Self Grounding Receptacle Metal Box
Metal sheathed wiring depends on bonding with the metal electrical box for grounding.
Self grounding receptacle metal box. The least expensive plastic boxes come with pre. However a non self grounding type receptacle will not provide a satisfactory ground path as it depends critically on the tightness of the fasteners holding the yoke to the box in order for the yoke to be grounded in that case. Self grounding outlets are the. On the other hand if the box is not grounded what you must do is install a gfci leaving the ground screw disconnected.
To the op what you re proposing using seld grounding receptacles with metal boxes is perfectly adeuate and code compliant. Below the slits is a round opening for the ground necessary to complete the electrical circuit. Assuming that the box is indeed grounded all you need is to install a self grounding gfci. To replace your two prong outlet with a gfci start by turning off the breaker controlling the outlet circuit and unscrewing the outlet from the electrical box.
The spring loaded clips in a self grounding receptacle are designed to maintain this ground path even if the fasteners work loose. Other plastic box considerations. A self grounding electrical outlet has a pair of parallel vertical slits less than 1 inch apart. It must be connected to this terminal not to the load terminal or the gfci won t offer any protection.
Using metal sheathed wiring with plastic electrical boxes without taking other grounding measures severs that ground and is highly dangerous. Disconnect the hot wire which is black from the existing outlet and connect it to the brass line terminal on the gfci. There should be a label in the packaging that you can stick on. The strap of the receptacle has to be in direct contact with the metal box meaning that the box has to be dead flush with the wall surface for a self grounding device to be properly.
Unless you have a steel conduit system in place that is totally intact and connects to the breaker panel box the self grounding receptacle will be of no benefit. Function electrical outlets provide power to your home electronic components by using a wire to deliver the power from your main electrical box to the corresponding outlet.