Is this a ground wire? (replacing old two prong outlets)
#1
01-28-15, 09:28 PM
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Is this a ground wire? (replacing old two prong outlets)
The apartment I'm renting has a mix of two and three prong outlets depending on the room. I've been doing as much reading as I can to make sure I don't do anything stupid/unsafe.
The wiring in the breaker box in the basement doesn't look terribly old and in doing some reading I found that sometimes wiring was update but outlets were not. I turned off the breaker for this outlet and opened it up.
It looks to me like the coiled up copper wire might be an unused ground, am I right in that thinking?
The wiring in the breaker box in the basement doesn't look terribly old and in doing some reading I found that sometimes wiring was update but outlets were not. I turned off the breaker for this outlet and opened it up.
It looks to me like the coiled up copper wire might be an unused ground, am I right in that thinking?
#2
01-28-15, 09:40 PM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
You, as a renter, should not be doing any electrical work in your apartment.
To answer your question directly... yes that is a ground wire.
to make sure I don't do anything stupid/unsafe.
To answer your question directly... yes that is a ground wire.
#3
01-28-15, 09:43 PM
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I wouldn't do anything without talking to my landlord, he and I have a very good relationship. It was more to understand if changing out to a three prong outlet would be a simple job or an expensive one.
#4
01-28-15, 09:49 PM
Group Moderator
Ok.
To properly ground the box.... that ground wire should be unwrapped and attached to a green grounding screw in the hole opposite the wire retainer clamp.
To properly ground the box.... that ground wire should be unwrapped and attached to a green grounding screw in the hole opposite the wire retainer clamp.
