Hot box ?s

[Bent Rig]

I would recommend that everyone  plugs their  heat box into a GFCI protected outlet - because you were miss informed by Orcbow - because the way a GFCI works is off the neutral wire , any leakage of current trips it and the neutral not the groundwire is the current carrying conductor - so if there is any fault whatsoever in the wiring and or breakdown of any components -the GFCI will pickit up and shut the power off -great insurance . A GFCI only monitors between the hot and the nuetral , so anythig thats plugged into it doesn't neccessarily need a ground for it to work . Something I do for a living ,Lol !!!

Paul
LU # 43
3rd generation electrician

[Pat B]

Thanks, Paul. I appreciate you clearing this up for us. Obviously you have the knowledge and experience.      Pat

[Bent Rig]

Sure thing Pat , I would hate for anyone to have a fire or get shocked and that would be the best way , also in conjuction like someone said - a thermostat to keep a desired temperature . Safety first !!

[Jesse]

Thanks again for clearing that up. I thought the gfci was a good idea but didnt know how it worked.
                                                           Jesse

[orcbow]

Sorry, everyone, for getting that mixed up   but why is it called a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter? I understand that it is an important safety device. But does a GFCI need to be connected to a ground wire, also, to work properly?

[Dano]

The GFCI does, but not appliance, here's a link that explains it.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/gfi.html

[orcbow]

Thanks Dano, for that link. I will connect my hot box to a GFCI. Thank you Bent Rig, for helping a guy learn a little more!

[burn em up chuck]

that looks great, i've been reviewing lots of hot box designs. haven't decided yet though.

                                                                             chuck

[Bent Rig]

Dano and everyone else - a GFCI will still operate the same with or without a ground connected to it , for example according to tne NEC - if someone had 2 prong outlets without a ground and wanted to replace them to a 3 prong grounded receptacle , the only legal way to do so is to replace it with a GFCI recepatacle . It will still operate the same but more expensive because each recepactacle has to be replaced individually @ 8 bucks a pop .

Paul 

p.s.- NEC = National Electric Code

[Bent Rig]

Orcbow as far as any leakage in current naturally finds the least resistance to ground - which is a ground fault - so suffice to say that's the appropriate terminology for the device .

[Justin Snyder]

I ran my wiring outside the hotbox to protect it from the extra heat.  It only drops into the hot box at the light fixture. I used metal pancake boxes to attach the lights and hooked the ground from the wall up to the pancake box for good measure.  Justin

[Dano]

Good info Bent Rig, thanks