Ground Wire

[hookerp]

I am running wire to a new light. It is a plastic socket but it does not have aplace to tie in the ground wire what do I do?

[kactuskid]

If the light is mounted on a metal electrical box then attach the ground wire to the metal box. If the box is plastic, then just fold the ground wire up and leave it in the back of the box.

[HayZee518]

The fixture you are speaking of is either a keyless or socket pullchain made of plastic or porcelain. If there is a ac outlet on the pullchain it will have a ground terminal marked with a green screw. If there is no screw colored green then there is no place to connect a ground. If the box is plastic - just fold the ground wire inside. If it is metal of any kind, install a green grounding screw and wrap the bare ground around it and tighten. Any other cables going into the box shall have all the grounds tied together and wirenutted.

[hookerp]

I bought some the green wires nuts used to make a pigtail for the grounds wires. I have seen that it says to make the pigtail at least 6 inches long. What is the reason for this? Useing that much wire seems to be kind of tough to get it in the box.

[HayZee518]

It's for easy access to the device when you service the fixture. It's not hard to fold back the wire inside the box. Go back and forth like a "Z"

[Kidd6488]

quote:a keyless or socket pullchain made of plastic or porcelain.

just a question, what does the "keyless" mean on those things? Personally, I like the $.98 fiberglass ones from menards, but I've always wondered why their called "keyless"...

thanks

~Jonathon Reinhart

[LazyPup]

Quite often when performing maintenance on switches, outlets or fixtures we find the wire burned or corroded which necessitates cutting it back a bit. Believe me when i say that in future you will be thankful you installed the extra pigtail length as defined by the code.

[HayZee518]

in a pullchain, at least the earlier ones there was a "key" cutout in shell where the pullchain would come through. A keyless didn't have an integral switch hence no key or keyless.