Notes

Grounded Or Not Grounded, How to proceed With Those Old Fashioned Outlets?
Grounded (3 Prong) -VS- Non-Grounded (2 Prong) Receptacles.

Whoever has ever worked on or lived in a home that was built prior to the Mid 1960's has seen them, the old "2 prong" non-grounded receptacles.

How get more info of them have you changed out with new "3 Prong" grounded receptacles as a way to accommodate a fresh appliance or computer?

How many times perhaps you have failed a Mechanical inspection because of receptacle having an "Open Ground"

So what's the big deal anyway?

An equipment grounding conductor installed in an electrical branch circuit is designed to provide a continuous way to facilitate the movement of electrical current caused by surges and or faults - to earth via the homes grounding system.

If an appliance that has damaged wiring is connected to a supposed "Grounded" (3 Prong) receptacle, instead following a assumed grounding path back again to earth, fault or surge currents could possibly be passed through the user.

By installing a "Grounded" (3 Prong) receptacle on an un-grounded electrical branch circuit, you may facilitate the utilization an appliance that beneath the right circumstances could cause serious injury or death to an unsuspecting user.

Since most homes that were built before the Mid 1960's were wired using an un-grounded electrical system, the application of "2 prong" non-grounded receptacles was all that has been required.

Changes to the National Electric Code that started requiring using an equipment grounding conductor in all branch circuits and the introduction of sensitive electronic devices into our homes on the last40 years, have driven the need to install Grounded type (3 Prong) receptacles to support just how we live today.

So what's the proper way to do this?

How would you update the outlets in your home, without developing a potential electrocution hazard?

We all know that rewiring an entire home can be very expensive and can potentially cause severe secondary harm to the homes finish.

Fortunately the National Electric Code affords us a few less drastic options.

Article 406 of the 2008 NEC says that only where connection to an equipment grounding conductor is possible shall a Grounded (3 Prong) receptacle be installed, unless among the following replacement methods are used.

1) A non-grounded (2 Prong) receptacle will be permitted to be replaced with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) receptacle. These receptacles will be marked " No Equipment Ground". This marking is usually done by usage of a small sticker positioned on the receptacle cover plate.

2) A non-grounded (2 Prong) receptacle shall be allowed to be replaced with a grounded (3 Prong) receptacle, w here supplied through a GFCI device. These receptacles shall be marked as " No Equipment Ground" and "GFCI Protected". Again this is usually done by usage of small stickers positioned on the receptacle cover plate.

A GFCI device may be the circuit breaker or receptacle. GFCI Devices are designed having an internal circuit that measures the quantity of electrical current returning on the white- grounded circuit conductor ( or what's often referred to as the "Neutral"), when compared with how much current being drawn from these devices on the black- ungrounded circuit conductor ( "Hot"). If the quantity of current returning varies by more than the amount allowable by safety standards then your GFCI will open, thus cutting the flow of current through the circuit.

It is important to note when employing the usage of GFCI protection as outlined in option #2 above, protection may be achieved through the use of the GFCI receptacle, or a GFCI Breaker.

Depending on the type of electrical service in the house, Fuses or Breakers and the wiring method used when the home was wired, it is more cost effective to set up GFCI breakers to protect the entire circuit than it really is to spend several hours of labor trying to separate out individual devices for protection.

One thing to bear in mind any time you are installing a GFCI device of any kind, is that the contents of refrigerators and chest freezer could be lost if plugged into a GFCI protected receptacle that trips and is not reset prior to the contents thaw.

As always every home is different, as is every wiring system. You should always consult a licensed Master Electrician before starting any electrical project.

Article Provided by Kim Tucker with MAREI from information provided by Bill Vaughn, Accessible Electric Inc., (913)-915-0838. Person in MAREI. MAREI works exclusively with property investors who wish to learn and become successful at property investing. Have more information
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