Divine Converting 2 Prong Outlet To 3 Prong
However a ungrounded three prong gfci will not provide the.
Converting 2 prong outlet to 3 prong. Adding a ground wire must be done by a professional and each two prong outlet needs to be updated separately. Two prong outlets have no ground wire without which the risk of electrocution and appliance damage is substantial. How to change a 2 prong electrical outlet to a 3 prong by dave donovan hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story.
Follow the steps below to learn how to ground an outlet. If that s the case you need to know how to ground an outlet or make the replacement. Builders now install three prong outlets and most landlords have switched 2 prong to 3 prong outlets.
This is the safest options and requires running a ground wire from the main electrical panel to the specific outlet. If all your outlets are two prong than you can easily assume that the building has not been grounded but if you have a few three prongs in the mix say behind your fridge then your building s wiring may be grounded but your landlord hasn t put in the time and money to convert all the outlets to grounded three prongs. Even if an outlet box isn t grounded installing a gfci in it will still protect you and your tools and appliances from ground faults.
Never replace a two pronged outlet with a three pronged outlet while the circuit is hot. Either way it s best to have an expert tell you what s been done. Here s what you need to know and do for 2 prong plug replacement.
Converting a two prong outlet to an ungrounded three prong gfci protects you from electric shock. How to replace two prong outlets to three. Simply adding an outlet with an additional prong will give you added appliance access but it will not give you the safety that grounding provides.
Should you change a two prong to a three prong outlet with no ground wire. If your home has multiple two prong outlets 2 upgrade options include. But an ungrounded gfci can t safeguard sensitive electronics such as a computer or phone from the interference caused by stray currents.