Stuck with 2 wires!!!!

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tshephard

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Had to add an outdoor receptacle for transformer for outdoor low voltage lights transformer. Saw what looked like a UF cable and said no problem (already on switch with other 120 outdoor lights). When I tagged to UF cable (1962) it had only 2 wires. Put in GFI receptacle with stickers for no ground. Failed inspection.
Thought about cover plate and hard wiring transformer into 2 wire circuit. Any other thoughts?
Inspector had trouble with his little light tester, I brought up no reference, and his buddies said add-ons must be 3 wire. That would be 100 feet instead of 5 feet of work.
Would appreciate references that would save or convert my little tagged in circuit (the rest is up to code, cover, depth, protection, UF and PVC, just no ground in this older home).
Customer wants O/D light to remain on same switch/line as other lights that exist.
Virginia is on 1999, by the way.
Thanks in advance for the help!
 
Re: Stuck with 2 wires!!!!

I don't know of any code section that will let you install a new 15 or 20 amp receptacle without an EGC.
Don
 
Re: Stuck with 2 wires!!!!

I agree with Don. 406.3(A) and (B) do not give you this option, and 406.3(D) does not come into play for a new receptacle.
 
Re: Stuck with 2 wires!!!!

Sandsnow---thanks alot.
That seems to cover my situation exactly.
I believe I'll need to replace my short THHN with UF so my PVC is for protection only, then I could bring a bare, solid #6 out of the back of the PVC, naked along the building and then to the existing GEC system.
Whew, did I get it right?
 
Re: Stuck with 2 wires!!!!

Your Welcome
Check with your AHJ before hand if possible.
Running the #6 bare and solid would be ok per 250-120(c), but make sure it can't be damaged.
 
Re: Stuck with 2 wires!!!!

Inspector couldn't argue with that!

Thanks again,
Tim S.

[ August 13, 2004, 04:43 PM: Message edited by: tshephard ]
 
Re: Stuck with 2 wires!!!!

Unless he wanted to site 110.54(B)

(B) Equipment Grounding Conductors. An equipment grounding conductor shall be run with circuit conductors inside the metal raceway or inside the multiconductor cable jacket. The equipment grounding conductor shall be permitted to be insulated or bare.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Stuck with 2 wires!!!!

Whoops wrong code
Should have been 250.134(B)

(B) With Circuit Conductors. By an equipment grounding conductor contained within the same raceway, cable, or otherwise run with the circuit conductors.
Click to expand...
But Ex #1 allows it for ungrounded circuit replacements:

Exception No. 1: As provided in 250.130(C), the equipment grounding conductor shall be permitted to be run separately from the circuit conductors.
Click to expand...
And 250.130(C) allows it for circuit extentions:

(C) Nongrounding Receptacle Replacement or Branch Circuit Extensions . The equipment grounding conductor of a grounding-type receptacle or a branch-circuit extension shall be permitted to be connected to any of the following:
Click to expand...

[ August 16, 2004, 12:19 AM: Message edited by: hurk27 ]
 
Re: Stuck with 2 wires!!!!

I never really understood how running an equipment ground by itself and not with the circuit conductors would be an effective way to open an OCPD.
Can someone explain how that works?

Pierre
 
Re: Stuck with 2 wires!!!!

Pierre,
The remote EGC is not really a problem (is it in most cases a code violation) until you are working with circuits where the OCPD is over 250 or 300 amps. The inductive reactance that limits the fault current in the remote fault clearing path is not high enough to cause problems for smaller capacity circuits.
Don

edited to add missing word...I left out the word not in the orginal posting.

[ August 25, 2004, 10:42 AM: Message edited by: don_resqcapt19 ]
 
Re: Stuck with 2 wires!!!!

Thanks all, inspector passed easily with external EGC to cold water pipe (as about 6 others had over the life of house). Customer willingly paid materials, I learned a lesson, and will always write 'assuming EGC availiable' when I see UF again.
250.130C was the trick, and in section below is deliberately excluded from 'with other conductors' for 250.130C
Thanks again.
 
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