Open Ground

I have a circuit in my home which shows "Open Ground" using the three light plug in meter.

I have found two recepticles where the there was no ground wire tied in and after doing so circuit still shows open ground.

What is the best way to locate this and should all 120 wall recepticle have a ground wire tied into the ground going back ti the main svervice eentrance??


Also saw the post on "stab in" connections, are these where the wires are pushed into the hole in the recepticle in the back vs using the side screw. If so would it be wise to change all recepticle where there is a "stab connection" to the side screw connection.

Thanks
John1

 

For many years, in most areas, in new construction all outlets have been required to be 3-prong grounded type. But this was not always the case. If there is not a ground available at the receptacle box, a 2 prong receptacle must be used. Over the years, people may have replaced these for convenience, but it is not proper.

 

Back-wired, or push-in, receptacles have been in use for many years. While generally adequate, there is a tendency to a bad contact or loose connection, especially over time.

Replacing all your receptacles in not a huge task, and would give me personally a little more peace of mind.

 

Most of the receptacle and switch connections in my house are backstab connections. I would never make such a connection myself, but I'm not going to go around changing them all unless they fail or I have some other reason to be in the box. This advice is even more appropriate for an electrical novice since there is a big chance of screwing things up.

John1, can you tell us in what year your house was built?

 

Was built in 1985