Protecting non-grounded outlets

[beatle]

The house I live in was built in the 60s and I think most of the wiring is original or at least close to it. The master bedroom has no grounded outlets (2 prong polarized only). I have some adapters that will allow me to plug 3 prong plugs into the 2 prong outlet, but these aren't actually grounding the circuit. Are there any other precautions I can take aside from grounding these outlets by running new wire?

 

[Jeff7]

Go to a hardware store, and get a tester - it's a little thing with a 3-prong electrical plug on one side, and 3 lights on the other. Plug it in with the 2 -> 3 prong adapter, and it'll tell you how the existing wiring is - if it's done correctly. Hopefully it'll only show an Open Ground connection. If it shows that the hot/neutral are reversed, then that could be dangerous.

I'd recommend running new wire though when you can and get those plugs upgraded to 3-prong. The ground plug is there for safety, and some devices need it present to prevent internal damage. My reading online and elsewhere has told me that if a device has the ground plug, it's there for a reason.

 

[Mark R]

You should rewire and ensure that your new wiring includes a ground connection.

Given that the entire installation is so old, it would be very sensible to have the whole system upgraded. At the very least get the ground loop impedence checked, and a residual current circuit breaker installed, if you haven't already got one.

 

[beatle]

I'm renting the house and I'm far from an electrician, especially when dealing with AC, so I won't be upgrading or rewiring anything myself. The ground should be open on the adapters, as they don't correspond to anything on the wall.

 

[Mark R]

You should never plug an appliance requiring a ground (indicated by a 3 pin plug) into an ungrounded socket (especially one with a metal case): it's a good way to get you killed if a fault develops inside the appliance (loose wire).

If you have an appliance which needs an ground, (e.g. PC, or some other metal cased equipment) then if upgrading the outlets isn't an option, then either move the appliance to where it can be connected to a grounded outlet, or run a grounded extension.

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, If the house wiring is in conduit then you can buy 3 conductor outlets that have the ground connector strapped to the mounting brackets. You can also just add wire from the ground pin to the mounting on standard 3 wire outlets. Also the adapters can be used if there is a grounding lead to connect to the screw holding the plate on. This is providing that there is conduit and that the conduit is grounded. If someone put in conduit it probably is grounded at the entrance panel. Hope this helps, Jim

 

[Bluefront]

There is another way to ground a non-grounded outlet. You get a grounded extension, cut open the cord, and splice the ground wire into the neutral wire. Then you plug in the extension using a three-prong adapter, into your un-grounded outlet.

If you actually check the wires in your service panel, you'll find the neutral and ground wires are connected together.

Before you use it, check the new outlet with one of those polarity checkers.....it'll check ok......probably not code, but it works just fine.

 

[beatle]

Thanks for the great advice, all. I'll see what I can do this weekend.

 

[Greenman]

Originally posted by: Bluefront
There is another way to ground a non-grounded outlet. You get a grounded extension, cut open the cord, and splice the ground wire into the neutral wire. Then you plug in the extension using a three-prong adapter, into your un-grounded outlet.

If you actually check the wires in your service panel, you'll find the neutral and ground wires are connected together.

Before you use it, check the new outlet with one of those polarity checkers.....it'll check ok......probably not code, but it works just fine.

Don't do that, ever. There is a reason that the netural and ground are two different wires, yes they end up at the same place, but the natural wire can and often does carry currant. The ground is an equipment ground, it protects you in the event of a short at whatever device you have plugged in. The ONLY place they bond is at the service entrance, connecting them together is contrary to building code and can be unsafe.
The best you can do without running new wiring is to install a GFCI in the outlet you want to plug your computer into. You can get them for $10 at any hardware store, if you're not comfortable doing the work yourself have an electriction do it.
I'm a building contractor, I've been doing this kind of thing for 30 years and often run into old ungrounded wiring, many people can't afford the several thousand dollars it costs to rewire a house, so the GFCI receptacle is the next best thing.

 

[Bluefront]

I'd like someone to explain what difference it makes to connect the ground and neutral wires in an extension cord, rather than a few feet away in the service panel? The result....a grounded outlet......is wired the same.

I've known this to work just fine in many houses that did not have properly grounded outlets. Never heard of any problems....

It almost seems like an electrician trying to make more work for himself.....sort of like a doctor telling you not to take Viagra without his perscription.