Only Two Pronged Outlets in new apartment: wat do?

[xeromynd]

So while I know a good deal about computers, I'm not exactlty an electrician, so my question:

I'm moved into a new apartment, all outlets in all possible areas where I'd plug my setup in are two pronged.

I assume this means no grounding, correct? Is this safe? I'll have my whole PC (pulling maybe 400W), two monitors, two studio monitor speakers, a keyboard, audio interface, and router plugged in. This all goes through a Furman M8x, which id need to buy a 3-to-2 pronged adapter for.

Will that adapter and the lack of the third plug affect my setup in any way? Is it dangerous to have as much as I do plugged in?

(not sure if this should be in the PSU section or under general)

[TheN00bBuilder]

Yeah, it'd be dangerous. Ground is ground though. Can you connect a wire to the plug with a loop for a screw on the other end, and screw it into something grounded?

[VioDuskar]

i wouldn't worry about 400W

why the hell doesnt the room have grounds?

i would demand the owner pay to put in grounds.

[VioDuskar]

Yeah, it'd be dangerous. Ground is ground though. Can you connect a wire to the plug with a loop for a screw on the other end, and screw it into something grounded?

that's way more dangerous!

[Firearm2112]

Looks like if you were able to build a PC, you can switch out for a 3 prong http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-ground-electrical-outle-108229

[Theguywhobea]

How old is the place you moved into? It's been written into the building code to only have grounded outlets for quite a while now. Ask your landlord if they are planning on replacing those as they are kind of hazardous. I wouldn't plug my computer into them, any static that comes in contact with your computer will not be able to make it to proper ground and may short out components.

[Sam Z Man]

So while I know a good deal about computers, I'm not exactlty an electrician, so my question:

I'm moved into a new apartment, all outlets in all possible areas where I'd plug my setup in are two pronged.

I assume this means no grounding, correct? Is this safe? I'll have my whole PC (pulling maybe 400W), two monitors, two studio monitor speakers, a keyboard, audio interface, and router plugged in. This all goes through a Furman M8x, which id need to buy a 3-to-2 pronged adapter for.

Will that adapter and the lack of the third plug affect my setup in any way? Is it dangerous to have as much as I do plugged in?

(not sure if this should be in the PSU section or under general)

 

Here is a general rule of thumb I go by.

 

If it has a grounding plug, its highly likely there is a reason it should be there.

 

Run a extension cord rated for over 5 amps from a 3 prong outlet.

[Theguywhobea]

Yeah, it'd be dangerous. Ground is ground though. Can you connect a wire to the plug with a loop for a screw on the other end, and screw it into something grounded?

All grounds in a circuit are common but not all grounds are equal, connecting two different ground together (one earth, one chassis) could cause major electrical issues if a voltage potential builds between them.

[Aniallation]

Having only two-pronged outlets is a BIG annoyance for everything, not just PCs. You're going to run into issues over and over again. Definitely see if you can get an electrician to check it out and see if you'd be able to get them replaced with three-prong grounded outlets.

[W-L]

-SNIP-

 

Don't run it without ground it's not safe. 

 

As Anillation said have a electrician come in to install atleast one grounded outlet or look at the wiring if it's that old where there is no ground at all or floating grounds a re-wire of the entire building may be needed,

[Ellis_D]

Yeah, it'd be dangerous. Ground is ground though. Can you connect a wire to the plug with a loop for a screw on the other end, and screw it into something grounded?

The center screw on all outlets is grounded and they actually make adapters that attach directly to that screw for the purpose of providing ground.  They're not ideal and if the circuit isn't set up correctly, it can cause major issues like fires (and if there's a chance of that happening, you really have bigger problems than just trying to ground a three-prong plug). I've used them before on trusted circuits with zero incident.

http://i.imgur.com/r8qfW0y.jpg

 

What really needs to be done is to start complaining to your land lord.  That's a code violation in a lot of places.  I'd also advice against trying to rewire it yourself or install a GFCI outlet.  GFCI outlets, while very safe, function in a way that's terrible for running a computer.  Basically, anytime it detects a ground current, it shuts off the receptacle and cuts power to everything connected to it.  It's a great feature when you drop your electric shaver in the toilet but a terrible feature when you've been playing Skyrim for 5 hours without saving.

[SonoDanshi]

3 cheers for NY apartments I say. The electrics are absolutely awful in the city - it makes me want to cry.

 

Yeah, it'd be dangerous. Ground is ground though. Can you connect a wire to the plug with a loop for a screw on the other end, and screw it into something grounded?

 

that's way more dangerous!

