Electrical Outlet Conversion Question

[IronDave]

I am looking for help with the conversion of two prong outlets in my house to "grounded" three prong outlets.

- The house has some 3-prong outlets so I opened up the breaker box to check if the two prong outlets had ground wires but I couldn't see any visible difference between the two even with the face plate removed.
- I am hoping all I have to do it change the wall outlets themselves since I am not much of an electrician.

Any Help would be appreciated and I could post pictures if that helps

Thanks, Dave

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

The only real way to find out is to remove the outlet itself and see if there is a ground wire.
I'm gonna guess no, and if that's the case, you'll have to run new wire.
If there are ground wires, then you're gold, all you have to do is replace the outlets.

[Shnabdabber]

Hey Dave,

Are the grounded receptacles in your house in a addition to your house? If so that would explain why they have the 3 slots as the addition was more than likely wired with wire containing the black (hot) neutral (white) and the bare copper ground... although if you cant see a difference in your panel of the wire feeding those receptacles (a bare copper conductor) and the wire feeding the old recptacles with the two slots, then chances are those receptacles were added for convenience and are not grounded. Pulling one of those newer style ones out will show you right away. They will either have the ground wire, or wont (duh) or might have a wire jumped from the ground post of the receptacle to a screw in the back of your outlet box. While this isn't up to code by any means, its better than nothing.

Hate to say it but chances are you will have to pull new wire. Which in a reno will not be cheap. Really though the only way to know is to pull the recepticles out. Make sure you trip the breakers supplying those before pulling them out of the outlet box. Otherwise it could be a shocking experiance.

If you have any questions or anything feel free to ask or shoot me a PM.

Good luck!