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From: jerry@oliveb.UUCP (Jerry Aguirre)
Newsgroups: net.followup,net.micro
Subject: Re: faulty outlets/extension cord, overrated dimmer
Message-ID: <253@oliveb.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 22-Jan-85 15:06:53 EST
Article-I.D.: oliveb.253
Posted: Tue Jan 22 15:06:53 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 24-Jan-85 06:39:35 EST
References: <176@abnji.UUCP> <30@gitpyr.UUCP>
Organization: Olivetti ATC, Cupertino, Ca
Lines: 28
Xref: watmath net.followup:4370 net.micro:9153

>From: dts@gitpyr.UUCP (Danny Sharpe)

>I opened mine up last night. All the wires are pushed in the holes
>firmly, BUT the middle duplex outlet was the only one that was connected
>to the green wire from the power cord. The result was that only two
>out of the six outlets in the power strip had their third holes grounded.

Ground wires don't necessarily have to connect to every socket.  The
ground connection on an electrical outlet is CONNECTED TO THE METAL
MOUNTING BRACKET.  This means that as long as all the outlets are
screwed into a COMMON PIECE OF METAL then they all share the ground
connection.  Connecting the green wire to the center outlet sounds like
a good way of providing a ground for all of them.

All of the outlet boxes I have seen are either all metal or have a
front panel made of metal.  So if the outlets are all screwed or
riveted to that common piece of metal THEY ARE ALL GROUNDED if any one
of them is.

Grounded outlets run in metal conduit don't connect a ground wire to
any of the outlets.  The ground connection is made when the outlet is
screwed into the box.  In case you are worried about how good this
connection is, remember that the mounting bracket is heavier than the
copper wire and secured by two screws.  It is therefor a much better
connection than a single screw or push on clip.

				Jerry Aguirre @ Olivetti ATC
{hplabs|fortune|idi|ihnp4|tolerant|allegra|tymix}!oliveb!jerry