adding a ground wire

[Ron E. Perkerewicz]

on an older two wire system can a single bare copper ground wire be added and run to the crawlspace and hooked to a looped ground wire connected to the ground bar in the panel ?

[Joe Farsetta]

Sounds wrong. Running a ground wire is one thing... but bare copper?

For what purpose?

[Ron E. Perkerewicz]

he wants to update the old two wire with grounded outlets and not totaly rewire the whole house or open all the walls.

[Joe Farsetta]

Isthis for all receptacles or just ones in the crawlspace?

[Ron E. Perkerewicz]

all the rec on the main floor, bring the wire down and tie to one ground wire in the crawl and run it to the panel

[gfransway]

Sounds like if done and all connections are secure, it would be an effective ground. If I were to find this during an inspection, I would report it as "amateurish wiring added that should be further evaluated by a licensed specialist."

[Jim Port]

Originally Posted by gfransway

Sounds like if done and all connections are secure, it would be an effective ground. If I were to find this during an inspection, I would report it as "amateurish wiring added that should be further evaluated by a licensed specialist."

You might want to read Article 250.130(C) before wasting your clients money.

(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) For grounded systems, the grounded service conductor
within the service equipment enclosure
(5) For ungrounded systems, the grounding terminal bar

within the service equipment enclosure

[Robert Meier]

Here's what the 2008 NEC says:

250.134 Equipment Fastened in Place or Connected by Permanent Wiring Methods (Fixed) — Grounding.
Unless grounded by connection to the grounded circuit conductor as permitted by 250.32, 250.140, and 250.142, non–current-carrying metal parts of equipment, raceways, and other enclosures, if grounded, shall be connected to an equipment grounding conductor by one of the methods specified in 250.134(A) or (B).
(A) Equipment Grounding Conductor Types. By connecting to any of the equipment grounding conductors permitted by 250.118.
(B) With Circuit Conductors. By connecting to an equipment grounding conductor contained within the same raceway, cable, or otherwise run with the circuit conductors.
Exception No. 1: As provided in 250.130(C), the equipment grounding conductor shall be permitted to be run separately from the circuit conductors.
Exception No. 2: For dc circuits, the equipment grounding conductor shall be permitted to be run separately from the circuit conductors.

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) For grounded systems, the grounded service conductor within the service equipment enclosure
(5) For ungrounded systems, the grounding terminal bar within the service equipment enclosure
FPN: See 406.3(D) for the use of a ground-fault circuit-interrupting type of receptacle.

[Frank P. Newman]

Why not just drive a ground rod and run a proper wire to the panel?

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by fnewman

Why not just drive a ground rod and run a proper wire to the panel?

What would the ground rod actually do?

[Frank P. Newman]

Hmmm - guess I didn't understand the question exactly...

[Jim Port]

Originally Posted by fnewman

Why not just drive a ground rod and run a proper wire to the panel?

Frank, ground rods are to ground the system against high voltage events like lightning strikes or surges. They have nothing to do with an equipment grounding conductor that runs to the third prong on a receptacle.

[Frank P. Newman]

As I said, I misunderstood the original question, so my comment was not applicable.

[Scott Donnelly]

would changing to GFCI outlets be an acceptable solution. Its my understanding they don't provide a ground but do provide personal protection and would allow for modern appliancec to be used, but not grounded

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by sdonnelly

would changing to GFCI outlets be an acceptable solution. Its my understanding they don't provide a ground but do provide personal protection and would allow for modern appliance to be used, but not grounded

Yes, that would be an acceptable solution as outlined by the NEC. As you've stated it would provide personal protection, but a GFCI device cannot be used as a substitute for grounding.