Changing 2 Prong To 3 Prong Outlet

Scuba_Dave · 08-27-2009, 01:31 PM

HD does have the pigtails, just check the electric aisle
I usually just use scrap wire that I have hanging around

SULTINI · 08-27-2009, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stubbie

J.V.

You cannot just install a 3 prong grounding type receptacle in a metal box or any box for that matter that does not have a proven equipment ground wire back to the grounded conductor at the main panel. The installation as you explained is a code violation unless a proper equipment ground exists. It would serve no purpose to ground a three prong outlet to a metal box if the equipment ground isn't present in the branch circuit. Maybe I misunderstood what you are saying.

Acceptable means if a ground is not present in the box and you do not desire an equipment ground to facilitate the connection of electronics like computers or the added safety that a grounding wire provides.

If the enclosure doesn't have a grounding means — for example, if the box contains old 2-wire NM cable without a ground — you can use a nongrounding type receptacle (Fig. 1). You have two other options as well. You can use a GFCI receptacle if you make sure it's marked “No Equipment Ground,” or you can use a grounding-type receptacle if it's GFCI-protected and marked “GFCI Protected” and “No Equipment Ground.”

If you desire a ground you can run a new circuit or Article 250.130 allows the following

I did it several years ago when my daughter purchased a house, well guess what?? when she sold it it failed electrical every one had to be removed and the two wire outlets reinstalled. Of course we had to by new ones. Oh well live and learn.

Wildie · 08-27-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SULTINI

I did it several years ago when my daughter purchased a house, well guess what?? when she sold it it failed electrical every one had to be removed and the two wire outlets reinstalled. Of course we had to by new ones. Oh well live and learn.

Here in Ontario Canada, I was required to install Uground recepts in a house with knob and tube wiring!
I ran green/stranded #14 back to a water pipe ground, at the behest of the electrical inspector.
This was rental property and a law was brought in stating that rental properties were to be provided with U grounds.
This was before GFCI recepts became available!

tb582 · 09-01-2009, 12:41 PM

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has helped me out on this thread

- Replacing the outlets is going slow but going....

Quick question - I came to one outlet last night that for some reason had two black and two white wires both connected to the outlet... I wasn't sure why this was, and verified that no wall switch controlled the outlet that I could find anyway.... so I tried hooking it up with just the one hot black and one ground white wire and no dice. Only once I hooked it up as it was 2B 2W did the outlet work.

AllanJ · 09-01-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tb582

two black and two white wires both connected to the outlet...

Power comes to that outlet box and daisy chains from there to another outlet box. The first time you reconnected it with one black and one white you connected the downstream part of the circuit leaving the power feed unconnected.

Quote:

I usually just use scrap wire that I have hanging around

Don't forget to tell the newbies that ground pigtails must be bare or green, neutral pigtails must be white, and hot pigtails must be some other color (black and red being most common).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stubbie

... (picture, q.v. pp 1) ...

Did I see in the picture a ground wire for the previously ungrounded receptacle brought out to the surface and run exposed along baseboards and up and around doorways and down to the panel more or less following the route of that receptacle's wiring inside the wall? In another thread (or was it some other forum) I commented about this method to avoid fishing or cutting open the wall and a comment in reply said that I was improper.

tb582 · 09-01-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllanJ

Don't forget to tell the newbies that ground pigtails must be bare or green, neutral pigtails must be white, and hot pigtails must be some other color (black and red being most common).

Hey who you callin a newbie

but seriously thought I did figure that the neutral wire had to be green.

srusten · 12-04-2011, 03:52 PM

You guys are confusing me with your responses to this question. Here's what I need clarified. I have a Two Wire Outlet in a Metal Box that has BX to a Junction Box in my Basement that is connected to the Panel of Course. Also connected to the Junction Box is another Grounded Outlet or Three Prong connected with Three Wire Romex. I want to change the Two Wire outlet with the BX to accommodate a Grounded Outlet and as I see it ALL I need to do is just snip a piece of copper ground wire and connect it to a screw in the metal box and from there to the Ground screw on the new Outlet and the other two wires, Hot to the Brass Screw, White Ground to the Silver and it's a Done Deal. Am I right or wrong? The other question I would ask is that I have this older cloth or whatever it is covered wire running from this Junction Box to the Panel. If indeed that does have a Copper ground is it OK to keep that or should I just go ahead and replace that with new Three Wife Romex?

darren · 12-04-2011, 04:23 PM

This post is two years old you should start a new post, you will will get more responses.

madmaxx25 · 12-02-2012, 07:32 AM

Great read!

dominick moresco

08-27-2009, 01:31 PM	#31
Scuba_Dave Xtreme DIY'r Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South of Boston, MA Posts: 17,248	Changing 2 Prong To 3 Prong Outlet HD does have the pigtails, just check the electric aisle I usually just use scrap wire that I have hanging around

09-01-2009, 12:41 PM	#34
tb582 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 147	Changing 2 Prong To 3 Prong Outlet Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has helped me out on this thread - Replacing the outlets is going slow but going.... Quick question - I came to one outlet last night that for some reason had two black and two white wires both connected to the outlet... I wasn't sure why this was, and verified that no wall switch controlled the outlet that I could find anyway.... so I tried hooking it up with just the one hot black and one ground white wire and no dice. Only once I hooked it up as it was 2B 2W did the outlet work.

12-04-2011, 03:52 PM	#37
srusten Newbie Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 7	Changing 2 Prong To 3 Prong Outlet You guys are confusing me with your responses to this question. Here's what I need clarified. I have a Two Wire Outlet in a Metal Box that has BX to a Junction Box in my Basement that is connected to the Panel of Course. Also connected to the Junction Box is another Grounded Outlet or Three Prong connected with Three Wire Romex. I want to change the Two Wire outlet with the BX to accommodate a Grounded Outlet and as I see it ALL I need to do is just snip a piece of copper ground wire and connect it to a screw in the metal box and from there to the Ground screw on the new Outlet and the other two wires, Hot to the Brass Screw, White Ground to the Silver and it's a Done Deal. Am I right or wrong? The other question I would ask is that I have this older cloth or whatever it is covered wire running from this Junction Box to the Panel. If indeed that does have a Copper ground is it OK to keep that or should I just go ahead and replace that with new Three Wife Romex?

12-04-2011, 04:23 PM	#38
darren Electrician Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 1,085	Changing 2 Prong To 3 Prong Outlet This post is two years old you should start a new post, you will will get more responses.

12-02-2012, 07:32 AM	#39
madmaxx25 Dominick Moresco Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1	Changing 2 Prong To 3 Prong Outlet Great read! dominick moresco

Changing 2 Prong To 3 Prong Outlet