skip to main content

Electrical Wiring

grounding a metal junction box

16 years ago

I am slowly replacing some of the older 2 conductor copper wires in some of our house-mostly in the bathrooms and kitchen. For some of the layouts, I find it easier to home run to a junction box on top of one ot f the joists in the attic in the vicinity of the room and branch out from there. 2 questions: 1)Is it ok to use junction boxes in these situations rather than do all the junctions in the traditional way down in the recep boxes or switch boxes like they would do for new construction?2)Do I have to bond the ground to the junction boxes?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

bigbird_1
16 years ago
1) Yes, as long as you don't overfill the box.
2) Absolutely!
bisbox
16 years ago
keep in mind that you can't share a bathroom ckt. with another room.
It MUST be dedicated to the bathroom only.
It can be used for power, lighting, a fan, a vent and/or whatever within the bathroom.
As long as the ckt supplies devises located in the bathroom only.
Related Discussions
junction box grounding
Q
Comments (3)
"all grounds in the cables had to be bonded to the box" You can join all the cables and then use a pigtail from the junction to ground the box. The pigtail must be the size of the largest ground in the cables, but they are not required to each bond separately to the box. If you leave the largest ground entering the box longer you can then cut of the excess length and use it as the bonding pigtail for the box.
...See More
Metal Junction Boxes and 2-Wire Romex
Q
Comments (1)
You can use any box you want as long as it's of sufficient internal volume. It matters not if you use a round or a rectangular one. Given you have ungrounded cable, you can probably safely assume there was no necessity to ground the boxes at the time they were installed. As long as you're not upgrading the circuit, you do not have to change this at this time.
...See More
Do metal boxes need to be grounded?
Q
Comments (6)
"Thanks, just finished grounding the box using the screw on one of the cable clamps." Not suitable. There should be a 10-32 threaded hole in the back of the box for attaching a grounding pigtail. If the box is very old the hole may not be threaded, and if even older may not be there. You can use the slide on clips to ground the box (though relying on spring pressure remains a weak point). Only machine screw threads are allowed for grounding (no self tapping screws).
...See More
Quick Junction Box Grounding Question
Q
Comments (4)
"If you aren't altering the circuit, you aren't required to bring it up to the current code. Go ahead and use the metal JBs." Not true. Any alteration to an electrical system is required to conform to Code. If you install metal boxes, you need to ground them. This is typically done by installing a grounding conductor to a grounding electrode or to the grounding bus or bar in the panel. You will also be required to connect the grounding conductor to a grounding screw in the box. That said, it is easier to install plastic boxes.
...See More

Related Stories

GREEN BUILDING The Big Freeze: Inventors Break New Ground to Keep Things Cool

By Olivia Strigari

Old-fashioned fridges can be energy guzzlers, but there are more eco-friendly ways of keeping food fresh, as these global innovations show

DECORATING GUIDES No Neutral Ground? Why the Color Camps Are So Opinionated

By Vanessa Brunner

Can't we all just get along when it comes to color versus neutrals?

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Earthiness Grounds a Contemporary Louisiana Home

Generous wood and thoughtful design on a 32-acre site, pond included, make for a warm-looking home that naturally fits its owners

BASEMENTS Basement of the Week: From Dumping Ground to Family Hangout

By Becky Harris

With a lounge, home office and playroom, everyone's covered in this renovated Seattle basement

REMODELING GUIDES Modern Metal Fireplaces Open World of Possibilities

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Allowing way more natural light than traditional fireplaces, and with some not even needing a vent, metal fireplaces are a major improvement

MODERN ARCHITECTURE Design Workshop: Modern Metal Shingle Style

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Steel, copper and zinc shingles take siding to new heights, with less maintenance than their wooden cousins

GARDENING GUIDES Look for Metallic Green Sweat Bees Visiting Your Garden This Fall

By Pollination Press LLC

These beautiful sweat bees will dazzle and delight you with their bright emerald green color and midsummer and fall flower visiting

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Going Heavy on the Metal for Industrial-Style Beauty

By Louise de Miranda

Steel and iron pieces mix with antiques and heirlooms in an eclectic Netherlands home

HOUZZ TV Houzz TV: How to Make and Plant a Veggie Box

By Annie Thornton

See how to start edibles from seed, then transfer the seedlings to a box on stilts to make harvesting more fun

REMODELING GUIDES Nesting Boxes: Houses With Homes of Their Own

Framing one box with another creates a whole new style of modern indoor-outdoor living

Sponsored

More Discussions

Samsung Frame TV over a fireplace

13

Does NEC require a DUPLEX receptacle in kitchen?

2

Why would only one outlet be working and no others on the same breaker

4

I need a pop up outlet on my island, but they are HUGE!

9

Question about an outdoor flood light socket

6