How Electricians Replace a Two-Prong Outlet with a Three-Prong Outlet

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How Electricians Replace a Two-Prong Outlet with a Three-Prong OutletA 2-prong outlet is a common household item that you might not think twice about. But, there's more to these outlets than meets the eye! Residential electricians ofttimes replace them with three-prong outlets for safety reasons. If you want to know how electricians go about replacing a two-prong outlet with a three-prong outlet, then continue reading this web log mail service!

Why do electricians supercede two-prong outlets with three prongs?

Electricians often supersede two-prong outlets with three-prong outlets every bit a mode to increase the rubber of these receptacles. In add-on, electric service experts recommend replacing all 2-prong plugs with three-prong plugs to reduce the possibility that someone will accidentally come into contact with an electrified wire, leading to decease or injury.

1 reason electricians will replace your ii-slot receptacle with a new three-slot one is if it'southward older than 15 years erstwhile. Electricians also might recommend replacing ii-slot receptacles if you have a pet that chews on cords or is often near your outlets when y'all're cooking; many people use extension cords, which can lead to electric outlet fires and shock hazards.

What is a 3-prong outlet?

A three-prong outlet is a standard electrical wiring configuration for connecting to an Air conditioning circuit. A plug with two or more prongs can be inserted into this type of outlet, but the third slot remains unconnected and will non work correctly without further installation. Therefore, electricians must install a ground fault interrupter (GFI) to connect that final wire safely before information technology may exist used.

On the other mitt, a two-prong outlet is an older, obsolete type of electric wiring configuration. It has slots that can exist used to plug in a device and not work with GFI devices. Electricians must replace the old installation entirely earlier installing three prongs to avert any condom hazards or damage from overheating equipment.

Should you upgrade a two-prong outlet with no ground wire to a three-prong outlet?

Electrical experts say that most 2-prong outlets in homes demand to exist replaced with 3-prong outlets. This is because there'due south no ground wire, which leaves dwelling house vulnerable during a power surge/outage. Electricians are often called out and given the task of replacing a two-prong outlet with a three-prong outlet as soon as they find ane!

Electric service professionals recommend installing grounded circuits for more protection against electrical shock hazards or other electrical issues. Grounded circuits include grounding wires running from every wall switch to an advisable earth basis such every bit a water pipe or metal pale driven into moist soil outside your house (according to NEC 250). Without this grounding wire connection betwixt all switches and receptacles, the ground wire in the receptacle is useless.

Non-grounded 3-prong outlets

Electricians can as well install a not-grounded three-prong outlet with no ground wire and is only used for appliances designed to be plugged in at that place. However, this pick should not replace the two or more prongs most unremarkably found in residential homes because information technology does not offer grounding protection from electric shorts.

What's wrong with using an adapter?

An adapter might permit you to plug your appliance into one of the slots on a standard two-slot wall socket, just they will never provide reliable power if supplied past an extension cord or another modified excursion. They may also cause damage to sensitive equipment such equally computers and printers over time due to voltage fluctuations caused by poor power quality. A better solution would be to have a qualified electrician replace your two-prong outlet with a 3-prong outlet.

How Electricians Install a Iii-Prong GFCI Outlet

Professional electricians can supervene upon 2-prong outlets with three-prong GFCI plugs without calculation a new ground wire to the electrical panel. And here's how they exercise it:

  1. Once the electrician arrived, they will then inspect your electrical arrangement with two-prong outlets.
  2. At the service console, the ability to the outlet existence replaced will be switched off. This can hands exist confirmed using a multimeter, which is then connected on either side of both wires leading from the outlet to measure voltage and amperage.
  3. The cover plate spiral and cover, besides as the two screws holding the old receptacle in the box, will be removed.
  4. The quondam outlet will be removed with care to avert damaging the original wiring. Then, to gain access to the wires, it volition be gradually expanded. And and so the old outlet volition get disconnected.
  5. Considering some older boxes are tight, the new GFCI must exist tested by gently pushing the wires back and making sure the new box fits. A new, larger electrical box volition be utilized if it does not fit.
  6. If the wires are too curt for a project, in that location is an like shooting fish in a barrel solution. They merely add extension cables called pigtails to lengthen them and keep everything safe with a wire that matches your circuit amperage: A fifteen amp circuit would use 14 gauge wiring; xx amps would require 12 gauge wiring.
  7. If the wires are long enough, the electrician will exercise a quick inspection to determine which of the GFCI's concluding screws are line terminals. The electrician volition demand to know where the "line" of power is coming from in order to make sure information technology's prophylactic. They should be marked with either black or silver on tiptop, and and then carefully connect the wires. The black wire goes to the brass final screw; the white wire connects to the silver terminal spiral.
  8. The wires volition be neatly wrapped and folded back into the box, ensuring that they are pressed tightly against the new outlet so that it doesn't get damaged.
  9. To secure the box, information technology will exist attached in place. It volition be anchored with screws to ensure it does not move.
  10. The electrician volition then test the new outlet by resetting it and pushing the reset button to turn it on and the examination push button for shutting off. Additionally, the cover plate will be mounted with a NO GROUND label for safe reasons.

Ready to upgrade your ii-prong outlets to iii-prong outlets? Phone call us!

Foster Electrical is the best electrician in Chattanooga. We offer quality work at an affordable toll, and we're always on time. Plus, our technicians are all licensed professionals who will make sure your home or business organisation is condom and upward to code with every installation.

We specialize in upgrading homes from outdated two-prong outlets to iii-prong outlets. We offering competitive rates that are sure to fit whatever budget. And our piece of work is guaranteed! Then you won't have to worry most whatever of that when you contact us! Foster Electric will come out to your property, assess the situation, give you a quote, and then become started right away. All it takes is ane phone call from you today!