Grounding question,with some aluminum wiring thrown in

[dcarr82775]

Not sure this is the right forum, but here goes: I just found that two outlets in my kitchen are ungrounded, and the wire for these two outlets is aluminum (rest of the house is copper from what I can tell). It is a 1940's era house. I was able to trace the aluminum back to a junction box for a ceiling light in the basement. I was thinking of trying to pull a new piece of romex from this box, but realized the wires feeding into this box must also not be grounded so this doesnt solve the problem. All the other outlets in the house test as grounded strangly enough.

Am I allowed to run a green ground wire from a different grounded circuit to the ceiling junction box to ground the kitchen receptacles (and replace AL with copper)? I would rather not add the two kitchen outlets to the other circuit.

If that is not allowed and assuming I replace the AL wire with copper, is it acceptable to install a GFI outlet onto the circuit in the kitchen? Does this actually resolve any grounding issuee?

Running a new line isnt really an option, so if neither of the above are allowed what else can be done?


Thanks

 

[dpc]

The NEC allows for use of GFI receptacles in existing two-wire systems, and it is required for new work in these systems.

You don't want to run a green wire from another circuit.

No offense intended, but with the AL wiring issue, I'd recommend you find a local electrician to help you out. There are ways to deal with the Al wiring, but you'll be better off all around if you leave this to a licensed electrician. It will be useful when you try to sell the house as well.

By the way - running a new circuit may not be as impossible as you think. Check with a "narrowback" who does this for a living - you might be surprised.

Cheers,

dpc

 

[dcarr82775]

Thanks dpc. Not offended at all. Actually we were thinking about putting the house on the market, and I was just testing some outlets. The more I have lived there the more I realize the inspector we used when buying the place didn't do much of anything in the way of inspecting things like plumbing and electrical.

Given the old house I am sure all sorts of things don't meet current code so I wanted to avoid going down the full electrical review/upgrade. The biggest problem is the walls are all plaster so it is a real pain getting anything new in the walls. I will get a local electrician out to look at things and see what can be done.

 

[waross]

If the kitchen receptacles are done in aluminum they were probably added quite some time after the house was built. If the aluminum was fished it is probably not fastened and it may be fairly easy to use the aluminum wire to pull in a new Romex. In the Canadian Code you can use the ground wire from another circuit, use a grounded metallic water pipe or run a single ground wire back to the panel for repair of old circuits. There may be similar easements in the NEC for rework. The two codes are not identical but are quite close.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[waross]

PS The GFIs are a good idea regardless.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[dpc]

Agree with Bill - it should be possible to fish a new circuit in without making too many new wall openings. The NEC allows this for "old work".

 

[dcarr82775]

Thanks all. The room we would need to cut hole in has funky (and rather ugly) plaster finishes and a lovely popcorn ceiling. Both of which will be a bear to try and patch. I will get an electrician to take a look. Thanks