The room in my apt. comes with wall outlets that do not have a ground hole in them. I saw something at WalMart that converts them into outlets with grounds. It is just something that plugs into the 2-prong and you plug the grounded device into that.
I was wondering if it would be safe if I am going to be using a grounded surge protector with this converter. Will the ground actually be functional? If not, is this unsafe?
2007-09-07 09:12:50 · 3 answers · asked by IBM ThinkPad X60 4 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
It's not particularly dangerous if the equipment is in good order, but if the equipment fails and shorts out there could be a problem. Shock hazards could exist at that time.
I haven't seen an electrical box yet that was grounded that didn't have ground, 3-pin, plugs. If it only has the 2 blade type plug there is almost certainly no ground wire provided. Your apt. building must be very old. Nothing even half-way modern would be built without a grounded electrical system.
Surge protectors depend on a ground. Without the ground they do not work. You need to know that the surge protector is in fact grounded to an adequate conductor if you want it to work correctly.
2007-09-07 17:55:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It IS perfectly safe IF you connect the ground lead to a ground.
The rub is that they tell u to connect it under the screw holding the face plate on. That connects it to the socket tabs which connects it to the electrical box which is connected to the metal shield of the romex which is connected to the main box which is connected to ground.
NOW what do u bet there is a breakdown in that circuit, like maybe the outlet isn't connected like that, or the box isn't metal, or there is no romex, or there is no ground.
In that case a surge protector is useless cause it relies on that ground to function.
It is also potentially unsafe depending on what the unit plugging into it is doing with a ground. A double insulated drill has no problem, it also doesn't have a grounded plug.
If u really need to use this, u need to verify that screw actually goes to ground with an ohmmeter.
2007-09-07 20:21:23 · answer #2 · answered by Bill R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
. I've used them for years.
BUT it is NOT particularly safe! You do NOT have a 'ground' except YOURself.
Just be careful, maybe wear rubber gloves around that socket or stand on a rubber mat.
Of course the equipment is also NOT properly grounded.
2007-09-07 16:37:45 · answer #3 · answered by jim bo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