how do I change a regular electric outlet to a grounded outlet?

Answer 1

It can be done if there is a ground present. If not you need to have the outlet rewired. There should be labels on the new outlet showing what wires go where.

Answer 2

You have not stated how old your home is and if it has grounded wireing in it. You may not know.

1st turn off the circuit breaker that supplies that particular outlet. in the breaker box.
2. Remove the cover plate (the screw in the center)
3. remove the two screws one top one bottom ( remove them together as there is a keeper that holds the screw in place)
4. Pull the outlet toward you until the outlet is clear of the box.
5. Look for a green insulated wire connected inside the outlet box under a screw head or it may be a bare one as well.
6. If there is no other wires in the box other than the black and white one connected to the receptical itself then you cannot ground the outlet easily. You would have to replace the entire wire from the outlet to the circuit breaker box. Very expensive to do.
7. If there is a green or bare wire in the box then replace the receptical with one having a grounding pin hole.
8. Place the black wire under the gold coloured screw and the white wire under the silver coloured screw. The green ground wire goes to the green screw located near the end of the receptical. Or you may have to run a short wire from the green screw to the same screw that the bare wire is on inside the box.
9. Carefully replace the receptical into the box make sure no contact is made between the black and white wires with any other wire or side of the box.and replace the top and bottom screws.
9. Replace the cover plate.
10. turn the breaker swith back on in the breaker box.

Ask someone in the electrical dept of a vender such as home depot to show you were the wires are and any additional information.
And be sure the power is OFF. More people are injured or killed by 110 VAC than the higher voltages each year.

Answer 3

Speaking of the USA standard 120 volt plug: If the outlet has three holes, it should already be a grounded outlet. The little hole is ground. If it is old and only has the two vertical slots, it's not grounded. You really need an electrician to change to the three-hole type. To add a ground wire to an old system is not a small project. It means you have to re-wire the whole house.

To test an outlet that already is the "new" kind (three holes) you can buy a little tester at an electrical department in a big box home store (Home Depot or Lowe's, etc) to see if it's wired properly.

Also there is (or used to be) an adapter that can be used. It has a wire to be connected to the screw that holds the wall plate onto the outlet. You can then plug a three prong plug into it. You are not guaranteed that the screw is really grounded unless you test it, though. It MUST be grounded or you will have a dangerous situation. The altermative is to use appliances or tools that are double-insulated. They will just have two prongs on the plug and are safe if used according to instructions.

Answer 4

1. have you run the three required wires, from the panel to the outlet?

2. obeying rules for standard electrical wiring, in the NEC, you connect the outlet first, and, then the panel wiring.

3. You really should seek 'professional help', as you might just be crazy to attempt this, instead of calling an electrical contractor!

Even electricians are apprentices, closely watched and supervised for two years, before they are trusted to work on circuits with little supervision!

A grounded outlet isn't worth a life! At the very least, get a safety observer to stand by with the phone in his hand, so he can call 911!

And, you can get a really good book at the hardware store, that has pretty pictures on how to do this work, (if you own the home)!

Answer 5

Are you talking about a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). Go to Home Depot or Lowes electric department and look at the switches and the overhead instructions. There's also instructions in the box. While you are there, get a tester so you can tell if the juice to the circuit is really off. Of course, before you do anything, turn off the circuit breaker to that outlet. You can do it, just be careful. Ask questions at the electric dept. as well.

Answer 6

If by regular you mean a two prong outlet, and you have no ground (third green wire) in the box, this isn't something you want to do yourself. Hire an electrician.

Answer 7

Trust in God has little to do with the application of scientific knowledge. Science has its limitations, but that does not mean that science is not useful. Many people think that science can answer all of our questions. This is because they don't understand that science is the search for truth by the application of the Scientific Method. When scientists speculate about subjects that are not observable, such as the origin of the universe, the origin of life & c, they come up with theories which are NOT science. Especially when these theories are based on assumptions. True science is not based on assumptions, it is based on observation. It a person assumes that life originated by natural forces, and not as the act of a Creator, he or she will accept evolution, or some similar scenario. But since the assumption cannot be proven either way, evolution remains a specualtion - not science.

Answer 8

Install a Ground Connection Fault Interrupt GCFI outlet. Just make sure you kill the power to it first ;)

Answer 9

A: The National Electrical Code article 406.3(D)(3) states “Where grounding means does not exist in the receptacle enclosure, the installation shall comply with (a), (b) or (c).

(a) A nongrounding-type receptacle(s) shall be permitted to be replaced with another nongrounding-type receptacle(s).

(b) A nongrounding-type receptacle(s) shall be permitted to be replaced with a ground-fault circuit interrupter-type of receptacle(s). These receptacles shall be marked “No Equipment Ground.” An equipment grounding conductor shall not be connected from the ground-fault circuit-interrupter-type receptacle to any outlet supplied from the ground-fault circuit-interrupter receptacle.

(c) A nongrounding-type receptacle(s) shall be permitted to be replaced with a grounding-type receptacle(s) where supplied through a ground-fault circuit interrupter. Grounding-type receptacles supplied through the ground-fault circuit-interrupter shall be marked “GFCI Protected” and “No Equipment Ground.” An equipment grounding conductor shall not be connected between the grounding-type receptacles."

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Answer 10

Buy 3 core cable and attach the end of the ground wire to the chasis, live and earth same as they were.