Any suggested for an ungrounded electrical box?

I bought a new receptacle yesterday and installed it in a box upstairs.

I installed it like every other receptacle in the house. I screwed a grounding wire into the box, attached it to the receptacle and finished the wiring.

I tested it and it was an open ground. :-(

What are the chances the reciprocals was bad? If it wasn’t bad, what are my options?

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sciguy18 · M

Was the old receptacle grounded (and grounded properly) or was it the old two-slot (ungrounded) type?

If the old receptacle was grounded and you wired the new one exactly the same way, it could be the new receptacle. That is not the most likely possibility though.

If the old receptacle was the two-slot (ungrounded) type, connecting a ground wire between the new receptacle and box will only work if the box is grounded (i.e., metal box with bx cable).

Hard to say without seeing...

SW-User

@sciguy18 it wasn’t grounded and it was a fairly new(er) two prong plug.

I did the green wire to the box like I did with all the other receptacles.

I agree. I think something happened with the ground wire to the box. I am going to check if they grounded the box at the light-switch when they put the ceiling fan in. All of that is on the same circuit.

GerOttman · 61-69, M

Is it an older house? Might be some knob and tube wiring. If you're using 3-conductor wire it must not be complete all the back to the source,Everything should be tied to ground at the main breaker box.

SW-User

@GerOttman it’s just strange that everything in the house seemed to be good.

Usually the ground is wrapped around the whole wire which is then clamped to the box (from what I’ve seen). I saw no copper ground this time.

MarineBob · 56-60, M

it is rare to get a new bad receptacle but it does happen, trace you wire back to see if it is connected to other outlets and make sure the screw in the breaker box is tight

SW-User

@MarineBob it’s a finished house which makes things harder.

I’ll work my way around to check the other outlets. I’ll be annoyed if the people who installed the ceiling fan in the room (last year) caused this.

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