is it possible to convert a lamp with three wires to a plug with two?

Answer 1

The lamp with three has the two line wires for power and a green one that can be used to connect the metal parts to the ground to avoid shocks if one of the line wires touches the metal frame. For safety sake stick with the three wires as long as there is any metal on the lamp you might touch - it is safer that way.

If your problem is that you don't have a receptacle that takes three pin plugs then either get an electrician to replace the outlet or get a 3-to-2 adapter (but that is iffy because the adapter needs to have its ground contact grounded with that little green pigtail wire - which might not be easy to do).

Answer 2

It is unusual for a lamp to have 3 wires. Because it does have 3 wires there must be a good reason for it. The third wire is a ground wire and is usually present when there is a possibility that accessible metal parts of a device can become electrically "hot" due to some malfunction. If this occurs in a device that is "grounded' a fuse will blow or a breaker will trip.
But if the metal parts of a device that is not grounded come in contact with the "hot" wire, the accessible metal can transfer a dangerous shock to anyone touching the device.
To make a long story short, do not by-pass the grounding wire unless you know exactly what you are doing and are willing to take a chance on the consequences.

Answer 3

Don't know why you would do it. It would be removing a safety factor. As a general rule only put two wire plugs and cords on things that were originally manufactured with two wire systems.

Saying that the ground or green wire is "just a ground" is a good way to get into trouble. The third wire was part of the system for a reason. And Yes there are three prong to two prong adapters, but these should be used only when necessary and then only temporarily. Since you apparently have a choice use the third wire.

So I guess my answer is: Yes, it can be done, but don't do it.

Answer 4

1- Are the wires color coded ?
2- Are there 2 lamp holders involved ?
3- You need to find out where each of those wires go.
4- The black wire/s should go to the center contact of the bulb holder (socket).
5- The white (neutral) should go to the outer shell (threaded part).
6- If the third wire is green or bare (no insulation) it should go to the metal part of your fixture.
7- Now you really should use a 3 prong plug.
8- If you have no ground wire and two of the wires go to the center contact of the sockets, tie them together and connect them to the narrow blade of the plug (polarized), the remaining white wire goes to the wide blade of your new (two prong) plug.
Good Luck ! ! !

Answer 5

The third wire is necessary to provide a safe path to ground if a hot wire comes in contact with the metal housing. Your best option is to get a three prong to two prong adapter from a hardware store or home improvement center.

Answer 6

the regulations basically at the instant replaced interior the previous couple of years requiring new properties to be outfitted with the 4 prong recepticals particularly than the three prong recepticals for 220 V merchants. in case your dryer is notably new, interior the final 4 years or so... the twine this is mentioned to it now would desire to have the capacity to be interchanged with a 4 prong twine by employing basically buyingh a 4 prong twine and screwing the eylets to the mind-blowing connections on the back of your dryer. in case your twine can not be switched out, then i could pass backward and replace the 4 prong container with a three prong container. i could do it this way so as that each and anyone your electric powered connections are interior a receptical, as a exchange of having 220 Volt wires basically twine nuted at the same time.ok sturdy good fortune.

Answer 7

Yes, the three wire's are 2 grounds and 1 lead, all you need do is make sure you connect the two ground wires together. as long as you have one lead and one ground to the two poles it will work without the third one but, you should also include the third ground wire for extra protection.SIMPLY PUT>>>YOU ARE WIRING ONE GROUND WIRE TO THE OTHER GROUND WIRE.

Answer 8

yes. the 3rd wire is a ground--which makes it safer, but there are adapters (less than a buck at a hardware store) that make it possible to plug into an outlet that does not have the ground. Don't just break off the ground.

Answer 9

absolutely. the 3rd wire is green. It is just a ground. Go to a hardware store and tell them the situation and they will given you what you need. It is cheap under a buck.

Answer 10

Basically, a lamp is just a tube sitting on a base. if you remove all the old electrical hardware, you can replace it with new up to date hardware. Just feed it up the tube.