Grandparents' Bath - ECN Electrical Forums

This from Theelectirikid

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In my grandparent's house, in the basement, the previous owner installed a bathroom on one side. They put up two walls, one separating it from the laundry room, the other from the "main" area.
My great uncle "installed" a light for my grandfather. Here's how he
wired it.

Pic 1, a picture of the light. Yes that's a grounded outlet on the
side.

[Linked Image]

Pic 2, a piece of two-wire (non-grounded) SO Cord run through the newer
wall, up and parallel to the joists. The cable is not "secured" at all
in the run.

[Linked Image]

Pic 3, the other end. It's plugged into a socket-to-receptacle adapter.
My finger's there to block the light glare.

[Linked Image]

Ian

That's the way rednecks do it.

Oh, in that case, it's just a corded appliance, not an electrical installation. What's the problem??

Besides, not grounding the metal case eliminates the risk of a ground fault. And that receptacle is an inaccessible basement receptacle, so why would anyone even consider adding GFCI protection or a ground?

(Edit: for the vocational students, this is known as sarcasm!)

[This message has been edited by SteveFehr (edited 10-29-2006).]

Thanks Scott for posting them. I'm taking some pictures around this singlewide as I type!

Steve: I was following you. Until I saw the disclaimer, that is.

Ian (Edited cause I kant spell me name!) A.

[This message has been edited by Theelectrikid (edited 10-30-2006).]

There was a time when the only receptacle found in the bath was in the base of the light. Most of these were of the two-prong variety.

Three prong receptacles, like the one pictured, had but a brief period of use, before the GFCI was invented.

many places date from this time, and still have this arrangement. I believe replacement fixtures are available. Remember that word : REPLACEMENT. new installations still need GFI protection.

Of course, not grounding the receptacle shown, and powering in the manner shown, was as wrong then as it is now.

Growing up the house I lived in had two single lamps on both sides of the mirror with a single grounded outlet in each one.

Next to the sink was a NEMA 2-15 t-slot duplex that didn't work anymore.

you people with your bathroom outlets are really lucky. My aunt's old house had one (1) ceiling light fixture in a bathroom with a 9' ceiling. Every morning, she would run her hair dryer and curling iron on an old orange extension cord. Eventually, they moved into a new house, and to the best of my knowlege the house has not been rewired yet. They moved out 6 years ago, and the house has had several owners sence then. It was a 100a. 2w. service for a 4200sq. foot house. No air conditioner, though.

I don't know if it matters to you guys, but I just learned my Great-uncle was, and still is, a plumber.

Ian A.

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many places date from this time, and still have this arrangement. I believe replacement fixtures are available. Remember that word : REPLACEMENT. new installations still need GFI protection.

Q: Would you be allowed to use one of these if say it was in the upstairs bath, fed from the GFCI in the lower-floor bathroom?

Ian A.

Yes, you would. I'm not sure it would meet the receptacle requirement, but would be allowed in addition to the required receptacle.

Ooooh. A PLASTIC keyless!!! Even better.

Those things make spectacular charcoal briquettes! I've seen them when they burn out. [Linked Image]