Old Two-Prong Outlets

[Alathald]

OK, I finally move into a house that is in town, meaning I have now got highspeed internet but only one room in the whole house has proper three prong outlets, and it's not in my room. The rest have the old skool two prong ones. My question is could I use a two to three prong adapter and hook the ground tab to a copper heating pipe that is well grounded or is this, as I suspect, one of my stupider ideas? I want my computer!

Obviously the best solution would be hire someone to install some proper wiring in my room but if anyone has any other ideas that are safe AND cheap?

EDIT: Changed the Title of post so as to confuse certain people less

[stopthekilling77]

i read "old fashion outlets" and i was thinking "dilapidated clothing department stores"

x.x

just thought i'd share.

[Sparky]

I'm not so sure about the grounded heating pipe but your copper cold water is a good ground. Is the wall the outlet is on an exterior wall that your could run a wire outside to a ground rod? To protect your equipment you may want to hire an electrician to see if the wire in the wall is older type with a ground wire just snipped off inside that could be pigtailed out to allow you to run a three prong grounded outlet.

[hnzw_rui]

i read "old fashion outlets" and i was thinking "dilapidated clothing department stores"

x.x

just thought i'd share.

you're not alone. i was thinking "what the heck is that thread doing here?" prior to reading the post...

[KnightRid]

If you use a battery backup ( which EVERYONE should be ) they will complain CONSTANTLY about having the wrong outlet! I would check to see if the wiring is there for the 3 prong first. You might just have to change the receptacle. If not, and you dont feel comfortable running wire, I would HIGHLY suggest getting a new wire run to that outlet AND to any other outlet that you will have thousands of dollars worth of equipment on (tv,dvd,surround,etc.).

Just my thoughts as my neighbor had a 2 wire receptacle with a 3 plug outlet on it and his computer would go belly up every year to year and a half till I made him buy a UPS and found out the problem was his wiring. Ever since then he hasnt had to replace a computer.

Mike

[Alathald]

I'm thinking I may need to get a UPS as it is because I've noticed my lights flicker from time to time, NOT a good thing. Then again, it could just be the outlet...I'll wait until 'concern family members' have left for the day and sneak down and flip the power off so I can pull out an outlet and check on the wiring job. I hope it's a simple matter of changing the outlet and not an ordeal of running new wires but it's an ancient house as it is

Any recommended UPS just in case?

[Apoptosis]

how hard would it be for you to run a new dedicated line from the box to your room? might be worth the investment... 20A breaker... 12 gauge wiring and you'll be golden. It will also solve the flickering light issue as it sounds like the overhead lights are tied in with the wall outlets, which is not a good thing. If you pull the outlet cover and check the wiring you are likely to find no ground wire.

[Alathald]

Hmm , Nate, I have reason to believe you're a genius!
That's a great idea, I'll have to see what I can find out about doing that. How hard would it be/do you have any good resources to do it myself? Thanks again guys.

[DaIceMan]

running the cable and wiring the outlet is basically the easy part. Connecting to the main box is what scares the bejeezus out of me. I ended up having an electrician wire my computer room. There was only 1 existing outlet in here because the drywallers finished the room by mistake. I chose an electrician over DIY because I wanted 2 circuits and 8 outlets. I found several resources online about how to do it, but in the end just didn't feel comfortable doing it myself. I think the whole deal, parts and labor, cost me about $300 or so.

[ibleet]

How hard can it be to just run a ground to the existing 2 prong outlet and replace it with a 3 prong outlet?

I don't recommend this, but I have hooked up quite a few 3 prong outlets without a ground. I've been using one for my computer for the last 15 years without incident.

[Apoptosis]

Hmm , Nate, I have reason to believe you're a genius!
That's a great idea, I'll have to see what I can find out about doing that. How hard would it be/do you have any good resources to do it myself? Thanks again guys.

It's very very simple... ideally you'll want to go to a local library and find a wiring how-to book and they will have plenty as that is a popular DIY subject. I ran all the runs for my basement that I recently finished and added nearly 9 breakers and it was easy as can be. If you are worried about the electric shocking you then you can turn the main breaker off and the entire panel will be dead minus the main line going to the main breaker.

1st - Check The Panel and see if there is space to add a breaker
2nd - You'll need wire, a breaker and a outlet (12-2 gauge wire, 20amp breaker and 20amp outlet is ideal)

I like using Square D breakers, but before you go to buy one you'll have to find out which type you will need based on your panel. You can pull the old one out or remember how it connects to the panel. Once you figure that out you can go to home depot and pick a 20amp out for this size. If you're not sure just buy one of each type and then return the ones you don't need.

