Replacing old two prong outlet to 3 prong
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You cannot replace two prong receptacles with three prong unless you either ground the circuit or put GFCI protection in place and label each receptacle as having GFCI but no ground.
Everyone thanks for all great help, I have a few questions
I went to get a gfci outlet this morning and a guy in lowes is telling me that I could connect a wire to the box and use a standard 3 prong outlet??
What would happen?
As of now my mom has been using these three prong to 2 prong adapters do you think it would be bad just to switch them back to 2 prong and have her continue using those adapters
What does the gfci outlet provide that installing a regular 3 prong outlet and doing nothing doesn't?
Thanks again everyone
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I went to get a gfci outlet this morning and a guy in lowes is telling me that I could connect a wire to the box and use a standard 3 prong outlet??
What would happen?
As of now my mom has been using these three prong to 2 prong adapters do you think it would be bad just to switch them back to 2 prong and have her continue using those adapters
What does the gfci outlet provide that installing a regular 3 prong outlet and doing nothing doesn't?
Thanks again everyone
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This is a common misconception for some reason. Nothing would happen, unless the box is metal and the box happens to be grounded.
GFCIs are not inexpensive, but in case of a mishap with an electrical device a GFCI will trip thousands of times faster than a fuse will. And everything downstream of the gfci outlet will also be protected.
And vacuum all that gunk out of the boxes before closing everything up.
This is my mom house so I want it safe, so could I just install the 3 prong outlet and run a cable to the box after cleaning it out or do the gfci outlet. The two prong outlets are more than a standard 3 prong. She is using those adapters now to power her 3 prong devices.
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You can run a bare ground from the receptacle back to the panel if you want. This would ground that particular receptacle. But if there are others downstream of this receptacle, they won't be grounded unless you run grounds to all of them. If I had the time, and desire, I'd run all new wiring (Romex) between the panel and the receptacles.
Get a pic of the panel like JimPort requested. This will let us know if the existing wiring has a ground wire.
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The GFCI senses missing current and trips to prevent harmful shock levels.
The 3 prong receptacle without a ground wire or gfci protection creates a shock hazard.
Anything with a 3 prong plug is expecting that ground wire to be connected to the 3rd pinhole in the receptacle. If the ground wire isn’t connected, the risk of shock is increased. That’s also the problem with long term use of those adapters.
Your best bet is to install one gfci per Receptacle circuit. Locate the gfci In the receptacle closest to the panel on that circuit. Connect the load wires wires (connecting to the rest of the circuit) to the load terminals. Then you can replace the rest of the 2 prongs on that circuit with 3 prong receptacles. The GFCI will protect all of them.
You are supposed to label the 3 prong locations as “GFCI Protected” “No Equipment Ground”. The mfg often supply’s them in the box with the GFCI.
You can repeat as necessary for additional receptacle circuits.
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When you say "...to the box", are you thinking of the outlet's box in the wall right there, or are you referring to the main electrical panel?
Edit - when I read your your quoted post, I got the impression you were talking about running a ground wire to something, so that's why I asked... It's possible that your wall box there may be grounded (so a connection there could work), but it's more likely that it isn;t grounded or that the grounding connection is questionable (based on teh condition of that outlet and box).
The best play here is as Oso and others here have suggested - put in GFCI receptacle(s).
Yes to the outlet box, to do anymore would be out of my expertise.
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As suggested already a picture of the electrical panel will be helpful in providing the proper assistance.
If you find then the boxes are in fact grounded then you can replace the 2 prong with 3 prong.
Those boxes in the wall presently may not accept a GFCI receptacle. The boxes don't look big enough maybe.
Depending on the type of electrical panel you have (breaker or fuse) may determine your course of action.
If breaker panel and GFCI breakers are available for it might be best to install a GFCI breaker in the panel and then replace the 2 prong with 3 prong on that circuit.
If you have a fuse box that you are working with then next option if the in wall boxes are too small is to find the first outlet on the circuit, mount a wire mold box on the wall in front of the box and place a GFCI receptacle in the wire mold box. Wire that GFCI to load to protect the downstream receptacles. Label all the receptacles with a sticker GFCI protected - No Ground.
If you find then the boxes are in fact grounded then you can replace the 2 prong with 3 prong.
Those boxes in the wall presently may not accept a GFCI receptacle. The boxes don't look big enough maybe.
Depending on the type of electrical panel you have (breaker or fuse) may determine your course of action.
If breaker panel and GFCI breakers are available for it might be best to install a GFCI breaker in the panel and then replace the 2 prong with 3 prong on that circuit.
If you have a fuse box that you are working with then next option if the in wall boxes are too small is to find the first outlet on the circuit, mount a wire mold box on the wall in front of the box and place a GFCI receptacle in the wire mold box. Wire that GFCI to load to protect the downstream receptacles. Label all the receptacles with a sticker GFCI protected - No Ground.
Very possible that there is no 1st outlet per circuit, older electricians often ran thru lights and spiderwebbed down to receptacles individually
Wiring that old wouldn't be a bad idea to completely replace anyway
And try not to get advice from Lowes employee
Wiring that old wouldn't be a bad idea to completely replace anyway
And try not to get advice from Lowes employee
Just a thought, but the metal sheath of the Romex might be ground at the main panel. I know it is not the greatest ground in the world, but it might somewhat solve the problem. I have dealt with this two wire system in my mother's house too. When I would replace an outlet with modern 3-prong, I would run a ground wire to the metal box. Never verified it was actually a ground like I suggest you do. I just convinced myself it was. I WAS VERY YOUNG. The main panel is required to be grounded. You might check to see if there is continuity between the main panel case and the metal sheathing of the Romex exiting the main panel to see if it is indeed grounded. If the sheathing IS grounded and the outlet boxes are metal (usually in older homes), then the box should be grounded as well. I suspect it would not meet any NEC code, but it could be a rough hack solution. At least you would know that the outlet is connected to a ground (albeit not a great one). Of course, replacing the Romex with modern 3-wire NM cable is the best solution. But, it sounds like that is beyond your capabilities. Just some thoughts.
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You might be able to ground it to a nearby metal water pipe. Otherwise you could drill through the slab and sink your own copper ground rod. Probably not cost-effective.
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