Funny that this topic surfaced....
Years back, I had a employee who "went on his own".
Got a call from a job he worked on, arcing behind the clothing racks along the wall. Went to the site, saw visable arc tracking on the 1/2" EMT....went to the AC receptacle, opened the 1900 cover. A new cost cutting installation method.... a great discovery.
One (1) #10 THHN, black, on the single receptacle, a 6" piece of white, from the neutral recept terminal, to a ground screw in the box. Gee, 120 volts at the outlet..
Hmm, materials cost saved? maybe $10.00, possible fire damage? priceless.
Now if he only made sure the setscrews were all tight, he might have escaped!
THe "old timers" used to call this practice "gipping the ground" "who needs the white wire", "The BX sheath is good enough for a return path".
John
