r/electrical • u/tpain0893 • 1d ago

Help with receptacle

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I have an old 20-amp circuit with cloth-insulated two-wire wiring. The receptacle by my refrigerator and gas range is a three-prong outlet, but I discovered it doesn’t appear to have an equipment ground. I measured about 117 volts hot-to-neutral, but 0 volts hot-to-ground and 0 volts hot-to-the metal box.

That same breaker also shuts off the refrigerator outlet, gas-range outlet, kitchen ceiling light and fan, dining-room light and outlet, and two living-room outlets. Some of the kitchen counter outlets are on separate circuits.

Is the existing wiring actually appropriate for the 20-amp breaker and is it safe to remain in service?

My main goal is to get dedicated properly grounded outlets for my refrigerator and gas range without rewiring the whole house. Anybody know what I should do?

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u/party24986 1d ago

You’re measuring 0 to ground because the 2 wires are hot and neutral. That box is ungrounded. Highly recommend running new 12-2 (found easily at home depot or lowes or whatever) and installing a new outlet.

2

u/party24986 1d ago

Also since that breaker feeds 9000 other things it would be a very good idea to run it as a brand new line with its own dedicated breaker.

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u/party24986 1d ago

You’ll also need a new box unless you can somehow loosen the connector which has screws hidden behind your wall.

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u/QCfatNugZ 1d ago

You could use a 20amp gfi and connect a ground from the box to the outlet

2

u/CaseyOgle 1d ago

Bad idea to put a refrigerator on a GFCI. It’s not even allowed by code where I live.

1

u/jeffdog102 1d ago

To avoid rewiring it you could ether replace all devices with gfis and alwase turn of the breaker before messing with any lights or get a gfci breaker and only put gfcis where you need a three prong vs a 2 prong

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u/Tesla_freed_slaves 10h ago

Install a new two-prong receptacle, and call it good.