![]() You have several issues to deal with here, starting from the apparent situation that there is no reliable Ground anywhere in your new apartment. Really I have no idea what is true about the situation though, which is why I've come to this community for help. For some reason I have this idea that a PC will build up static/excess electricity that it needs to discharge. My fear is not as much surges as these can be controlled. I understand that a surge protector is a must, but what else might occur without a ground? Is there a safe, legal way I can avoid some of the negative effects of not having a ground? I am not particularly knowledgeable on the topic, and I haven't been able to gather any concrete facts about this problem from Google. I have yet to plug my computer in out of fear. The cost to rewire some of the outlets is at least $1000 from what I understand (this is a very rough figure, the idea is, it will cost more than my PC). To my dismay, after having tested each outlet with a neon tester, none have the ground wire available. Recently I have moved, and through carelessness (much carelessness) I neglected to check that not one outlet in this apartment has a ground (I've become so accustomed to the ubiquity of 3-prong grounded outlets that it never crossed my mind). Similarly, I know of no other sites for competent computer discussion.Īnyway, a bit ago I built myself a $500 PC from new components (I can supply a list if it matters). Simply adding an outlet with an additional prong will give you added appliance access, but it will not give you the safety that grounding provides.I feel like I should preface this with the fact that, while I don't think this is the right forum for this post, I couldn't find a better section on the site. Two-prong outlets have no ground wire, without which the risk of electrocution and appliance damage is substantial. The labor involved will be about 30 minutes and cost an average of $20 to $50. How much does it cost to ground an outlet? However, you can replace ungrounded outlets with GFCI outlets, and it does make the outlet safer than if you didn’t have one installed. Can you replace an ungrounded outlet with a GFCI?ĭoes Replacing Ungrounded Outlets with GFCI Outlets Make Them Grounded and Safe? Just because you replace an underground outlet with a GFIC outlet doesn’t mean it’s grounded. Before doing any work on the switch, the power source must be turned off by setting a circuit breaker to OFF or removing a fuse. If no ground wire or ground path is provided, it is improper and unsafe to install a grounding (3-prong) electrical receptacle on that circuit. What do you do if your outlet has no ground wire? And this is the only type of three-prong outlet you can replace two-prong outlets with without breaking NEC guidelines. GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets are designed to protect against electrical shock. Can I replace a 2 prong outlet with a GFCI? If your electrician told you that your home’s wiring has been grounded all you need to do to ground your newly wired outlet is to run a grounding wire from the green screw on your new outlet’s mounting bracket to the grounding screw in your electrical box. If you do this, you will have to label outlets with “GFCI Protected, No Equipment Ground.” How do you convert a grounded outlet? Doing this will likewise protect you from electrocution. It’s also possible to replace your two prong receptacles with three prong ones and add a GFCI circuit breaker at the service panel. Is it safe to replace a 2 prong outlet with a 3 prong outlet? However, if you want to have a grounded, three-prong receptacle without rewiring, you can also use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) found at any home center. Can you convert a non grounded outlet to grounded?Ī room will have to be rewired if there isn’t a ground present. With ungrounded 2-prong outlets there is also increased risk of shock, especially near water as in kitchens and bathrooms. Grounding conductors reduce the chance of electrical fire and damage to sensitive equipment. Lack of a grounding wire means Knob and Tube wiring cannot be used for modern 3-prong outlets. Can I use a 3 prong outlet with 4 wires?Ĭan you have 3 prong outlet with knob and tube wiring?.How do you change a 4 prong outlet to a 3 prong outlet?.How much does it cost to change 2 prong outlets to 3 prong?.Can you replace a regular outlet with a GFCI?.How much does it cost to ground an outlet?.Can you replace an ungrounded outlet with a GFCI?. ![]() What do you do if your outlet has no ground wire?.Can I replace a 2 prong outlet with a GFCI?.Is it safe to replace a 2 prong outlet with a 3 prong outlet?.Can you convert a non grounded outlet to grounded?.Can you have 3 prong outlet with knob and tube wiring?.
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