I'm looking for opinions to save me from codebook homework.
The scenario is an old house wired with Romex and metal boxes. The romex has a gound that is undersized (#16 awg). The existing receptacles are worn out non-grounded type. The grounding conductors are twisted together inside the box and wrapped around the clamp screw. The owner does not want to rewire. Can the existing undersized grounds be used to attach new U-ground receptacles legally? It seems like a safer installation in one respect with the grounding but maybe a fire hazard due to the undersize ground.
What about liability when you replace a ungrounded receptacle with a new ungrounded one? In the kitchen if replacing existing unground receptacles would it be mandatory (not just safer) to upgrade them to GFI?
Old houses are cans of worms. Where do you draw the line with meeting current codes when doing repairs?
