How do you replace a two-prong electrical outlet with a three prong outlet?

Answer 1

If there is a ground available in the box you can connect a grounded receptacle (3 prong) in place of the old one. Usually there is no ground. In that case, you can install a GFCI receptacle in place of the old receptacle. You still won't have a ground but you will have the 3 prongs. That is the only thing allowed in the code short of re-wiring the circuit. A quick check to see if your box is grounded is to check continuity from the neutral wire (white) to the box. Turn the circuit off first.

Answer 2

The problem is not with the outlet. It is with whether there is a valid place to connect the third (grounding) contact to. The black and white ones are for the dark and light screw terminals (just like on the two prong ones). However you need a real ground for the third prong to safely connect to the earth to protect you in case of a failure in your wiring or your appliance.

If you can connect that third screw terminal (usually green) to a bare copper wire that is coming in on the cable and if that copper wire is connected to the metal receptacle box and goes back to a proper ground connection on its other end then you are OK and better off from a safety viewpoint. Exactly what the wire needs to go to go to is something I am sure an experienced electrician will point out in a reply but thatis the gist of what is required.

Answer 3

All good answers here. You have to have a ground in the box. There could be one attached to a screw in there. If so, add a bare piece of wire from that screw to the ground screw of a new outlet. You can also ground one (theoretically at least) by jumping from the ground screw of the outlet to a clamp on a nearby copper water line. DON'T just switch to a 3-prong outlet if it isn't grounded, its misleading and could be dangerous. Ideally, an electrician can rewire for you.

Answer 4

hi, Brandon. countless issues in contact right here. enable's start up which comprise your feeling which you're lacking (3) wires, via fact the hot receptacles have 5 screws, and you only have one black and one white. the "greater" 2 screws are especially for hooking up yet another receptacle further out (or for splitting the subject for 2 circuits, yet enable's go away that on my own). which comprise your black (warm) cord to the two brass screw, and your white (impartial) cord to the two silver screw, you're solid there. what's lacking is the third cord for floor to the eco-friendly screw. Your newish breaker panel ability that the undemanding set-up interior the living house now can provide for grounding, different than that they did not run new cord to the bedrooms, which might have taken greater time and money. If the older wiring isn't only in metallic containers, yet coated all the some time past to the provider field with metallic conduit (or to a greater recent grounded junction field), you will desire to have floor via that metallic. With a sparkling grounding receptacle put in (as above), an affordable plug-in circuit tester can help you realize in case you get carry of fortunate and characteristic that metallic floor song. If not, the only solid way is to by ability of-bypass the previous cord with new to get that third cord. Plan "B" then may be to apply a GFCI, which could have the money for cover, yet nevertheless no floor. some present day GFCI's, in spite of the shown fact that, won't function with out that third, floor cord - so might nevertheless want new cord run. For circuits which will serve high priced sturdy-state electronics, like flat displays, computing gadget's, etc. easily decide for brand spanking new stuff.

Answer 5

i know that you can just buy a converter that has 2 prongs and has a 3 prong outlet on the other end. My friend has one for his ipod charger. But definitely do not do it on your own because you could risk electrocution.

here's a pic of a converter:
http://www.musicianassist.com/htf/cheater.gif

Answer 6

Rich z gives a good explanation but the problem is if you manually ground just one outlet the whole system might want to use that ground,which is to small,and could heat and cause fire.I know it sounds strange,but if you don't want to upgrade your house wiring,removing the third lug on your appliance is probably the best idea.A million people have done it with just a few fatalities.

Answer 7

buy a 50 cent ground adapter
or if you're really feeling ballsy
take a pair of pliers and break the ground pin
off of the appliance cord

Answer 8

Hire a electrician, they'll help! But definitely too dangerous to try yourself!!

Answer 9

you dont. its illegal and dangerous, the outlet will not be grounded. you will start a fire.