How do you replace an old 2 prong plug with an updated 3 prong plug?

Answer 1

You don't. A 2 prong plug has two wires, one called live (black or red wire in the US) and the other is neutral (white or gray wire in the US). A 3 prong plug needs a third wire for ground (bare copper, green, or green-yellow in the US).

The only time you can replace a 2 prong plug with a 3 prong plug is if the 2 prong plug incorrectly replaced an original 3 prong plug.

Answer 2

The third wire that you don't have is the earth, so therefore you have a live wire and a neutral wire. If you are in England the live wire will be brown and the blue is neutral. As you look at the underside of the plug (with the three prongs staring up at you) the prong on the left is the neutral pin, so attach the blue wire there. (with a small screwdriver to secure it in the hole - you will find a small screw that clamps the wire in the hole.) The live (brown) wire attaches to the pin on your right, and usually the place to put it is obscured by the fuse, so you may need to take the fuse out, secure the wire in the hole, put the fuse back, and that's it. The plastic sleeve at the bottom (where the wires enter the plug needs to be screwed over the two wires to clamp it in place. This prevents the wires from being accidentally pulled out. Put the plug back together and it should work.

Answer 3

You have two options. The first and best option is to change the receptacle to a three wire outlet. Ground the receptacle's green terminal to the back of the electrical box where a ground wire should be attached. If there isn't one don't worry about it. The second option is to buy an adapter that allows a three wire cord to be plugged into a two wire receptacle. On this type of adapter there is a wire that has to be connected to the center screw that holds the receptacle cover plate on.

Answer 4

A typical three prong residential outlet for 120 volts has a brass colored, a silver colored and a green screw. Connect black wire to brass, white wire to silver and bare ground wire to green.

Answer 5

Yes, we can use 2 wires on a 3 pin plug. Because in 3 pin plug usually tall pin called and used as a earthing pin which is used for safety purpose. So if anybody use 2 wire, that pin would be neglected but other would be worked.

Answer 6

Click the link.

Answer 7

See discuss question.