My home was built in 1986. It does not appear that any of the outlets or switches are grounded. I'm sure this is not correct and I just don't know what to look for.
I will use one outlet and one switch as an example.

The wiring is labeled as 14 AWG THHN.

The outlet has one blue wire coming in and one going out(hot wire). It also has one white wire coming in and going out (neutral).

The switch has one blue wire in/out and a red load wire going to
a switched outlet.

Now, unless I'm mistaking there is no grounding here.

BTW, what is the difference between THHN and ROMEX wiring if any?

 

If the wiring is labeled THHN it should be in conduit. If the conduit is metallic it can serve as the grounding means.

 

The wires are in conduit, but I'm not sure how the conduit acts as
a ground becuase none of the wires are connected to the conduit.

 

"Romex" is the "Trade-Name" for Non-Metallic cable. A cable is an assembly of 2 or more individual conductors enclosed together inside an outer seath or covering, which, for Romex" is a quasi-plastic seath.

THHN identifies the type of insulation of an individual conductor. Because of it's temperature-rating, THHN has a hgher ampacity than other conductor-types.

The colors you describe do not conform the the "standard" colors used in Non-metallic cable. You MAY have a "raceway" Wiring Method where individual conductors are inserted inside the raceway after it's "in place".

We need to know the type of outlet-boxes used, either metal or non-metallic.

Good Luck & Enjoy the Experience!!!!!!!!!!

 

The boxes are metallic. I couldn't tell you what type of metal.
There is definately no additional sheathing over the wires that are running through the conduit (at least not that I can see) so it is probably not ROMEX(am I wrong).

The outlet and switch that I described are in one room of the house. I will look at some others tonight to see if they are the same way.

 

Very simple Kosh. When EMT (conduit) is used metal boxes are also used. So, the box is bonded by the fitting to the pipe, which is bonded to the panel by the fitting. The panel itself is bonded by the jumper or bonding screw to the ground / neutral bus. The recepts are bonded to the system by way of a grounding tab on one of the mounting screw holes (at least in newer installations.) In the recept. itself, the ground prong is bonded to the metal frame that supports the recept. Thus a complete ground path is established.

And yes, for the record NEC lists metallic conduit as a means of gorunding.

 

Excellent CSelectric. That allays my worries, but just to make absolutely certain that I understand correctly, no ground wire is required in this case correct?

Now I just need to find out why the wiring colors don't appear to be standard.

Thanks a lot for your help guys. I appreciate it.

 

Thats just the color the wires are. The white is standard and the electric doesnt know what color it is,, blue red black, it cant tell the difference. You will probably find a system the guy who wired it used, red to power fixtures, blue for power feeds etc.

 

Any chance you live in or near Chicago?

Neutral is white or gray. Ground is bare of green. Hot can be any other color under the rainbow.

When you live outside of Romex country, most of what you read won't apply to you.

 

Sberry, yeah I know the color doesn't matter electrically, but I was curious as far as code is concernced.

[edit]: I guess John just answered that. Thanks.

 

John, yeah, I live in the NW subburbs. How did you know?

 

Chicago is in its own electrical universe.

 

Oh great! This should be fun

Thanks again for your help!!

 

Yep, you are likely in the realm of Chicago code, either by code adoption of your community, or by force of habit by the electrical contractor.

I spent better than ten years working in Chicago, and the N / NW burbs. I could probably explain most of your electrical system to you without seeing it. If you've got any more questions, just say the word.