![]() Because of this, you should make sure to give an electrician a call, rather than risk the pain of doing it on your own. Grounding an outlet requires attaching a wire and running it all the way from your outlet to the grounding screw at the back of your electrical box, which is often a long, complicated endeavor, and exceedingly painful for the inexperienced - sometimes “shockingly” so. If your home is grounded but some of your outlets are not, bringing in a licensed electrician is the best way to ensure the modifications are completed safely and correctly. To ensure safety, eventually you’ll want to have grounded outlets. We’ll reattach the plate and apply a NO GROUND sticker. We then test the outlet by pushing RESET to turn it on, and then TEST to shut it off.We screw the box back into its original location.We gently fold the wires back into the box, pressing in the new outlet.White wire to the silver “Line” terminal screw.Black wire to the brass “Line” terminal screw.These are the only ones that will be used. If the wires are long enough, the electrician will look at the terminals on the GFCI and identify the “Line” terminals.(DIYers with significant electrical experience attempting this project would have to pick up one white wire and one black wire from a local hardware store, along with the appropriate wire nuts to add the extensions.) If the wires aren’t long enough, we add 4-6" extension (“pigtails”) using the appropriate wire for the circuit amperage: 15 amp = 14 gauge 20 amp = 12 gauge.If it doesn’t fit, a new, larger electrical box will be used. Some old boxes are tight, so the new GFCI must be test-fitted by gently pushing the wires back and ensuring the new box will fit.Then we gently extend it to gain access to the wires. We pull out the old outlet box without cracking the wiring.We remove the plate screw and cover, as well as the two screws holding the old receptacle into the box.This is then confirmed at the outlet with a multimeter. We turn off the power to the outlet using the service panel.Here’s how professional electricians replace two-prong outlets with three-prong GFCI plugs without running a new ground wire to the electrical panel: How Electricians Replace a Two-Prong Outlet with a Three-Prong GFCI We do not recommend installing ungrounded three-prong outlets, but we understand that it can provide a temporary, cost-effective solution for some homeowners. No grounded outlet = no surge protection. Think using a surge protector strip will fix the problem? Unfortunately, those devices are only as good as the outlet they’re connected to. However, an ungrounded three-prong GFCI will not provide the necessary ground protection that prevents sensitive electronics from being fried during voltage fluctuations. ![]() Should You Change a Two-Prong to a Three-Prong Outlet with No Ground Wire?Ĭonverting a two-prong outlet to an ungrounded three-prong GFCI protects you from electric shock. Simply adding an outlet with an additional prong will give you added appliance access, but it will not give you the safety that grounding provides. Two-prong outlets have no ground wire, without which the risk of electrocution and appliance damage is substantial. However, there are risks involved with using three-prong outlets that aren’t grounded. For example, ungrounded three-prong outlets can be installed. Thankfully, there are other ways your electrician can upgrade your outlets without rewiring. Rewiring a home is expensive and time-consuming. Although this option offers the safest solution for three-prong outlet access, it may not be the most feasible one. There are abundant reasons homeowners shy away from rewiring their homes. How Electricians Replace a Two-Prong Outlet with a Three-Prong GFCI.Should You Change a Two-Prong to a Three-Prong Outlet with No Ground Wire?.Here you’ll learn how outlet replacement works and what an electrician must consider: You can hire a professional electrician to change out some of your outdated outlets for a more modern three-pronged design. Even worse, you probably haven’t been able to make use of your devices that require a three-prong outlet.įortunately, you don’t have to settle for an overabundance of the wrong type of outlet. If you live an older home with two-prong outlets, you’re probably starting to run out of outlet space.
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