I laugh in the face of danger!

 

My pedals for my racing setup were shorting out on the frame of the racing chair so I tested the grounding with a cable and it fixed the problem.

 

Then did the job slightly more professionally with a grounded plug....

 

Then my OCD kicked in because I didn't like the ribbed tubing so sleeved it all.

[W-L]

The center screw on all outlets is grounded and they actually make adapters that attach directly to that screw for the purpose of providing ground.  They're not ideal and if the circuit isn't set up correctly, it can cause major issues like fires (and if there's a chance of that happening, you really have bigger problems than just trying to ground a three-prong plug). I've used them before on trusted circuits with zero incident.

http://i.imgur.com/r8qfW0y.jpg

 

What really needs to be done is to start complaining to your land lord.  That's a code violation in a lot of places.

 

The issue with the ground tab and screw is most times if they are all 2 prong connectors the entire building or section was wired with floating or non existent grounds to the box.

[VioDuskar]

3 cheers for NY apartments I say. The electrics are absolutely awful in the city - it makes me want to cry.

 

 

I laugh in the face if danger!

 

 

My pedals for my racing setup were shorting out on the frame of the racing chair so I tested the grounding with a cable and it fixed the problem.

 

Then did the job slightly more professionally with a grounded plug....

 

 

Then my OCD kicked in because I didn't like the ribbed tubing so sleeved it all.

 

 

at least it ended up the right way...

[TheN00bBuilder]

Yeah, I'll never be an electrician someday. I'll stick to PCs. Lol.

[xeromynd]

The center screw on all outlets is grounded and they actually make adapters that attach directly to that screw for the purpose of providing ground. They're not ideal and if the circuit isn't set up correctly, it can cause major issues like fires (and if there's a chance of that happening, you really have bigger problems than just trying to ground a three-prong plug). I've used them before on trusted circuits with zero incident.

http://i.imgur.com/r8qfW0y.jpg

What really needs to be done is to start complaining to your land lord. That's a code violation in a lot of places. I'd also advice against trying to rewire it yourself or install a GFCI outlet. GFCI outlets, while very safe, function in a way that's terrible for running a computer. Basically, anytime it detects a ground current, it shuts off the receptacle and cuts power to everything connected to it. It's a great feature when you drop your electric shaver in the toilet but a terrible feature when you've been playing Skyrim for 5 hours without saving.

This is basically the path I'm taking. Going to start complaining to management tomorrow, see if there's anything can do. We've been told the buildings were built in the 60's, oy...

What's mildly promising is that the kitchen is wired with 3-pronged outlets, so it has to be possible to update the place.

I'm in PA now, and it seems if two-pronged outlets are present because they were grandfathered in (they were there when the building was built) it IS NOT violating code (fml basically).

If there isn't anything management can do, first I'll cry, then I'll go to homedepot, find someone in electric and pick their brain about possible solutions, and the largest gauge/safest extension cord they've got.

Really a fucking bummer that we couldn't see the place beforehand and were only shown a model unit, now this issue arises. I'm told there are over 900 apartments in this complex, I'm POSITIVE I'm not the only one here who needs to run mildly expensive three-pronged equipment.

And to dispel some questions: I NEED this, not for gaming, for my business.

Thanks for all the answers thusfar, seems the general consensus is not great lol

[xeromynd]

Don't run it without ground it's not safe.

As Anillation said have a electrician come in to install atleast one grounded outlet or look at the wiring if it's that old where there is no ground at all or floating grounds a re-wire of the entire building may be needed,

Le sigh, more or less what I assumed/ I can only hope that the landlord will be helpful in the matter and that they can give me at least one grounded outlet to use. The presence of grounded outlets in the kitchen and bathroom at least means it can be done I think.

I'm also slightly frightened (because I've only heard bad stories about cheap landlords thusfar) that they don't just get someone to give me a three pronged outlet and not actually connect the ground as a "placebo" or sometbkng and hope j don't notice.

[ThomasD]

The center screw on all outlets is grounded... 

Not if the place was built before that became part of the building code.  I've seen plenty of places where there was no available ground, only hot and return.

 

Using a PC that is not properly grounded is not exceptionally dangerous to the user (in comparison to something like a tube guitar amplifier, which could be lethal) but it is not safe for the device.

 

The solution, as others noted, is the have an electrician come in and set up a grounded outlet for critical devices.  Depending on where you are in the building this could be rather expensive.

[W-L]

Le sigh, more or less what I assumed/ I can only hope that the landlord will be helpful in the matter and that they can give me at least one grounded outlet to use. The presence of grounded outlets in the kitchen and bathroom at least means it can be done I think.

