I just replaced a light fixture in an apartment complex.I discovered that the bonehead that did the install did not run an equiptment ground when he installed the entire circuit that the light is ran off of (dumb a**!!!!!!!!)Does anyone know if it would be up to code if I where to just drive an 8 ft. ground rod and ground the fixture/entire circuit off of the rod?I have looked everywhere.Cannot find anything in code books.If someone knows where this is in NEC, please include the location.Anybody have any input?
It is not whether 80 ft, 8 ft 0r 1 ft., it is the conductivity of the ground that is at issue. Of course, generally but not necessarily true that the deeper the ground rod penetrates, the better. I suggest you get someone who knows to check your grounding system before you become a bonehead yourself.
Driving a ground rod is not the answer. The circuit should be grounded at the panel. a lot of the older homes do not have a ground. Just hot Neutral. If you are just running a light fixture it will work with-out an equipment or earth ground,While it is a lot safer to have an earth ground.
Is it possible he grounded the box? Some guys will use a metal box and ground it. As far as a ground rod for one gircuit, I wouldn't do it. I work in a lot of homes (50 plus y/o) that do not have a ground wire in the circuits, only the panel, although not to todays codes, they seem ok. Just my $.02 worth.
As mentioned the box may be grounded and you cannot see it. If it is not then you must ground it. There is code that will tell you the gauge of the wire that you must use for each circuit. The new code indicates that you do not use a ground rod, but a ground plate. That plate must be buried deep enough that it is in damp soil or it will not work. I am not familiar with the plates, but with the ground rods you need to have more than one and they have to be separated. I have attached a link to the city of Concord code.
John I don't know where you are located but there are still some locations where a specific equipment ground wire is not required if BX cable is used. The metallic cable is the ground. There are locations that only only partially adopt the national electrical code. Judging from your search of the NEC it does not sound like you are simply looking for a place to put the ground wire on your lamp. And how old is it? Does it predate the adoption of the NEC in your area? Now if you are saying that you are looking at a non metallic box and you do not have a ground that is another story. Again if you are saying that you tested the circuit and found that a metallic box is not grounded that also might be a different story. Driving a ground rod for a light seems rather extreme. It seems as if there is a bit of information here that is missing. You have some sites below that might help. Do be careful as someone once told me that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
