With expensive high end computers, grounding is very important to avoid
having various boards burn out and a lot of down time. Many good UPS's won't
work properly without a ground.

Personally, I would rig up a short extension cord with grounded outlets on
one end and a 2 prong plug on the other end, with a stranded green ground
wire extended from the cord over to the next best grounding source. It may
not be fully legal according to the code, but if it provides a suitable
ground where there isn't a legal one it may have to suffice. It will take
some testing to find a suitable ground source. It may be a metal water
pipe -- but don't trust it without testing, or any metal that is attached to
the building frame or building re-rods in the concrete. This could be the
balcony railing, or even a metal door frame, again test first. Another
ground source may be your fuse or breaker box, if you have one in your unit,
again test first. You may also be able to sneak a wire down the outside of
the building and clamp onto a good ground or punch in a ground bar (this may
be difficult to do without being obvious). You may also have to be creative
in routing the ground wire in relationship to doors and other obstructions.

"Jim" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi all, this is my first post on these groups so please be gentle =).

My wife and I have just moved into a rental appartment. I didn't
notice until after we moved that there are no grounded outlets
available. I'm a programmer by trade and I make heavy use of fairly
expensive computer equipment so I was a bit concerned. I informed my
landlord of my concern and he consulted his electritian who suggested
that GFCI receptacles be installed.

Now I've been doing a lot of research the last week on the subject but
it seems to me that using GFCI receptacles does not do much to protect
my computer equipment against surges for the following reasons:

1. Static electricity buildups in the computer has no "outlet" and can
either fry the circuitry or create a shock hazard.

2. This I didn't read from a user group but kind of deduced from
reading descriptions of GFCI receptacles, I may be wrong - A GFCI will
not protect your equipment from a surge simply because it works by
monitoring the difference between the hot and neutral. A surge could
occur, fry your circuitry, then go to your neutral without causing an
imbalance between the two. Any electricians out there please verify
this.

Now I spoke to the electrician and he first told me that I don't need
grounding, just a surge protector. When I informed him that I have
done research and that surge protectors use grounding to work, he
switched his story and said that the GFCI is grounded. The landlord
will only follow the advice of this electrician, who will not advise
otherwise than to use a GFCI.

I've talked to my landlord and he will not install grounding even if I
pay for it. He pretty much told me that I should move out if I don't
like it. That brings me to my question. Is using GFCI instead of
grounding that big of a problem? Am I overreacting? Moving is a
hassle and I don't want to resort to it if i'm just being paranoid. I
live in Hawaii if that helps.
I appreciate any help you guys can give me.