How can I safely ground braided wires in an old house without rewiring, should I use a GFCI as a temporary solution instead?
Asked by Ahmet Limoncuoğlu 
5 months ago
Last Updated: August 8, 2024
I need some advice on a little electrical issue I ran into recently. The other day, a receptacle burned out, and when I turned off the power to replace it, I noticed some braided wires – almost like cloth or strands – in there. I live in an old house with lathe and plaster walls.
So, here’s my question: since there’s no ground, is there a way I can ground this without having to redo all the wiring? I do plan on rewiring these areas eventually, but it’s not something I can do right now. Would it be okay to just install a GFCI for now and leave it at that?
I’ve attached some pictures from a light switch on the same wall with the same type of cables.
Start with a FI for now, then proceed with rewiring.
Hey Mike ingolaski, that’s the approach I’ve taken for now. I just wanted to confirm if there were any other grounding alternatives before resorting to the expensive one.
Thanks ~
It varies depending on whether it’s inside conduit or not.
No conduit, just straight wire all the way with the coating.
Conduit is rare in North Western Ontario, mostly seen in businesses and such.
Best of luck finding a FI that fits those old boxes……
Hey , it wasn’t easy – there was a lot of plaster inside and the space was extremely tight compared to modern standards (very tight, actually considering replacing it with a modern box by cutting the wall). It also had various odd recessed areas, including what seemed like external grounding screws at the top and bottom that don’t connect to anything inside or outside the box.
Luckily, I found a slightly older FCI that just about fit.