer from the garage refrigerator barefoot on moist cement..... Must be grounding is important?

It would be interesting to measure how many ma of current your fridge is leaking to the equipment ground.