I'm also slightly frightened (because I've only heard bad stories about cheap landlords thusfar) that they don't just get someone to give me a three pronged outlet and not actually connect the ground as a "placebo" or sometbkng and hope j don't notice.

 

Worst I've seen is faking a ground by using the neutral wire which is a big no-no in electrical work. If you do however want to be able to use your computer I'd just double check the plug in the kitchen and run a temporary extension cord. 

 

Unfortunately if the building was built back in the day and never renovated then they don't need to touch it until they do.

 

If you want to test it get one of theses it will tell you everything if they did something wrong:

http://www.amazon.com/Gardner-Bender-GFI-3501-Outlet-Tester/dp/B00170KUPC/ref=pd_sim_469_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QEKECC41PMCQ8SVSCJ5

[xeromynd]

Worst I've seen is faking a ground by using the neutral wire which is a big no-no in electrical work. If you do however want to be able to use your computer I'd just double check the plug in the kitchen and run a temporary extension cord.

Unfortunately if the building was built back in the day and never renovated then they don't need to touch it until they do.

If you want to test it get one of theses it will tell you everything if they did something wrong:

http://www.amazon.com/Gardner-Bender-GFI-3501-Outlet-Tester/dp/B00170KUPC/ref=pd_sim_469_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QEKECC41PMCQ8SVSCJ5

Will get that and test it, not a huge investment so I'm ok with it. Might even have it at a local hardware store.

Is there any way I can check if the screw is grounded? An electrician I've known for years reccommended I get a 2-to-3 pronged adapter that's polarized (it has a little tab that the screw goes through) and also a decent surge protector. I got myself an APC UPS rated for 650 watts which I think should be ok.

Wondering about the warranties and guarantees on those things also, if they REALLY do cover the $100,000 of plugged in equipment in the event of a huge surge or something goes wrong.

Still going to push forward with landlords, but today's the observation of the 4th here in the U.S. So no one is in the office at the moment.

[W-L]

-SNIP-

 

I've seen some of those but I bet there is an encyclopedia's worth of disclaimers if you try to claim a loss. 

 

The best way to check and see if the screw or the box itself is grounded is turn off the power and take off the front plate and see if there is a bare copper wire (ground) attached to the box somewhere. If there is you could directly change the outlet to a 3 pronged one as long as you know what your doing or use the tabbed ground socket.

[TheKleen]

My house was built over 50 years ago and there is no ground wire to the box, nothing in my house is grounded. It's a serious issue that I unfortunately cannot afford to fix, but since you're renting you should definitely be raising hell with your landlord to have the wiring updated. 

[xeromynd]

Well, just to provide some closure to the topic, I seem to have struck gold with my landlords. 

It hasn't happened yet, but they've made an appointment for an electrician to come and give us one grounded outlet in the room of our choice free of charge. As I understand it, shit like this never happens and I'm extremely lucky to have landlords/management that will actually do this kind of thing.

 

They mentioned that wiring additional grounded outlets would cost tenants (us) $160 /ea, and while I'm not going to get an extra, the price is promising because if they really wanted to swindle us and put in a GFCI outlet and tell us it's 'grounded', the price should be much lower afaik.

 

Last step is to watch that electrician and make sure he's wiring an ACTUAL grounded outlet, and not short-changing us (which at this point, I don't think they would). All else fails, I'll get one of those testers from the hardware store.

 

Thanks to everyone for your replies, I'm no electrician, but I've certainly learned a bit along this stressful journey.

[ThomasD]

I doubt any license electrician would try to pull a fast one and not create actual ground returns.  Because that is the sort of thing that could end up starting fires or even get people killed.  And anyone who knew or signed off on it could end up in prison.  It's just not worth it. 

 

GFCIs are not a bad option for protecting you, but they will not protect your electronics.

[xeromynd]

I doubt any license electrician would try to pull a fast one and not create actual ground returns.  Because that is the sort of thing that could end up starting fires or even get people killed.  And anyone who knew or signed off on it could end up in prison.  It's just not worth it. 

 

GFCIs are not a bad option for protecting you, but they will not protect your electronics.

 

My thoughts too. Dude is actually here at the moment, and is, in fact installing a grounded outlet. Feel bad for him though, there is a disgusting crawl space that our building does NOT give two shits about that he's going to have to contort his body into and traverse. Eugh.

 

On another note, do you tip the electrician if the landlord is taking care of the bill? It seems like it was more work than the landlord made it seem to be/more work than he was planning on.