if my sockets don't have that third prong it means they're not grounded right?

Question

or are they grounded?

Answer 1

I`m assuming you are refering to wall sockets you`re plugging an item into---all grounded wall sockets have a 3rd hole just below/above the verticle slots--not hard to change them over but the 3 prong sockets need to be connected to a proper ground electrically in oder for them to be "grounded". Should be done by a person familiar with electricity. Just changing out to a 3 prong socket doesn`t "ground" & please don`t break the 3rd prong off the plug you are attempting to use, can be a serious safety hazzard !!

Answer 2

Just because your outlet does not have the third socket for a ground connection does not mean that the outlet is not grounded. You will need to test to be certain.

In the very early history of household wiring, receptacles were not grounded. At some point it was determined that receptacles should have an equipment ground connection for safety. The first method of grounding was to connect the ground wire to the metal box housing the outlet. The metal frame of the outlet is connected to the box which grounds the frame of the receptacle and also the screw that attaches the cover plate to the receptacle. Equipment that needed to be grounded was connected to the cover screw.

To test for a ground connection, buy an electrical tester. The kind with two probes and a bulb is fine for this. First place the place the probes in the slots on the receptacle. You should get a light. Now insert one probe into the narrow slot and touch the other to the screw holding the plate on. If you get a light here, the receptacle is grounded. If both slots are the same size (some older receptacles), try both as either could be the hot side.

If the receptacle is grounded, you can safely use one of the adapters that has a tab that goes under the cover plate screw. Do not simply plug it in loose, remove the cover screw, plug the adapter in and replace the screw through the tab.

If the receptacle is grounded it is also rather simple to install a three prong receptacle in place of the old one. Simply turn of the electric to the receptacle either by switching off the breaker or removing the proper fuse. Remove the old receptacle and transfer the wires to the new one. Attach a short piece of bare wire to the metal box using a screw if possible, a grounding clip otherwise and connect this to the ground lug on the new receptacle.

I should also note that if the receptacle is not grounded, you will need to have a new circuit run or at least a new wire for the existing circuit. Older methods of adding a ground (grounding to a water pipe being most common) are no longer considered safe for a variety of reasons. The ground wire must be in the same sheath as the other wires and must be bonded to the service panel.

I guess we also have to discuss the neutral connection. The neutral connection is not a ground. It is connected to the ground at the service panel, but it may carry a small voltage throughout the system due to the resistance and capacitance of the wire. It is not normally enough to do damage, but it is enough to give you a bit of a tingle on contact. In a fault condition this can change and the neutral can become hot, in which case any equipment connected to this as a ground can be damaged or cause bodily harm. Never connect a ground connection to the neutral.

Answer 3

By "sockets" I assume you mean wall outlets, (receptacles).
The Bad news: The older two prong receptacle that you have does not offer a grounding connection.

The good news: Most of those older receptacles are installed in metallic boxes wired with armored cable, and the boxes are grounded.

You might inspect the wiring to see what you have.
If you can see the wiring at your electric panel,
the breaker box, look there.
Armored cable looks like a flexible tube with galvanized sheet metal spiral wrapped around it.
If this is the wire you have you can use the three prong adapters that connect to the screw in the wall plate.
Grounding wire pigtails that have a screw that connects to the box and can be connected to a grounding receptacle are available, but doing this is a touchy job because pulling the old wire around while you change the receptacle can damage the old dry insulation and lead to trouble only an electrician can correct.

Answer 4

it means that the receptacle is not earth grounded. i assume you have an old house. check your circuit breaker panel, if you have one and see if the wires are two wire or three wire . if not, you Can live with what you have, or upgrade to a circuit breaker panel and rewire your house. i suggest at least a 150 amp breaker panel, unless you consider electric heat, then i would suggest a 200 amp panel. however a 150 amp panel will be sufficient for anything you would normally use. do not cut the third prong on the plug. you can buy adapters to use a three prong plug in a two pronged socket, but it would be better to update, because the adapter will only use the two wires. there is a Little green wire on the adapter that can be connected to an earth ground such as a metal water pipe. hope it helps

Answer 5

All 110 volt receptacles are 'grounded'. The second, or"common",wire runs to ground, without which A/C current would not complete it`s cycle. What you are referring to is what is commonly called the "equipment ground". This is an extra safety ground incorporated into appliances and tools, whereby the casings have been grounded in case of a short. In both cases, the wire runs to the same place in your panel box, your ground strip. With modern receptacles, you have two grounds instead of one, which is definitely safer.

PS....Installing a three prong receptacle onto a previous old 2 wire system DOES NOT give you equipment ground.

Answer 6

The outlet itself is not grounded, but if your house was wired with bx the box the outlet is screwed into is grounded.

Answer 7

Your receptacles are not grounding type receptacles. No more, no less.