Hello, we have several plugs that have no ground wire. The electrical wire for most of those plus seem to be running through the ceiling (not accessible that I know of). There is a basement and it looks like the plugs that have been grounded are connected to a cold-water pipe. We would like to tap in a junction box in the basement, and run a new wire (that includes ground) to a non-grounded receptacle by drilling a hole through the floor. Then, run the wire externally on the wall, drill another hole right below the receptacle cover to insert the wire inside and make the connection.Is the external wire against code? Does it have to be hidden inside a wall?
No and no. What does have to be inplace is a conduit for outside wiring paths. Specific grade wires must be fed through specific grade conduit to meet most wiring minimal codes.It can take many small pieces of conduit to form an acceptable path. Don't join to another live circuit at the receptacle. This retrofit must be a single dedicated circuit that begins with a properly sized thermal breaker switch. The 'junction box' you wish to tap must have thermal breaker capacity for expansion. If not replace this box with one that does. The idea behind this way forward is to not create a fire hazzard.Many fires start with ignorance-study up.
No you can't run it exposed Thats what is called exposed to physical damage and has to be protected, and for the fella saying it may be BXHAHA! The outer jacket of BX IS NOT a Ground!! Back when BX was used they used 2 prong outlets, Hence NO GROUND! If you don't know Electrical work, Call an Electrician and don't give recommendations that you are clueless about!
Did any of you consider that the wiring may be flexible metalic tubing, better known as BX? In that case, the BX is the ground, and he doesn't have a problem! In that particular case, you need a bare wire from the ground screw on the receptical to the box, which will be metal. Normally, a ground clip is used, but if you don't have one, use the screw holding the clamp in the box. I see these question and answers all the time where a solution is given with insufficiant information.
You may need the services of an electrician. Your ground is not up to code. You should have a ground rod that is driven into the ground as well as the cold water connection. Also instead of just taking the new line to a J-Box you should go all the way back to the distribution panel, also known as an entrance panel, to go to an unused fuse or circuit breaker. The wire can be run on the surface if you use a surface mold or conduit, with a surface box. However if you turn off the power to that plug you can attach the new wire to the old wire pull the old wire back to the cellar, which will pull the new wire to the cellar eliminating the need to run any wire on the surface. Make sure you loosen the clamp that is holding the wire in place in the box. If the old wire was stapled to the studs too tight you will not be able to pull the wire. In that case you could try to fish the new wire, or go back to the surface mold. That's why your best option may be to call a qualified electrician. You can never be too safe around electricity. Remember electricity can KILL, either outright or through a fire which it can cause if not installed correctly.
You would want to use a conduit probably wire mold would be the best thing because it looks pretty decent our you could go with e.m.t. and when it passes between floors it does not have to be in anything
