Replacing ungrounded 2 prong outlet

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purklize

Active Member
I'm moving into a new place and the bedroom doesn't have any grounded outlets. :wall: The bathroom does, but I'd really rather not have to run a heavy gauge extension cord from there. I know very little about this stuff so here I am asking - is it really that necessary to have it grounded? I'm under the impression it is (and my surge strip definitely won't work properly without it). Is it simple to swap in a grounded outlet? Do these old buildings typically have ground wires available (meaning all I'd have to do is turn off the power and hook it up) or does it involve more significant work? I don't want to become human popcorn.

Thanks for any advice!
 
FatMarty

FatMarty

Well-Known Member
It's possible the electrical in the wall has a ground wire attaxhed to the elctrical box.
Often back then when using 2 wire with ground they would wrap the ground around a screw holding the duplex to the box.
Worked for metal cover plates protection.

So maybe.
However it is most likely 14 gauge wire and runs on a circuit that controls your TV set, microwave oven, and the hair dryer in the bathroom.
It's a crap shot imo.
Drill a hole in the wall and run that extension cord.:o
 
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F A B

New Member
more then likely u would have to run new wire with ground
doubt there is grounded wire in wall
 
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purklize

Active Member
Ugh... so I would probably have to hire an electrician willing to overlook the fact I don't own the property...
 
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purklize

Active Member
Anyone up to the task? My one requirement is that I be allowed to rig a detonator to your first born in case I get robbed. :bigjoint:
 
gladstoned

gladstoned

Well-Known Member
How many lights you talkin bout?
http://www.thehydrosource.com/lighting/lighting-controllers/mlc-8-master-lighting-controllers.html
This is the first thing I do. It's not the expensive either. Back in the day I have had to wire a 220 for a dryer, and a few years back I did the same thing for an AC unit. This is the exact same thing. They have smaller ones, this is just the one I saw first. What I would do personally is run my own lighting controller, then run some fresh outlets into the grow room as well, then when you move, you can disconnect everything and roll.
 
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purklize

Active Member
I have about 600w of lights... but sometimes I grow herbs etc. and that can push it up from 700-1100w depending on what I have hooked up.
 
gladstoned

gladstoned

Well-Known Member
http://www.thehydrosource.com/lighting/lighting-controllers/cap-cgc-1e-complete-greenhouse-controller.html

If you put down the extra money for something like this, you can plug in your lights, and some of your extra shit like fans etc. You can run two lines from your box to the room. That could easily get you a few 600s or a 1000w if your wanted.
Marty is right though, shut the power off to an outlet, pull the cover off, take the screws out of the outlet and pull that out and see if there is a ground there already, if so, swap out the outlets, if not. /Run a heavy duty expensive extension cord or run a few new outlets to that room.
 
abe supercro

abe supercro

Well-Known Member
Really any electrician that you contact likey will just want the work and not have any problem with the detail that you do not own property. Afterall, they (most ppl) would rather see a safety issue done right rather than rigged. If you get help... have em get u another dedicated line/circuit or two if at all possible. good luck 
 
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F A B

New Member
abe supercro said:
Really any electrician that you contact likey will just want the work and not have any problem with the detail that you do not own property. Afterall, they (most ppl) would rather see a safety issue done right rather than rigged. If you get help... have em get u another dedicated line/circuit or two if at all possible. good luck 
Click to expand...
never heard of a electricial ask to see a deed all they want is for u to
''show me the money''
 
Beagle

Beagle

Well-Known Member
I doubt a bedroom is wired for 20a, Unless the various outlets in the room are on differen't circuits, I would be careful how much of a load you put on it.

Plug a radio or something into the out let and turn it on. Then flip breaker switches till the radio or whatever turns off. Unplug the radio and remove the outlet(WHILE CIRCUIT IS OFF) and look to see if there is a green or bare copper wire attached to the metal box. If there is, you can undo it and use it for the ground in the new 3 pronged outlet.

Make sure you use an outlet rated for the circuit amperage...the breaker should have a 15 or 20 on it!
 
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F A B

New Member
Beagle said:
I doubt a bedroom is wired for 20a, Unless the various outlets in the room are on differen't circuits, I would be careful how much of a load you put on it.

Plug a radio or something into the out let and turn it on. Then flip breaker switches till the radio or whatever turns off. Unplug the radio and remove the outlet(WHILE CIRCUIT IS OFF) and look to see if there is a green or bare copper wire attached to the metal box. If there is, you can undo it and use it for the ground in the new 3 pronged outlet.

Make sure you use an outlet rated for the circuit amperage...the breaker should have a 15 or 20 on it!
Click to expand...
right
most bedrooms are 15 amp
 
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purklize

Active Member
So an electrician could probably rewire it for me if the ground isn't available?

Thanks for all the quality advice, I really appreciate it!!!
 
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F A B

New Member
purklize said:
So an electrician could probably rewire it for me if the ground isn't available?

Thanks for all the quality advice, I really appreciate it!!!
Click to expand...
if u can handle a hammer drill and screw driver why not do it yourself
we could walk u through it and save money
 
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Wordz

Well-Known Member
run a copper wire to from the receptacles to your water pipes and hook it on with a ground clamp
 
abe supercro

abe supercro

Well-Known Member
grow shops always have an electrician refferal. life is a series of chances. two dedicated circuits would keep room to expand without trippin'.
 
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purklize

Active Member
Looks like there's no fusebox in an area I have access to - sucks. I guess it's in another apartment. I'll have to bug whatever neighbor that is sometime and get them to pull fuses out one by one so I can map the circuits so I "don't end up sitting in the dark 'cause I ran too many air conditioners on the same circuit" or some silly excuse like that.

It would be a strange request to ask that the power be left off for an hour or two, so I have a better idea - hook up 1500w of lights, a 400w air conditioner, audio equipment and a toaster oven and microwave all on the same outlet, and blow the fuse deliberately, LOL. Then the power will be off... and I can just complain later when I'm done.

Are you guys saying a grounded outlet could be installed without hacking through the wall with a battle axe?

I have no idea how electricians go about wiring places, I always figured it involved a lot of destruction unless the house was still under construction.

Thanks!
 
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F A B

New Member
purklize said:
Looks like there's no fusebox in an area I have access to - sucks. I guess it's in another apartment. I'll have to bug whatever neighbor that is sometime and get them to pull fuses out one by one so I can map the circuits so I "don't end up sitting in the dark 'cause I ran too many air conditioners on the same circuit" or some silly excuse like that.

It would be a strange request to ask that the power be left off for an hour or two, so I have a better idea - hook up 1500w of lights, a 400w air conditioner, audio equipment and a toaster oven and microwave all on the same outlet, and blow the fuse deliberately, LOL. Then the power will be off... and I can just complain later when I'm done.

Are you guys saying a grounded outlet could be installed without hacking through the wall with a battle axe?

I have no idea how electricians go about wiring places, I always figured it involved a lot of destruction unless the house was still under construction.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
wtf
do u live in a place that was converted to apts ?
im sure that is totally against code also
 
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