How to change my two prong plugs to three prong correctly?

Warning !! Please do not take out your two prong plug and just install a new 3 prong. There is much more to this task than that and you can cause major harm and damage without the proper knowledge.

In this episode we discuss the common issues with ungrounded outlets and the possible solutions. There are multiple ways of getting this done safely, it just depends on the scope of working being done. Do you need 1 or the entire house? Many people will try to sell you a whole house rewrite when there are other more affordable solutions available. It all depends on what works for you and your unique situation.

[gerrygarcia-jy]

As a DIY, I found this as an excellent explanation video. I'm about to re-wire my new old house purchase. Thanks for saving me tons of money.

[tricogustrico]

I have a Leviton AGTR2-T SmartlockPro Dual Function AFCI/GFCI Receptacle as the first outlet in my circuit wired so it protects all the receptacles in the circuit.

[alphasaiyan]

Well yeah gfci receptacles don’t use a ground as a reference. They use a differential, in milli amps, usually 5 milli amps, which isn’t much and it does it instantly, between the the hot and neutral. The caveat is you will more than likely get some nuisance tripping if you do this. … they also make combination gfci / afci receptacles now. Also you are showing a breaker that is a plug on neutral. Most older homes will need the pig tail dual function breaker. The breaker fix isn’t going to be a good idea because most houses that are wired in 2 wire will not have a new enough panel to install these breakers. So the panel will need to be upgraded. But still cheaper than a while house rewire.

[jimclifford]

Great video kid! Solves the exact problem I have. Thank you.

[ironmartysharpe]

Definitely the breaker is a great alternative to rewiring the house, or running a ground wire to every outlet box and replacing every outlet with GFCI and AFCI,
But all the outlets must be labeled
No equipment ground and GFCI and AFCI protected outlet

[Sojourning_]

I replaced several of those quick disconnects, you get one or two of them fouling out in some manner like I had, You'll be chasing ghost. I was compelled to replace all of them.

[marcisaacs]

Most folks want three just because so many items come with three and they don’t want to use an adapter of any kind.

[tedlahm]

Placing GFCI/AF breakers in the panel, ok. But we still need to replace all receptacles with 3 prong?

[whitetiger]

Much better way to go, will it fit in most panels?. Trying to install a GFCI in an older homes 2 prong outlets which have smaller boxes that are usually in plaster walls is not easy as well as ripping the box out for a larger one.

[tjburr]

Would a plug in tester read any differently in the 3 prong outlet without the ground wire but on that new breaker you are suggesting? I mean the plug in testers with the light that say 'correct' or open ground, nuetral etc

[glasslinger]

I do it in less than a minute with an electric drill! Not a problem! :)

[vdjesse]

So if I upgrade to the dual function breaker can I install normal 3 prong outlets so I don’t need to use adapters to my current 2 prong outlets?

[mikey]

I have a question. I travel with a power conditioner to power a rack of audio mixing and processing equipment. Actually, several sets of equipment are distributed to multiple rooms.

I've been wanting to add network-connected relays between receptacles and power conditioners in order to switch the racks off or on from anywhere in the venue.

What I can't figure out is how to make it work so that I have 3-wire cable coming into the enclosure and 3-wire cable going out of it to the power conditioner?

I was thinking I could put the relay inline on the power conditioner AC plug, but need to maintain 3-wire configuration.

Any advice? I can write firmware and handle network connection, signaling, etc. but the 3-wire cable issue is tripping me up. All relay videos I've seen work with 2-prong plugs.

[gizmotony]

can you use that breaker if you have three wires, but open ground at some of the outlets??

[StephenTinius]

Is that one dual function breaker per circuit? Or can you protect the whole house with one dual function breaker on the mains? If one per circuit, how do you decide whether the circuit "needs" it? Thx,

[quartytypo]

I bought a $16 GFCI plug-in adapter. I do not want to mess with installation and wiring.

[joegonzales]

Hi could you give a ball park estimate electricians charge to install gcfi af breaker in the panel box thank you

[DougLockard]

What if it's knob & tube and it has an in balance on the neutal

[davidborland]

After this fix, will my electric charger see it as grounded? Currently plugging the charger into the plug doesn't work since it doesn`t see it as grounded.

[JServTennis]

I have a older home, built in the 1950s, doesn't have ground wires. I tried to put in GFCI breakers in but the breakers keep on tripping even with nothing on. Also, if the new GFCI breaker does not trip, when I turn on the adjacent non-gfci break on, the new GFCI breaker trips. Any idea on what could be causing it?