Boston Back Wrap

JoeTedesco

Here's a message that was sent to me a long time ago:

Joe,

Here in NJ for a period of several years (around the 60's I think) where the electrical contractor would attach his ground wires (Even though they were only 16 AWG copper) to a screw and nut on the outside of the box. It makes for a very difficult time, if you wanted to get to the ground wire in a finished room. The ground wire you are looking for is attached either in the back or top of the box.

Was this a common installation?

Answer: That practice was not unusual. I have seen where electrical contractors from the East to the West coasts, did it the way you describe.

It was not covered, until Andy Cartel sent in a proposal for the 87? NEC to make sure the rule required the EGC's to be inside the box.

Here's the rule in the 2002 NEC:

250.148 Continuity and Attachment of Equipment Grounding Conductors to Boxes.

Where circuit conductors are spliced within a box, or terminated on equipment within or supported by a box, any separate equipment grounding conductors associated with those circuit conductors shall be spliced or joined within the box or to the box with devices suitable for the use.

This was typical as well, and was called the "Boston Back Wrap", or in any city the _________ back wrap!

Thanks Joe:

I have seen the "back wrap" method of grounding. I have seen the farmers, 3-way switch, the ground wires bolted on the outside of the box, the Knob and tube (K&T) wiring, and the running boards, etc.

However, (and I wish I had a picture of it.) I did see a tuna fish can used as a splice box for K&T wiring. The homeowner thought that after lunch, (a tuna sandwich, I guess) he cleaned out the tuna can and cut notches in it, then installed it around an open "T" splice in his attic around the K&T splice. I also saw an engineer argue with me that his job was OK.

He ran a 14-2 Romex wire from one switch to another to create a new three way switch. However he ran a yellow #14 THHN wire along side the Romex. That made up his third wire.

It just makes you shake your head and laugh.

Caper

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________

mdshunk

I think is was the 1968 NEC that began to require grounding connections to be made inside the box. I've found grounding connections connected with crimp sleeves completely outside the box. I guess when that ground wire was a "new" thing, the electricians didn't know quite how to work with them.

faber307

I've seen this alot in the Beaverton MI older homes

sparkysteve

That looks just like my house when I bought it!!!

__________________
Steve

Master Electrician/Self-Proclaimed Handy-Man