Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!portal!cup.portal.com!dbell
From: dbell@cup.portal.com (David J Bell)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Need help grounding an old electrical outlet
Message-ID: <32588@cup.portal.com>
Date: 9 Aug 90 03:22:01 GMT
References: <1990Aug8.213846.20482@zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu>
Distribution: na
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 24

>I have just moved into the third floor of an old house with very old
>wiring, and I would like to be able to plug in my computer.  None of
>the outlets are grounded, and none of the outlet boxes are grounded.
>   Question:  How can I ground an outlet so that it is safe both for 
>   me and my computer?
>I will only be renting this place for a year, so I am not interested in
>major rewiring.  It has been suggested that I could connect the ground
>wire to the neutral wire in the outlet.  Will this be safe?  Does anyone
>have any other suggestions?  Thanks for your help.

ARRRGGHH!!   DON'T just use the Neutral as a ground - one reason for
providing a safety ground is in case of loss of the Neutral. The easiest
thing that comes to mind is to go to the local hardware store and get
one of those grounding adapters for each outlet you need. For the
computer system, I'd suggest a power/surge supressor strip for all
the power cords, and one adapter plug for the strip to plug into.
Check to determine if the steel box of the outlet is grounded; most
are, even in non-grounding outlet (old) systems. If so, the metal tab
on the plug side of the adapter goes under the cover screw and completes
the ground. If not, you'll have to run a wire, at least 14 ga., to
the nearest cold water pipe and clamp it on with either an electrical
grounding clamp made for the purpose or an automotive hose clamp.

Dave       dbell@cup.portal.com