Fix Open Ground Outlets | 4 Options
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- Опубликовано: 22 авг 2024
- Open Ground/ungrounded outlets are very common in older homes. Unfortunately, they can pose a safety hazard. In this video I will give you four options to correct and improve open ground outlets. Non grounded outlets are an important topic.
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#electrical
#receptacle 
Have you been told your outlets are ungrounded? Tell me if you have done anything about it yet.
Your statement that electricity will flow along the ground wire and dissipate into the earth is completely wrong! Electricity always returns to its source; the last transformer it passed through usually. The purpose of the ground wire is to force the wayward electricity back through the circuit breaker.
@@PetesGuide modern grounding has several ways it adds extra layers of protection.
The ground wire in an outlet provides a safe path for excess electricity to flow in case of a short circuit, preventing electrical shock and fire.
In the event of a short circuit, the ground wire trips the circuit breaker, preventing a dangerous shock.
Fire prevention
The ground wire provides a safe path for excess electrical charges, preventing electrical fires.
Equipment protection
The ground wire can protect sensitive electronics from voltage spikes and surges.
I have a GFCI outlet with a ground wire attached, and it still shows on the tester as "open ground". Apart from tracing down the open ground in a previous stop on the circuit, will the outlet itself still provide protection?
@@edcrookshanks8091 yes the outlet will provide what’s called fault protection. If you hit the factory test button, the outlet will still trip and turn off power. Now, if you do the plug-in tester and check it that way you will not have grounding. But you do still have fault protection, and this increased safety is allowed on underground three prong outlets for the rental department and the building department. Although technically you’re supposed label this as no equipment ground provided.
The ground wire does not direct the fault current to the earth but to the neutral wire. This causes the breaker to trip.
I get this question a lot. If you do the plug-in GFCI tester on an ungrounded GFCI outlet it will not trip it. However, if you use the factory test button on the receptacle, it will trip it…
Great video and clearly explained my 4 options!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and your nice comment 😊🛠️🛠️
Great video Larry!
Thanks Josh
Great video, super helpful!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the positive feedback 😊🛠️🛠️
Great vid. Trying to update mine as well, but having issues. What is the point of a LOAD if LINE can hold all the outlets pigtailed to that section of the GFCI? I thought LOAD was meant for additional outlets downstream and LINE was only meant for the connection to the breaker?
You have explained it correctly. Only use the line connection, including downstream outlets if you only want that individual outlet to have fault protection.
But if you know which outlets are downstream and also want them to have fault protection, go ahead and use the load screws. But remember to label them as not grounded , but you still have fault protection, which is a nice improvement.
The load side is protected by the GFCI. If you do not want them protected for some reason then you should pigtail. Lets say you do not want nuisance tripping on some other outlet cut the power from your computer.
@@okaro6595 all good points. Thanks for sharing 🛠️🏠
I like you summed up as 4 options, very clean. 👍.
But you raised a question for me,a newbie .
you said each terminal can hold two conductors on both sides of each screw .
If you do, the two conductors will splice together, will it electric shock me?
For example cable 12/3 , red and black are hot , if we put red and black on one terminal, is it safe ?
Thank you .
In your example you would want to keep those conductors totally separate (such as red & black) Good luck 🛠️🛠️
My house upstairs bedrooms has no ground but all the outlets have the ground in the back disconnected so I can easily connect them but I noticed they used 2 different wiring from the breaker box they ran 14-2 wire then the one in the wall is an old school 2 wire deal that runs all the way to the attic then they used 14-2 wire again to connect to all the bedrooms upstairs so that’s why they canceled the ground weird right.
Yes people do strange things. Some thought ground wires were a waste of time. Thanks for sharing your issue 🛠️
Grounded outlets help with ground faults. Not short circuits.
Did I miss-speak in this video? I sometimes do that. Thanks
So would the gfci work with a surge protector just as good as a grounded outlet? Asking to protect electronics.
The best answer is yes you WILL have far better protection than you do now. Go for it 🛠️🛠️
Hello !!
I have an apartment in Manhattan NYC, the apartment is from the 60s in which there are many ungrounded outlets.
If I apply the GFCI method. Will I pass the inspection ?
Will a city inspector come to inspect the electricity soon ? Thank you.
Yes, absolutely. If you install GFCI outlets AND use the provided sticker in the box to label it as ungrounded you are good. I’ve seen code officials pass these all the time. Unless there’s some NYC rule I don’t know about. Good luck my friend 🛠️🛠️
My power strip ground indicaticator doesn't turn on but when i plug the tester to the power strip, it says correct wiring. Is my power strip faulty? To be clear, the outlet that my power strip is plugged to *is* grounded.
Yeah, it is possible your power strip is faulty or has a loose connection. Also keep in mind when you use these plug testers. The internal circuitry has to make its best judgment call on which display to show you… So even though it shows correct wiring sometimes you could have a loose ground, for example.
@@HomeRapidRepair I initially thought maybe the power strip is grounded but the ground LED bulb is burnt. Then again, if the power strip indeed has ground fault, but my tester says correct wiring, i'm questioning the reliability of these testers.
@@nhitc6832 I use the same “cheap” $10 testers as you 😂 Electrician’s testers can be hundreds of dollars…
I have old wire but it's new Fuse and has 3 wire ground and I'm still getting open ground
Weird. You could try a different tester. Also check that the ground wire connection is tight at the panel and your outlet.
@@HomeRapidRepair ok thank you I will check
Will the GFCI receptacle protect my computer equipment or is this solution only to pass inspection?
Also, will downstream outlets be protected or should each one be replaced with a GFCI receptacle?
You will have fault protection, much better than you currently have 😊👍🏼
You get to choose if downstream outlets are protected or not. For new DIY’ers I say install a new GFCI outlet at each location.
Option 2 if the lower terminals on the GFCI outlet has a sticker, remove this sticker and install your downstream wires here and this circuit will have protection too 🛠️🛠️
Gfi may help with surge if that's what ur wondering but I doubt it may need to consult an electrician. Gfi's purpose is to protect humans from receiving a shock or
( not )becoming electrocuted.
Grounding is about protection against electric shocks. You should not connect things especially anything connected to antenna to your computer when it is on. An ungrounded computer gets 60 V to the case but the current is limited.
So is that a grounded outlet now !? Just changing to a gfci
No it’s still ungrounded. However you now have fault protection and it’s much safer than before 🛠️🛠️
@RapidRepair Thanks for the repley, so can I run a pigtail to the metal box to the grounding screw on the socket to get a ground then .
@@bric7244 Yes that should work for you.
@@HomeRapidRepair thank you