This would involve cutting holes in or removing some of the drywall to replace the wiring.Īnd if you have several un-grounded outlets throughout the home, this can result in replacing a lot of wiring. If you have a two-wire circuit, you could hire an electrician to replace the wiring, but that’s an expensive solution. If you do go this route, have your brother-in-law plug the TV in.Īn ideal but costly solution to Un-grounded Outlets: Most often, these are simply plugged in at the un-grounded outlet with no connection to the cover plate screw and metal box, and can actually create more of a shock and fire hazard. The outlet box must be metal and must be grounded itself, and the little ground connector on the adapter must be properly connected to the screw at the cover plate. These are unwieldy but can be considered safe under certain conditions. You could instead get one of those 2-3 prong adapters, to make it possible to plug the 3 prong cord into the 2 prong outlet. This outlet is ungrounded! There is no way to tell if a three prong outlet is ungrounded without a tester. Overheating can occur, presenting a potential fire hazard.ĭuring our inspections, we test all outlets for grounding. Not to mention that extension cords are not designed for use as permanent wiring. Who wants to have to look at and trip over the extension cord every time they walk by? You could head to the garage, find an extension cord, and wind it out to the living room to plug in that flat-screen. Or, if you were to touch the plug at an inopportune time, the current could find its way to ground through your body, causing a shock. If this “short circuit” occurs and there is no ground wire present, the current could find its way to ground through other building components in the wall, potentially causing a fire. That’s where the ground wiring comes into play, providing a safe alternate path to ground. Electricity typically travels through the circuit by entering on the hot (black) wire and exiting to “ground” on the neutral (white) wire.īut if the neutral wire has a break, becomes loose at a connection, or a rodent gnaws through it, the electricity searches for an alternate path. This wiring will only have a hot and neutral wire and no ground wire.Įlectricity is always seeking to discharge itself, or return to “ground”. Many older homes (1960’s and earlier) will still have the original two wire, un-grounded circuits. Modern three-wire circuits typically have a hot (black) and neutral (white) wire, and a third (bare copper) wire for grounding. You reach to plug in the TV, only to realize that you have a three-pronged cord, but only a two-prong outlet available nearby. You head to your living room to sit down and relax, and maybe crack a beer yourself while you watch some TV. Making annoying comments about how much junk you have, and how “that desk is never gonna fit down those stairs.”īut finally, all the furniture has been placed, all the dishes and clothes have been put away. But let’s face it, most of the time he’s just been sitting on the ONE couch he helped move in, drinking beer. You’ve worked hard all weekend, lugging dressers and couches through narrow doorways and up and down flights of stairs.
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