250.130 Equipment Grounding Conductor Connections.
Code Change Summary: New provisions were added to address the replacement of snap switches without an equipment grounding terminal.
For years the NEC® has provided language in Section 250.130 on acceptable methods that can be used when no equipment grounding conductor is present in the branch circuit for the replacement of older non–grounding-type receptacles with grounding-type receptacles. What about replacing older snap switches that were never equipped with an equipment grounding terminal under the same circumstance?
An exception to Section 404.9(B) addresses installations where there is no means present within the switch enclosure for bonding to an equipment grounding conductor, or where the wiring method does not include or provide an equipment grounding conductor. For these older installations, a replacement snap switch is permitted to be installed without a connection to an equipment grounding conductor. This allowance still doesn’t address the options available if an installer is still insistent on connecting the replacement snap switch to an equipment grounding conductor regardless of this exception.
In the 2023 NEC®, Section 250.130 and 250.130(C) were both expanded to include the replacement of non-grounding type snap switches with snap switches equipped with an equipment grounding terminal.
Section 250.130(C) provides the following six options when no equipment grounding conductor is present in the branch circuit and a receptacle or snap switch is being replaced:
- Connect the equipment grounding conductor to any accessible point on the grounding electrode system as described in 250.50.
- Connect the equipment grounding conductor to any accessible point on the grounding electrode conductor.
- Connect the equipment grounding conductor to the equipment grounding terminal bar within the enclosure where the branch circuit for the receptacle or branch circuit originates.
- Connect the equipment grounding conductor to an equipment grounding conductor that is part of another branch circuit that originates from the enclosure where the branch circuit for the receptacle, snap switch, or branch circuit originates.
- For grounded systems, connect the equipment grounding conductor to the grounded service conductor within the service equipment enclosure.
- For ungrounded systems, connect the equipment grounding conductor to the grounding terminal bar within the service equipment enclosure.
Below is a preview of the NEC®. See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2023 NEC® edition of NFPA 70.
2020 Code Language:
250.130 Equipment Grounding Conductor Connections. For replacement of non–grounding-type receptacles with grounding-type receptacles and for branch-circuit extensions only in existing installations that do not have an equipment grounding conductor in the branch circuit, connections shall be permitted as indicated in 250.130(C).
250.130(C) Nongrounding Receptacle Replacement or Branch Circuit Extensions. The equipment grounding conductor of a grounding-type receptacle or a branch-circuit extension shall be permitted to be connected to any of the following:
(1) Any accessible point on the grounding electrode system as described in 250.50
(2) Any accessible point on the grounding electrode conductor
(3) The equipment grounding terminal bar within the enclosure where the branch circuit for the receptacle or branch circuit originates
(4) An equipment grounding conductor that is part of another branch circuit that originates from the enclosure where the branch circuit for the receptacle or branch circuit originates
(5) For grounded systems, the grounded service conductor within the service equipment enclosure
(6) For ungrounded systems, the grounding terminal bar within the service equipment enclosure
2023 Code Language:
250.130 Equipment Grounding Conductor Connections. For replacement of non-grounding-type receptacles with grounding-type receptacles, or snap switches without an equipment grounding terminal with snap switches with an equipment grounding terminal, and for branch-circuit extensions only in existing installations that do not have an equipment grounding conductor in the branch circuit, connections shall be permitted as indicated in 250.130(C).
250.130(C) Replacement of Nongrounding Receptacle or Snap Switch and Branch Circuit Extensions. The equipment grounding conductor that is connected to a grounding-type receptacle, a snap switch with an equipment grounding terminal, or a branch-circuit extension shall be permitted to be connected to any of the following:
(1) Any accessible point on the grounding electrode system as described in 250.50
(2) Any accessible point on the grounding electrode conductor
(3) The equipment grounding terminal bar within the enclosure where the branch circuit for the receptacle or branch circuit originates
(4) An equipment grounding conductor that is part of another branch circuit that originates from the enclosure where the branch circuit for the receptacle, snap switch, or branch circuit originates
(5) For grounded systems, the grounded service conductor within the service equipment enclosure
(6) For ungrounded systems, the grounding terminal bar within the service equipment enclosure