![]() Ungrounded outlets then present a greater risk of personal and property damage. Without that ground wire, the electricity can travel into materials near the outlet or one very unlucky person. If your outlet shorts or anything else happens, the renegade electricity is safely sent along the ground wire back to the panel. This may seem redundant, but that third hole is acting as a failsafe. The ground wire in a grounded outlet actually ties into the neutral vertical hole. So why does one outlet have that extra hole? The two vertical holes represent a “hot” wire and a “neutral” wire. Ungrounded outlets, then, lack the third roundish hole and only contain the two vertical slits for basic plugs. Electrical safety standards have required the grounded outlet since the mid-1960s. Grounded outlets contain three holes: two vertical slits and one roundish hole beneath the slits. You can quickly determine which outlet you have based on how they look. The Different Appearances of Ungrounded and Grounded Outlets Clearly, one is “grounded,” and one isn’t, but what does that mean? And more importantly, what does it mean for the effectiveness of your electrical outlets and protection from electrical dangers? If you are concerned about whether ungrounded or grounded outlets are best for specific locations or uses in your home, read on to learn the most important differences between these two electrical outlets. You may have heard of ungrounded and grounded outlets without realizing what makes these two outlets different. ![]() We can replace any ungrounded outlets with grounded options quickly and for a more affordable price than you may have anticipated.įor more on grounded and ungrounded outlets, or to learn about any of our electrical services, speak to the electricians at Orange Electric today.Grounded outlets contain three holes, one of which works as a safeguard for any electrical dangers. We strongly recommend replacing them or upgrading them as soon as possible – a process that’s very simple as long as the wiring in your building isn’t worn down or too old. Replacing Ungrounded Outletsįor the reasons we listed above, ungrounded outlets are generally not considered up to code. In some cases, the current may even make its way into the air in your home or building and trigger a fire. This might be the appliance you’re plugging into the wall, or it could be your hand as you go to plug said appliance in. The risk of an ungrounded outlet is simple: Without the grounding wire present, overloads or other surges are free to follow their current wherever it takes them. These outlets were the standard for many years, but in the 1960s and 1970s, they began being phased out for grounded outlets that were both safer and better for electrical capacity. Ungrounded outlets, then, are those that only contain two prongs sitting across from each other. ![]() If a transient charge (the technical term for an overload) happens to pass through that outlet, the grounding wire is there to redirect the charge into itself, or “to ground.” The outlet is able to send the electricity harmlessly away without it presenting any safety hazard or damaging other wires. ![]() Grounding wires are primarily in place to protect the outlet and surrounding area in case of an overload or power surge. In addition, be aware that this third prong also increases electrical capacity and improves other non-safety areas as well. This hole is connected to what’s known as a grounding wire, and it has some specific purposes we’ll get into below. These are called grounded outlets, and it’s that bottom opening that makes the difference. Have you ever noticed these two configuration types and wondered what the purpose was for the third, rounded opening was at the bottom of three-pronged outlets? Many people have heard of grounded and ungrounded outlets, though they may know them by a different name: Three-prong and two-prong. One common issue in this world is dealing with ungrounded electrical outlets – what are grounded versus ungrounded outlets, what are the risks of the latter, and how can you go about replacing them? Basic Configuration Not only do we take great care with several safety areas when working on any area of your home or business, we can also provide expertise to help you out with the areas you deal with on a daily basis. Electrical repairs and installations involve dealing with a volatile and potentially dangerous element if not handled correctly, and the results here can be highly risky and also costly. At Orange Electric, our top priority when performing any residential or commercial electrical service or installation will always be safety.
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