Plug + EGC: was this ever OK?

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zbang

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Was this ever code legal? I can't think of when it would have been but I haven't yet dived in to the relevant sections. I also haven't looked to see which plug is in use, I suspect its 2p + G with the G being reused as the N. There are several variations on a theme in this facility; this photo was convenient.

uglyplug.jpg
(Sometimes the green goes to a lug on the outside of the panel, sometimes to a lug inside.)
 
Even tho it looks electrically okay*, if it's anywhere near a floor it would be a trip hazard and a half. If they are ever unplugged the cable would be hanging by the ground wire; I can imagine a few of those breaking from repeated strain.

Also, afaik, the cable jacket has to go into a plug end. Why not just use 4 wire receptacles and the appropriate male plugs? Cost?

*provided no one plugs in eqpt that fits the receptacle but is wired differently than the receptacle.
 
zbang said:
Was this ever code legal? I can't think of when it would have been but I haven't yet dived in to the relevant sections. I also haven't looked to see which plug is in use, I suspect its 2p + G with the G being reused as the N. There are several variations on a theme in this facility; this photo was convenient.

View attachment 13793
(Sometimes the green goes to a lug on the outside of the panel, sometimes to a lug inside.)
Click to expand...
I see nothing...I know nothing...
 
Everyone keeps talking about 4 wire cord, yet all I see is a black, white and a green.:?

I was sort of assuming it is a two wire plug/receptacle and they decided to land the green the way they did instead of just buying a three wire plug and receptacle. Guess the item supplied is still grounded if the cord cap pulls out:cool:
 
It may be an artifact of the photo, but I think anyone who is not red-green color blind will see some red in that area of the wiring. Only the OP can tell us for sure.
 
zbang said:
Was this ever code legal? I can't think of when it would have been but I haven't yet dived in to the relevant sections. I also haven't looked to see which plug is in use, I suspect its 2p + G with the G being reused as the N. There are several variations on a theme in this facility; this photo was convenient.

View attachment 13793
(Sometimes the green goes to a lug on the outside of the panel, sometimes to a lug inside.)
Click to expand...

The closest "legal" setup to this that I can think of off hand might be the old two wire plug w/ an egc lead/spade that you connected to the faceplate screw on a 2 wire receptacle (provided the box was grounded to begin with) to bond an appliance or metal cased tool and I don't know if that would even be still listed as acceptable configuration (on top of being completely unnecessary today with the prevalence of 5-15 recs).
 
GoldDigger said:
... but I think anyone who is not red-green color blind will see some red in that area of the wiring. Only the OP can tell us for sure.
Click to expand...

I sure can... it's a 4-wire cable. Most of these connect to 6-circuit panels with 5-15 recept's; the sort of thing that we used as a spider box 30 years ago, and some of them look their age.

I'm going to look around the place for a few more examples today.
 
zbang said:
Was this ever code legal? I can't think of when it would have been but I haven't yet dived in to the relevant sections. I also haven't looked to see which plug is in use, I suspect its 2p + G with the G being reused as the N. There are several variations on a theme in this facility; this photo was convenient.

View attachment 13793
(Sometimes the green goes to a lug on the outside of the panel, sometimes to a lug inside.)
Click to expand...

How about the receptacle, it looks as if It is a DIY. Hense, the plug and cord assembly. A Rube Goldberg?
 
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