For wiring you can get them to cut it to an exact length for you (which is more expensive) or buy it in a roll. Always get a little extra.

3rd - You'll have to run a wire from the box that to the panel... interior walls are not insulated, so that is your best bet or you can go into the basement (if you have one) and run it to the box by drilling holes in the 2x8's or laying it along the foundation if it's a short run. This will be the hardest part.

4th - You'll need wire strippers to strip the wires down to the correct length (usually shown on the outlet). I suggest using a cheaper 20amp outlet as the screw ons have a larger contact area than the push-in kinds. It takes longer, but they are cheaper and better. If you are doing just one outlet you'll be able to connect the white, black and grounds to the outlet. The outlet will have gold and silver contacts... Gold to black and silver to white... The ground goes to the green screw on the bottom of the outlet. ;) Once that is done and all in the box you'll need to put the breaker in and hook it up.

5th - Now you'll need to shut the main breaker off (just to be safe) and remove the cover to the main panel... Find out where you want the breaker and break off the breaker cover on the metal panel, label it and set aside the cover. Now just snap in the new breaker. Run the wire through the top of the panel and look for a spot that has just one wire and run it down next to it. If there is not a spot you'll have to buy a wire lock (forgot what they call that) and start a new spot. Run the wire down and the hot wire (black) goes to the new breaker and the neutral and ground (white and copper) go to the side rails.. Run the wires clean and just like the others in the panel. Put the cover back on and then turn on the main...

problem solved... As always read a manual before trying something like this, but it's simple.

[KnightRid]

Hmm , Nate, I have reason to believe you're a genius!
That's a great idea, I'll have to see what I can find out about doing that. How hard would it be/do you have any good resources to do it myself? Thanks again guys.

It's very very simple... ideally you'll want to go to a local library and find a wiring how-to book and they will have plenty as that is a popular DIY subject. I ran all the runs for my basement that I recently finished and added nearly 9 breakers and it was easy as can be. If you are worried about the electric shocking you then you can turn the main breaker off and the entire panel will be dead minus the main line going to the main breaker.

1st - Check The Panel and see if there is space to add a breaker
2nd - You'll need wire, a breaker and a outlet (12-2 gauge wire, 20amp breaker and 20amp outlet is ideal)

I like using Square D breakers, but before you go to buy one you'll have to find out which type you will need based on your panel. You can pull the old one out or remember how it connects to the panel. Once you figure that out you can go to home depot and pick a 20amp out for this size. If you're not sure just buy one of each type and then return the ones you don't need.

For wiring you can get them to cut it to an exact length for you (which is more expensive) or buy it in a roll. Always get a little extra.

3rd - You'll have to run a wire from the box that to the panel... interior walls are not insulated, so that is your best bet or you can go into the basement (if you have one) and run it to the box by drilling holes in the 2x8's or laying it along the foundation if it's a short run. This will be the hardest part.

4th - You'll need wire strippers to strip the wires down to the correct length (usually shown on the outlet). I suggest using a cheaper 20amp outlet as the screw ons have a larger contact area than the push-in kinds. It takes longer, but they are cheaper and better. If you are doing just one outlet you'll be able to connect the white, black and grounds to the outlet. The outlet will have gold and silver contacts... Gold to black and silver to white... The ground goes to the green screw on the bottom of the outlet. ;) Once that is done and all in the box you'll need to put the breaker in and hook it up.

5th - Now you'll need to shut the main breaker off (just to be safe) and remove the cover to the main panel... Find out where you want the breaker and break off the breaker cover on the metal panel, label it and set aside the cover. Now just snap in the new breaker. Run the wire through the top of the panel and look for a spot that has just one wire and run it down next to it. If there is not a spot you'll have to buy a wire lock (forgot what they call that) and start a new spot. Run the wire down and the hot wire (black) goes to the new breaker and the neutral and ground (white and copper) go to the side rails.. Run the wires clean and just like the others in the panel. Put the cover back on and then turn on the main...

problem solved... As always read a manual before trying something like this, but it's simple.

Excellent instructions! I might have to hire you for my next electrical gig that I wont do myself

only thing I will say is for the 4th step - you can use a razor knife and score the cover the whole way around ( or close to it ) and then just use the electricians pliers to pull the sleeve off, works great, especially if you dont have a GOOD wire stripper or one that is dull ;)

Mike

I ran a dedicated line to my computer when I turned the sunroom into a computer room! Works wonderful not having to worry about lights or anything else overloading the breaker!