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If the receptacle has a ground terminal (green screw) and has three prongs, you must connect a ground wire if it is a new installation.
There is one exception to this: if the three prong receptacle is fed from the LOAD side of a GFCI receptacle, it is not required to have a grounding conductor. This is because the receptacle is considered to be protected by the GFCI's function. In addition the GFCI itself is not required to have a ground connected. In these cases the receptacle needs to be labeled "no equipment ground" on the wallplate.
If this is existing, you are usually not required to correct things that were not originally done to code. However a three prong receptacle should not be used as such if it does not have a grounding conductor connected. This would lead to a false sense of grounding and safety.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoYes, this is the return path to the electrical panel, on a short circuit condition, that trips the breaker
A short circuit is when the hot or neutral wire is broken, or touchiing another wire. the ground wire does not trip a breaker.
The ground wire is a wire designed to carry current back to the source in the event of a short circuit.
All your appliances are wired so that if the outside of the appliance becomes "hot" (electrically charged) the ground wire will take this current back to source to prevent you from being shocked.
The breaker will/ should trip but this is because of the hot or neutral circuit being shorted.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized
IF YOU ARE NOT REALLY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
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Why does a newly installed GFCI outlet show open ground on the tester?
Ground wire is loose or disconnected somewhere in that circuit.
Is the switched portion of an outlet mounted toward the top or the bottom?
There is no switch on an outlet. You can mount an outlet with the ground up or down. Most electricians I know mount the ground down as I do.
When should you use an ungrounded outlet?
If the wiring system into which you are installing an outlet has no ground available, use an ungrounded outlet. In an ungrounded system, an outlet with a ground contact would allow the outlet user to mistakenly, and perhaps dangerously, assume that a ground was present. A suitable ground may be available as a ground wire accompanying the hot and neutral wires in the cable, or a ground may be available via conductive conduit and a metal outlet box. In any case, use a tester to confirm the integrity of the assumed ground. A voltage test from the hot wire to the ground should show the same voltage as between hot and neutral (the black and white wires respectively). If you are replacing an ungrounded outlet, you need not assume there is no ground present. You may find, in the box, ground wires that were not connected to the outlet. You may come across grounded outlets that have no ground wire attached because they rely on grounding via the mounting screws through the outlet ears to the metal box. This is a less reliable grounding method. It is better to buy a ground-wire "pigtail," fasten the wire directly to a hole in the metal box with the supplied screw, and attach the other end of the ground wire to the outlet via the outlet's ground screw.
Is the neutral wire on a 220v outlet the same as the ground?
No it is not
Can one convert a two prong outlet to a three prong outlet?
Yes, provided that you have a ground wire in the box and that the ground wire is properly connected in the electric panel.
Is it necessary to connect the ground wire to a 4-prong 240V outlet - I am switching a 3-outlet to a 4-prong outlet for my new dryer but the ground wire is cut off so I can't connect it?
Only if you wanted to fry your hair.for God sake(and yours)buy a new cord to hook up your dryer
Why does a newly installed GFCI outlet show open ground on the tester?
Ground wire is loose or disconnected somewhere in that circuit.
Is the switched portion of an outlet mounted toward the top or the bottom?
There is no switch on an outlet. You can mount an outlet with the ground up or down. Most electricians I know mount the ground down as I do.
When wiring a range the outlet has a neutral ground and 2 hots you have three wires do you put the bare wire in the neutral or ground on the outlet?
the bare copper is always a ground
When should you use an ungrounded outlet?
If the wiring system into which you are installing an outlet has no ground available, use an ungrounded outlet. In an ungrounded system, an outlet with a ground contact would allow the outlet user to mistakenly, and perhaps dangerously, assume that a ground was present. A suitable ground may be available as a ground wire accompanying the hot and neutral wires in the cable, or a ground may be available via conductive conduit and a metal outlet box. In any case, use a tester to confirm the integrity of the assumed ground. A voltage test from the hot wire to the ground should show the same voltage as between hot and neutral (the black and white wires respectively). If you are replacing an ungrounded outlet, you need not assume there is no ground present. You may find, in the box, ground wires that were not connected to the outlet. You may come across grounded outlets that have no ground wire attached because they rely on grounding via the mounting screws through the outlet ears to the metal box. This is a less reliable grounding method. It is better to buy a ground-wire "pigtail," fasten the wire directly to a hole in the metal box with the supplied screw, and attach the other end of the ground wire to the outlet via the outlet's ground screw.
How do you check your wall outlet for ground?
You can get a tester that plugs into the outlet at any home improvement store.
What type of outlet is needed to supply electricity to a spray tan machine?
A spray tan machine needs an outlet with a ground so that electrocution does not occur. The outlet must supply at least 110 volts. A standard outlet with a ground installed should suffice.
Is the neutral wire on a 220v outlet the same as the ground?
No it is not
Can one convert a two prong outlet to a three prong outlet?
Yes, provided that you have a ground wire in the box and that the ground wire is properly connected in the electric panel.
Is the inside of an outlet a conductor?
Inside an outlet there are conductors: hot, neutral, and sometimes ground. The rest of the inside of an outlet is insulator, to keep these conductors from shorting.
How do you test for groung on a two prong outlet?
Buy a tester. They are very cheap and will tell you at a glance if the outlets are wired correctly. The only other way is to remove the outlet and look see. But if it is a 2 prong outlet with no ground hole then it does not have a ground.
Wiring single toggle switch and outlet with two wire system?
Guessing you are replaceing an outlet? Black goes on the copper colored terminal and white on the same side that has the ground terminal. If you have checked and made sure that white is in fact the neutral you can run a jump wire from the side terminal to the ground. This will ground whatever you plug into the outlet as long as it has a 3 prong plug.
