One electrical upgrade that is easy to overlook is two-prong outlet upgrades. Two-prong plugs are cumbersome and bothersome to many people, but they are far more dangerous than most people realize.
Two-Prong Outlets Are Not Safe
Two-prong plugs are no longer permitted in new builds, thus you won’t find them in current homes. Our electricians at Comet Electric, on the other hand, have seen a number of older homes with two-prong outlets.
The round grounding slot for your devices is missing from these outlets, which only features a hot wire (the narrow slot) and a neutral wire (the wide slot). Surges of energy have nowhere to go without the grounding wire, which could ruin your electrical gadgets as well as causing an electrical fire.
What’s the difference between a two-prong and a three-prong outlet?
A three-prong outlet has a ground wire, whereas a two-prong outlet does not. So, what is a “ground wire” exactly? A ground wire, on the other hand, is a line that serves as a shortcut, directing any burst of surplus electricity into the ground securely.
Every outlet, you see, has a hot and neutral wire. The hot wire supplies power to the outlet, while the neutral wire returns power to the main electrical panel. Furthermore, both wires are only rated for a particular quantity of volts (usually 120 volts). If such cables are exposed to more voltage than they were designed to handle (for example, by plugging in too many gadgets), they can create an electrical shock, heat up and start a fire, or harm the plugged-in appliances.
On a three-prong outlet, there is a ground wire. When a ground wire is present, however, the excess power passes along it and is simply absorbed into the earth.
Ready to make the change from two-prong to three-prong outlets?
Today’s modern three prong outlets come with a variety of features for convenience and safety. Contact Comet Electric today by calling 724-266-7177 to get started.