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#1
Posted to alt.home.repair,sci.electronics.basics
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Old Electrical Receptacle and Ground
I recently repaired and upgraded two old 2-prong electrical receptacles
to 3-prong. Both receptacles had 2 wires and grounded boxes. One of the receptacles is now powered and grounded properly. The other receptacle is powered correctly but has a weak ground -- when I used a voltage tester, the power light was bright but the ground light flickered. I think that the ground fault is either between the metal cable and the box or between the screws of the receptacle and the box. The metal bars of the box where the receptacle screws in are very rusted and corroded. Has anyone had similar problems with this type of weak ground in a old-style grounded box? Do you think trying to de-rust the box will help? Thank you. |
#2
Posted to alt.home.repair,sci.electronics.basics
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Old Electrical Receptacle and Ground
On Fri, 08 Dec 2006 15:09:01 -0800, redbrickhat wrote:
I recently repaired and upgraded two old 2-prong electrical receptacles to 3-prong. Both receptacles had 2 wires and grounded boxes. One of the receptacles is now powered and grounded properly. The other receptacle is powered correctly but has a weak ground -- when I used a voltage tester, the power light was bright but the ground light flickered. I think that the ground fault is either between the metal cable and the box or between the screws of the receptacle and the box. The metal bars of the box where the receptacle screws in are very rusted and corroded. Has anyone had similar problems with this type of weak ground in a old-style grounded box? Do you think trying to de-rust the box will help? It'll be much easier, and probably cheaper in the long run, to just replace the box. Good Luck! Rich |
#3
Posted to alt.home.repair,sci.electronics.basics
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Old Electrical Receptacle and Ground
redbrickhat wrote:
I recently repaired and upgraded two old 2-prong electrical receptacles to 3-prong. Both receptacles had 2 wires and grounded boxes. One of the receptacles is now powered and grounded properly. The other receptacle is powered correctly but has a weak ground -- when I used a voltage tester, the power light was bright but the ground light flickered. In the absence of a proper ground resistance meter, a 150 Watt light bulb is a good test ! I think that the ground fault is either between the metal cable and the box or between the screws of the receptacle and the box. The metal bars of the box where the receptacle screws in are very rusted and corroded. Just replace the box. Its not worth the time and effort ! Has anyone had similar problems with this type of weak ground in a old-style grounded box? Do you think trying to de-rust the box will help? See above. Thank you. -- Best Regards: Baron. |
#4
Posted to alt.home.repair,sci.electronics.basics
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Old Electrical Receptacle and Ground
redbrickhat wrote:
I recently repaired and upgraded two old 2-prong electrical receptacles to 3-prong. Both receptacles had 2 wires and grounded boxes. One of the receptacles is now powered and grounded properly. The other receptacle is powered correctly but has a weak ground -- when I used a voltage tester, the power light was bright but the ground light flickered. I think that the ground fault is either between the metal cable and the box or between the screws of the receptacle and the box. The metal bars of the box where the receptacle screws in are very rusted and corroded. Has anyone had similar problems with this type of weak ground in a old-style grounded box? Do you think trying to de-rust the box will help? Thank you. Sounds to me like the reality is NEITHER is safely grounded. It doesn't take a lot of current to light that neon, the one that flickers is definitely not safe. The other one probably isn't either as it probably is using a BX armor as ground. Replace the outlets with GFCIs and mark them No Equipment Ground. You will be much safer. |
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