Need to ground switches?
#1
12-18-03, 07:16 AM
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Need to ground switches?
For normal light switches do I need to pigtail the grounds and run a jumper to the grounding screw on each switch? Or is it OK to just run the ground straight to the fixture? I know they never used to do it and I didn't know what the purpose of the grounding screw is.
I'm using romex and plastic boxes. FYI there is no inspecting authority in my jusrisdiction I'm just wanting to know what's safe and what's not.
I'm using romex and plastic boxes. FYI there is no inspecting authority in my jusrisdiction I'm just wanting to know what's safe and what's not.
#2
12-18-03, 07:22 AM
Yes, you should ground the switch.
The reason being that a ground will prevent the switch from becoming hot if something goes wrong with the switch or the wiring anywhere in the switch box.
With a plastic box there is no need to ground the box, so you have one less connection to make, which usually makes your wiring easier.
Just because it was not done years ago does not mean it is not a good idea, and it is now required by code to ground switches and outlets on new installations.
The reason being that a ground will prevent the switch from becoming hot if something goes wrong with the switch or the wiring anywhere in the switch box.
With a plastic box there is no need to ground the box, so you have one less connection to make, which usually makes your wiring easier.
Just because it was not done years ago does not mean it is not a good idea, and it is now required by code to ground switches and outlets on new installations.
#3
12-18-03, 01:30 PM
Before they made grounding screws on switches, some jurisdictions required that plastic plate screws (with plastic wall plates) be used when plastic boxes were used with switches. If voltage would get onto the switch, the metal plate screws would become live.
