How do I change a (2) prong electrical outlet, to a (3) prong outlet?

Answer 1

You just need to install a ground wire on the new 3 prong electrical outlet (the hole by itself is the ground). The three prong outlet has three wires, they are the positive, neutral, and ground wires. Try checking out http://www.electricaloutlet.info for more information.

Answer 2

The only time you should consider doing this is if you already have a ground wire present in the outlet box. If you do you will be able to measure 120 volts between this ground and the narrow slot in the two prong outlet.
If you do have a ground turn off the power to the outlet, remove the old outlet and replace it with the 3 pronged unit, connecting the ground wire to the green terminal, the black wire to the brass terminal and the white wire to the white terminal.
If you do not have a ground wire it is a code violation to put in the 3 prong outlet. Hire an electrician to get you a ground and do the job right.

Answer 3

The receptacle screws to the box and the plate screws to the receptacle, so as long as the receptacle fits in the box, you are okay there. But you do need to think about the source of the ground for your new outlets. If you have no ground wire in the box now, you can use a pigtail if the box is metal AND its connected to metal conduit and/or boxes all the way back to the panel. You can buy pre-made pigtails with a screw and green insulated wire, pre-stripped and everything. Just screw the attached wire into the back of the box in one of the holes already there, and then attach the bare wire end to your new outlet's ground screw, also green. You mentioned a grounding switch. This is a term I am not familiar with. The light switch will typically operate either a top outlet in a receptacle or an overhead light fixture. It does this by switching the hot or black wire before it reaches the outlet or fixture it is intended to control. You may find that the switch boxes have only two wires and no ground. The same rules apply for adding a ground if your new switch has a ground screw. If the light switch operates the top outlet in a receptacle, you will notice on the old one that the metal tab joining the two outlets on both sides of the receptacle will have been broken, and the box will have two pairs of wires coming in and one pair going out.

Answer 4

You could just replace the outlet so that you will be able to plug in things w/ 3 prongs, but the outlet wouldn't be grounded. In order for it to be grounded, you would have to run a ground wire from your electical panel to the outlet before replacing it. I strongly suggest hiring an electrician rather than doing it yourself unless you have some experience (which apparently you do not, else you wouldn't have asked this question...).

Answer 5

Depends on what kind of wiring you have. If you have armored cable you can just swap the plug. Wire the black and white to the receptacle and leave the ground off. That's what I did at my house.

Armored cable has two wires inside a metal sheath. The metal sheath serves as the ground and it runs all the way back to the fuse panel. Of course all the boxes on the circuit must be metal so the ground 'wire' is continuous. When you are done test it with one of these.

http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/homemaintenance/electrical/outlettest.php
They are inexpensive and will tell you if you have an open ground or other problems.

Answer 6

-buy a 3 hole outlet
***switch off the electricity supply and off circuit breaker****
-unscrew the screws at the electrical outlet
-when u loosen the electrical outlet cover, u will see 2 wires connected to the switch which is fasten to a screw each, live and neutral
-unscrew them and fix them to the new 3 hole outlet live to live, neutral to neutral.
- now is the difficult part, the earth socket>
-u have to get wire of the same safety approved ratings by authorised whatever and connect it from the earth of ur socket to the ground/earth of ur home electrical circuit/system. ( if u dont understand what the f**k im talking, u better get a qualified electrician to change)
- check all the connection are correct live to live, neutral to neutral, earth to earth
- screw back all the screws
-switch on all the breakers and supplies
- DONE

Answer 7

Stick a fork in the receptacle to see if it is hot. If it is, turn the power off. Then drill a small hole big enough for the three prong plug to fit in the receptacle.

Answer 8

I would suggest putting in a gfci outlet this will give you better protection on a ungrounded circuit, now when you change out the outlet use a volt meter and test each wire to a ground to see which one reads 120v this will be your common ,(hot wire) you will install this wire with its partner the neutral to the line side of your gfci. the other wires you will put on the load side of the gfci. p.s. when you are doing this turn of the power in your breaker box. when you get all the wires disconnected from the outlet separate them so there not touching each other or anything around them, then turn on the power and test for your common when you have identified the line or common mark it and turn the power back off for installation.

Answer 9

Pull out your phonebook, call a few electricians for estimates, don't touch anything. Painting a door and building a deck you can do yourself, plumbing and electrical work are the 2 DIY projects best left to the pros.

Answer 10

Get an adapter at any hard-ware store. I got 3 for a $1 at Dollar General.