First, I appologize if this topic, or a similar one was covered in a previous post, and also for the lengthy discussion below, but I want to give you all the data I think might be important.
I moved to a house which was built in the 1940's. The service and distribution panels were upgraded recently by the previous owner. In checking things out, I have found that most lighting and outlets are placed on three general purpose circuits. I assume this was just switched over from the old panel when the new distribution panel was installed. The panel seems to be otherwise okay, with dedicated circuits for dishwasher, garbage disposal, furnace, etc. etc. There are also several new circuits to support circuits used in remodeled areas.
I would like to split two of the three general use circuits in "half", resulting in a total of five general circuits. I would add AFCI when I am done to all general circuits.
At issue is grounding, grandfathering, and the actual method used. I have located easily accessible existing junction boxes at about the "halfway" point in each of these circuit. I can get to the next box on the "feed" side of these boxes, where I can disconnect the existing feed and remove the romex between the two boxed. I would like to run new feed cables from the circuit breaker panel to the identified boxes where after I disconnect the existing "feed" side wiring, I would connect the "new feed" cable from the breaker panel.
This sounded easy at first, but between two inspector opinions, and the comments of two licensed contractors I know, I now don't know what to do! The existing circuit is 14-2 NM (1940's) with no ground. I wanted to run a 14-2 NM (type B) cable with ground from the circuit breaker panel to the junction boxes, grounding the boxes with the ground wire at the time the connection was made. I realize that running a grounded cable would not make the rest of the circuit "grounded". I just assumed that running a grounded cable is the way things should be done now.
Here are the opinions and comments I got:
Inspector #1 -- You can't do this with 14-2 NM without ground because all new wiring must be grounded. You must therefore use 14-2 with ground. The run from your breaker panel to the existing wiring must be grounded. Once you use a grounded wire in any part of a circuit, you have changed the entire circuit to a grounded circuit and all wiring must be upgraded to grounded wiring. You must run grounded wire to everything past the new "feed" point. You only need to upgrade the wiring (and install grounded outlets). You do not need to meet other parts of the code for receptacle placement, etc. since you are upgrading wiring only.
Inspector #2 -- If you were simply replacing a section of wiring which was damaged in some way, you can replace the ungrounded wiring with ungrounded wire. You are not replacing the wiring, you are spliting an existing circuit in half. You must use grounded cable since you are changing the circuit, not simply replacing a damaged section. When you upgrade the circuit, you must take into account all other requirements of todays (2011?) code. You must add outlets to meet maximum spacing requirements, install additional switches at top and bottom of stairs (where only one switch exists now), etc. Since the existing circuit now run all over the house, and not to a specific room, you must upgrade all wiring in the house. (He then wrote down the names of a couple of "good" contractors who could do this for me. The contractors I ask and qoute below were not on the list.)
Contractor A -- We do this all the time. I have some "old" 14-2 without ground and could pull this in to split the circuit. NEC does not address this directly, and as long as you use the same type materials used before code changes were made, you can change wiring without having to upgrade to new code requirements.
Contractor B -- I would do this the way you suggested. Running 14-2 with ground to the junction box. There is no requirement to upgrade an entire circuit if a new feed is run as suggested. This would also provide a starting point if the circuits were ever upgraged to grounding without having to run yet another feed. I would put a tag on the wire at the panel stating that it feeds ungrounded circuits installed prior to 1950.
I moved to a house which was built in the 1940's. The service and distribution panels were upgraded recently by the previous owner. In checking things out, I have found that most lighting and outlets are placed on three general purpose circuits. I assume this was just switched over from the old panel when the new distribution panel was installed. The panel seems to be otherwise okay, with dedicated circuits for dishwasher, garbage disposal, furnace, etc. etc. There are also several new circuits to support circuits used in remodeled areas.
I would like to split two of the three general use circuits in "half", resulting in a total of five general circuits. I would add AFCI when I am done to all general circuits.
At issue is grounding, grandfathering, and the actual method used. I have located easily accessible existing junction boxes at about the "halfway" point in each of these circuit. I can get to the next box on the "feed" side of these boxes, where I can disconnect the existing feed and remove the romex between the two boxed. I would like to run new feed cables from the circuit breaker panel to the identified boxes where after I disconnect the existing "feed" side wiring, I would connect the "new feed" cable from the breaker panel.
This sounded easy at first, but between two inspector opinions, and the comments of two licensed contractors I know, I now don't know what to do! The existing circuit is 14-2 NM (1940's) with no ground. I wanted to run a 14-2 NM (type B) cable with ground from the circuit breaker panel to the junction boxes, grounding the boxes with the ground wire at the time the connection was made. I realize that running a grounded cable would not make the rest of the circuit "grounded". I just assumed that running a grounded cable is the way things should be done now.
Here are the opinions and comments I got:
Inspector #1 -- You can't do this with 14-2 NM without ground because all new wiring must be grounded. You must therefore use 14-2 with ground. The run from your breaker panel to the existing wiring must be grounded. Once you use a grounded wire in any part of a circuit, you have changed the entire circuit to a grounded circuit and all wiring must be upgraded to grounded wiring. You must run grounded wire to everything past the new "feed" point. You only need to upgrade the wiring (and install grounded outlets). You do not need to meet other parts of the code for receptacle placement, etc. since you are upgrading wiring only.
Inspector #2 -- If you were simply replacing a section of wiring which was damaged in some way, you can replace the ungrounded wiring with ungrounded wire. You are not replacing the wiring, you are spliting an existing circuit in half. You must use grounded cable since you are changing the circuit, not simply replacing a damaged section. When you upgrade the circuit, you must take into account all other requirements of todays (2011?) code. You must add outlets to meet maximum spacing requirements, install additional switches at top and bottom of stairs (where only one switch exists now), etc. Since the existing circuit now run all over the house, and not to a specific room, you must upgrade all wiring in the house. (He then wrote down the names of a couple of "good" contractors who could do this for me. The contractors I ask and qoute below were not on the list.)
Contractor A -- We do this all the time. I have some "old" 14-2 without ground and could pull this in to split the circuit. NEC does not address this directly, and as long as you use the same type materials used before code changes were made, you can change wiring without having to upgrade to new code requirements.
Contractor B -- I would do this the way you suggested. Running 14-2 with ground to the junction box. There is no requirement to upgrade an entire circuit if a new feed is run as suggested. This would also provide a starting point if the circuits were ever upgraged to grounding without having to run yet another feed. I would put a tag on the wire at the panel stating that it feeds ungrounded circuits installed prior to 1950.
