Quite often, when installing an electrical box extender, many DIYers are confused whether they should ground the extender or not. Especially, if the electrical box is made from plastic and the extender is made from metal, the confusion can be even more common.
Quite often, when installing an electrical box extender, many DIYers are confused whether they should ground the extender or not. Especially, if the electrical box is made from plastic and the extender is made from metal, the confusion can be even more common.
This blog will explain when you need,and when you don’t need to ground your electrical box extender.
When you need to ground your electrical box extender
You should ground your electrical box extender whenever you’re using a metal-type extender.
Grounding a metal electrical box extender installed on a metal electrical box is easy. Simply, use the grounding screw—that is used to secure the extender onto the box—to ground the extender.
The issue, however, comes when the electrical box is non-metallic.
Non-metallic electrical boxes don’t have screws for grounding. In such a case, you’ll have to use a grounding clip and a short wire to ground the box extender.
When you don’t need to ground your electrical box extender
If you’re using a plastic electrical box extender, then you don’t need to ground the extender. This is because plastic is a non-conductive material, so wires cannot short out if they touch the sides of the plastic extender.
This is also why you should always choose the right size extender for your electrical box to ensure it fits perfectly onto the box.
An extender too small, can leave the surface of the metal electrical box exposed, which can potentially be dangerous if a loose wire comes in contact with the uncovered metal surface.
In summary
Ground your electrical box extender if:
- It is made from metal
Don’t ground your electrical box extender if:
- It is made from plastic (or any other non-conductive material)
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