nealtw
Contractor retired
Maybe a code thing up here.
We started a refresh of our 22 year old kitchen. We are having the cabinets refinished, new appliances, LED lighting and new flooring. I'm replacing the old white outlets and switches with black ones to compliment the granite. I'm finding that all the new switches have a ground screw. Why is this necessary? I understand about grounding outlets but why switches? It seems like it is unnecessary since a switch isn't a complete circuit.
Because you could have a problem with the switch that made the steel frame of the switch live so when you touch the cover plate screw you get 120 volts.
If the switch is grounded. the breaker would pop at the first site of a problem.
I didn't say the house wasn't grounded, if you read my post I said the switches weren't grounded. All of the outlets and fixtures are properly grounded.House 22 years old, has a ground.
q1: so 22 years ago, you installed plastic boxes?
q2: is there a bare ground wire in the wire runs (white, black, bare or green)?
Thats what I said in #12.
I havent taken a switch apart in many years but I doubt there is a failure mode that would energize the frame of the switch. Your 120V electric drill doesnt even have a ground as they call it double insulated.
I have a few old switches laying around I will have to pry one open and see if any failure mode could cause a frame to go hot.
I didn't say the house wasn't grounded, if you read my post I said the switches weren't grounded. All of the outlets and fixtures are properly grounded.
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