3 Prong Grounded?

fast pasquale

Got a bunch of 3 prong outlets that are wired with only hot n neutral (no ground). Having trouble with inspectors saying that i either have to put gfci at each outlet or run a ground wire to each outlet OR replace it with a two prong receptacle. Is there any other solution to this problem?? thanks so much

__________________
Chris Frate
Pasquale Floors

mdshunk

Yes, the third option is the rewire those circuits with conductors in conduit of cables that have a grounding conductor.

Sorry.

darren

Listen to the inspector, he gets paid for his knowledge and what he is saying is correct.

My question to people who frequent the supply houses and deal more with the ordering material side of the buisness. The inspector said to replace the outlets with two prong outlets, can you even buy those anymore. I have never seen them sold anywhere.

Darren

mdshunk

Yes, indeed, they are available. I carry 5 ivory and 5 brown as regular truck stock. My regular brand is P&S, but my 2-prong recs are from Leviton. I'm not 100% sure why that is. I think that I can get Leviton 2-prongers more easily in my area. It's easier, most of the time, to just put the 2-prongers in. Most of the crap you plug in around the house, other than in the kitchen, is 2 prong anyhow. Just make sure you use a nonmetallic cover plate.

mdshunk

Ah.. here we go. Leviton model 223 for brown, 223-I for Ivory, and 223-W for white.



And they even have the real old, 30's style double T slot 2 prong recs for anyone that has the real old lamps and tabletop radios with the two sideways prongs. I never knew that until I looked it up just now. Model 5000-I:

Speedy Petey

You're having "trouble" with this inspector becasue some bozo threw in three prong receps into ungrounded boxes. This should have NEVER been done.
All you are doing is reversing a willful violation.

__________________

mickeyco

Curious, are these circuits in metal conduit (emt) or is it non-metallic cable (romex), I've worked in several homes in Cleveland and they all had emt and used the pipe as the ground, no ground conductor. Doesn't mean you still won't be required to have a ground conductor, but it'd be safer than cable without a ground, plus if it's emt it shouldn't be to hard to add a ground.

fast pasquale

All my homes were built around 1915 or so.. Mainly knob and tube with metal boxes. no romex or metal sheathing.

__________________
Chris Frate
Pasquale Floors

mickeyco

That sucks, looks like you'll be going back to to un-grounded outlets or GFCI's (maybe GFCI's only where you need 3 prong) or doing some extensive work.

Magnettica

Could he upgrade his circuit breakers (assuming he has breakers) to GFCI-type and just put "no equipment ground" stickers on the receptacle covers?

__________________
Electrician service in Rahway, Cranford, Clark, Westfield, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Roselle, Roselle Park, and New Jersey | Same day electrical service and repairs | Licensed and Insured Electrician in Rahway

mdshunk

Yup. A good bit of K&T was done with multi-wire circuits, and he might still have fuses. But, in theory, yes he could.

mdcorreia

If you are not an electrician, why are you involved in changing the receptacles? As mdshunk said, rewire the outlets. Your GFCI will likely not fit in the box and/or will not be code compliant due to box fill.

mdcorreia

Where I live, Winnipeg CA, I have not seen new 2 prong receptacles for over 40 years? How do I get some?

mdshunk

I guess you need to buy them. I am aware of no person who's going to ring your bell and hand you a box full.

rhinoguy

Try a hardware store instead of the usual big box home remodel or electrical supplier. Also try K-Mart and Wal-Mart, especially in the older side of town. These stores are aimed at do-it-yourself people, which is the part you will play in this bad movie.
Warn your customer that they cost eight prices at these stores, about $2.50 usd. Still cheap, though.

mdshunk

The new digital breaker finders are pretty neat. Instead of a sensitivity dial on the receiver portion that you have to fiddle with to narrow down one certain breaker, it does it automatically. You run it down the breakers the first time, and it will beep on several of them, then it must internally self calibrate. Run it down the second time, and it will pin the right one. Doesn't work when the transmitter unit is plugged into certain power strips and hasn't worked for me yet on a PDU circuit.

jbwhite

Moderator please delete this.

BCSPARKS4

Yes, the NEC allows for this. Homeowners install the 3 prong because they are cheaper, and they don't have to cut off the the ground prong on the computer type plug stips. It is pretty hard to get yourself grounded in a wooden structure in rooms other than kitchen, bath, basement. How many 3 prong small appliances have you ever seen in a kitchen anyway? How about that 2 wire cotten braided cord on the old toasters (The executioner) that wicks up water that is on the counter and gives you that nice buzz when touched, still some of those in homes. I think soon all receptacles will be inherently GFI.

BCSPARKS4

This receptacle is rated 125/250 vac/vdc and can be wired to accommodate any 2 pin 15 amp 125V (vert. tandom) 20 amp 125V (1 horiz. 1 vert.) 15 amp. 250V (horiz. tandom) 20 amp 250V ( 1 vert. 1 hor.). I have one of the old porcelain ones.

Sparky Joe

It seems he gave you 3 options, isn't that enough?

And two of them are very easy to do(replace receptacles)

That third prong though a false sense of security to begin with is a blatent lie if it's not connected to anything.