Surge Protectors...

Maluno

Senior member
Mar 28, 2005
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I have been running my pc/printer/modem/phone off of a surge protector for as long as I can remember. Just recently I started thinking, if a power surge comes in through the outlet, doesn't the surge protector just divert that surge into the ground line instead of letting it flow out to the components it is plugged into?

The outlet that my surge protector is plugged into only has two slits (USA), and no third ground. I have an adapter which goes from a female-3-prong to male-2-prong that I use to connect the surge strip to the wall outlet. Does this mean that having the surge protector is worthless? If not, does anyone else know exactly how surge protectors work?
 

wpshooter

Golden Member
Mar 9, 2004
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I have no expert knowledge on this, but according to what I have been told, you are correct. For instance, if you have a UPS and plug it into a wall socket that is not properly grounded, most UPS models have a small indicator light on the back of the unit that tells you that there is a fault with the building wiring. Some surge protectors also have this indicator light.

 

Navid

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2004
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Originally posted by: Maluno
I have been running my pc/printer/modem/phone off of a surge protector for as long as I can remember. Just recently I started thinking, if a power surge comes in through the outlet, doesn't the surge protector just divert that surge into the ground line instead of letting it flow out to the components it is plugged into?

The outlet that my surge protector is plugged into only has two slits (USA), and no third ground. I have an adapter which goes from a female-3-prong to male-2-prong that I use to connect the surge strip to the wall outlet. Does this mean that having the surge protector is worthless? If not, does anyone else know exactly how surge protectors work?

No, the surge protector does not need a connection to ground (third connection) to limit the voltage to the device.

It only needs the two connections. The third connection (Ground) is for protection of the user if there is a wiring problem that causes a hot wire to be connected to the device case. That can be fatal!

The third (Ground) connection in that case would cause the circuit breaker to disconnect and not allow a fatal outcome.
 

Navid

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2004
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Originally posted by: wpshooter
I have no expert knowledge on this, but according to what I have been told, you are correct. For instance, if you have a UPS and plug it into a wall socket that is not properly grounded, most UPS models have a small indicator light on the back of the unit that tells you that there is a fault with the building wiring. Some surge protectors also have this indicator light.

That light tells you that there is a problem with wiring that can cause a shock to the user if the wiring problem shorts the hot wire to the case.

But, that does not mean that the surge protector or the UPS cannot do its job.
A Ground connection is only there for safety of the user. It has nothing to do with the functionality of the device.
 

Navid

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2004
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Don't get me wrong! I am not saying that it is OK to use outlets that have no Ground connection. Outlets with no Ground connection are not safe and should be avoided.
 

Maluno

Senior member
Mar 28, 2005
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Thanks for your replies! I am now debating whether or not to tear the socket plate off and go about changing the socket... Is there a significant enough danger in not having a ground to warrant the work?
 

Navid

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2004
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Originally posted by: Maluno
I am now debating whether or not to tear the socket plate off and go about changing the socket...

You should NOT be doing that yourself.

Get a quotation from an electrician first.
 

Snooper

Senior member
Oct 10, 1999
465
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The real question is do you have a ground wire at the outlet? It MAY be installed and the metal box the outlet is bolted to is already grounded. In this case, it is very easy to turn the breaker off, install a pig tail on the ground wire and install a new, grounded duplex outlet. Make sure you maintain the correct polarity. The black is the hot lead and the white is the neutral. If you swap the hot and neutral, everything will still function correctly, but when the switch is off, the tool/item will will be energized.

Do some research on home wiring and see what you think. If you have ANY doubts about your understanding or ability, do what xit2nowhere says and hire an electrican to do it for you. Killing yourself (or someone else!) isn't a very result of trying to save some money.
 

imported_rod

Golden Member
Apr 13, 2005
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I would offer you some help, but America's electrical wiring colours seem to be different to everywhere else in the world.

RoD
 

Pabster

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
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Originally posted by: Navid
You should NOT be doing that yourself.

Get a quotation from an electrician first.

That depends on your knowledge.

I could do it ... I have done it ... :D

If you have no clue, then, by all means, consult a professional electrician.
 

Pabster

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
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Originally posted by: rod
I would offer you some help, but America's electrical wiring colours seem to be different to everywhere else in the world.

RoD

Yeah, the 120V thing, right? :p
 

Maluno

Senior member
Mar 28, 2005
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I've never replaced a socket on my own before, but I have helped my dad do it (I live with my parents), and he has changed sockets in my room to add a ground wire, so experience is not an issue here, as he will be the one replacing it. I'm sure he knows what he is doing.

Don't worry about me doing something stupid, I certainly wouldn't attempt something like this on my own without _thoroughly_ researching the topic _and_ consulting someone who knows wiring. :)

EDIT: Oh, yeah, I am sure there is a ground wire at the outlet, because like I said, we switched sockets in my bedroom before to add grounds, and my dad is pretty confident that there is a ground in this room also.
 

Snooper

Senior member
Oct 10, 1999
465
1
76
It's probably worth verifying. Just grounding the outlet to the metal (assuming it is metal in a house with ungrounded outlets!) box will do nothing unless the box is properly grounded. Make sure there are three wires coming in and one of them is bare copper.
 

jjsbasmt

Senior member
Jan 23, 2005
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Navid, you are not quite correct about what the ground wire will do for the user. You are describing a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) which will shut off the circuit if it detects a ground fault. The only way the circuit breaker will shut off the circuit is if the amps exceed the rating of the circuit breaker. You can get a lethal dose long before a circuit breaker would tripp. A GFCI will disconnect even with leaks that are too minute for the average person to even feel.
 

Navid

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2004
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Originally posted by: jjsbasmt
You can get a lethal dose long before a circuit breaker would tripp.

Not if the house wiring is properly done and the outlet has a ground terminal and the device uses it!

If you are dumb enough, or unlucky enough, to touch the hot wire with one hand and the neutral wire with your other hand, you will be shocked and the ground wire is not going to do you any good!

But, most electric shocks happen when you touch the hot wire only with one hand and the circuit is closed through your body to ground.
In that case, if the outlet has a ground terminal that is properly grounded, if the hot wire shorts to the body of the device, the circuit will close through the lower resistance path, which is through the ground wire to ground. The wire has a much lower resistance than your body. So, there will not be enough voltage across your body to cause any significant current to flow through your body to give you a shock.

So, even if the circuit breaker does not open the circuit, you will not get a shock in that case as long as the house wiring is done properly (low-resistance wiring of all ground terminals to proper electric ground or earth).

You see the proper wiring and grounding is very critical. One's life may depend on it. That is why I never tell someone to do it themselves no matter how simple I think it may be.

Anyway, the poster asked if his surge protector would function or not if there was no ground connection. The answer is yes it does; the ground connection is not for the surge protector, it is for the user. That was the point!