Should 3 prong to 2 prong adapters be illegal??

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brother

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Just curious as to others opinion. Im sure weve all seen them, those 3 prong to 2 prong adapters for about .50 cents at stores that homeowners buy for their home when they have those nongrounding type recepticles.

Ive noticed that most of them really do NOT use the grounding terminal on the adapter, seeing how its SUPPOSE to be screwed down on the face plate. Alot of them dont even know they suppose to do that, or just too lazy to do it.

The other problem i see is that EVEN if they did do what they suppose to do (screwing the adapter ground to the face plate), IT STILL wouldnt do any good in MOST cases cause the box that the adapter is attach to is NOT grounded. It just give a false sense of safety.

This is just for 'principle' debate. :)
 
It sounds like your real point is that every electrical installation in existence should be brought to current code requirements.
 
I don't think so. If they were then the 1 out of 100 times you need to use one people would be cutting the grounding prong off. Now the other 99 times out of 100 the appliance, tool etc. would be ungrounded.
 
LarryFine said:
It sounds like your real point is that every electrical installation in existence should be brought to current code requirements.
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NO!! im not saying that at all. I just see alot of people using the 2 prong adapter and in reality they dont know (or care) that its suppose to be screwed down to the face plate.

I just wanted to hear some other opinions on them. I just think that some of the adapters are misleading at times. ;)
 
Why is it required to screw the adapter ground to the face plate? If there was a function EGC within the box, they probably would have a three prong receptacle to begin with.
I usually use the screw down adapter ground to make sure that the adapter doesn't fall out of the old receptacle that has no "tension" left (avoid pullout via gravity). :)
 
ron said:
Why is it required to screw the adapter ground to the face plate? If there was a function EGC within the box, they probably would have a three prong receptacle to begin with.
I usually use the screw down adapter ground to make sure that the adapter doesn't fall out of the old receptacle that has no "tension" left (avoid pullout via gravity). :)
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The MANUFACTURER actually says its required cause that little prong IS the GROUND. its suppose to be attach to the metal of the box.

I agree if there were a egc in the box then there would be a 3 prong outlet.
So hence my MAIN point of this post. They do sometimes defeat the purpose and are MISLEADING.

I still like infinity 's point though. More ofter than not, it would keep a person from cutting off the ground prong on the appliance . :)

infinity said:
I don't think so. If they were then the 1 out of 100 times you need to use one people would be cutting the grounding prong off. Now the other 99 times out of 100 the appliance, tool etc. would be ungrounded.
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petersonra said:
What is the principle?

That every time the electrical code changes every electrical installation has to be redone?
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In the case of residential grounding, GFCI protection, etc, I'd say yes. Every time I read in the paper about a kid getting killed on a refrigerator at some 2-wire rental, I remind myself that a GFCI only costs $10.
 
noxx said:
In the case of residential grounding, GFCI protection, etc, I'd say yes. Every time I read in the paper about a kid getting killed on a refrigerator at some 2-wire rental, I remind myself that a GFCI only costs $10.
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over here is more like 12 plus tax. :). thats an interesting thought. I havent heard too many kids getting shocked in a rental of 2 prong outlets.
 
noxx said:
In the case of residential grounding, GFCI protection, etc, I'd say yes. Every time I read in the paper about a kid getting killed on a refrigerator at some 2-wire rental, I remind myself that a GFCI only costs $10.
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over hear its more like 12 plust tax. interesting thought though, i havent heard much about many kids getting shocked in rentals with 2 prong outlets. but i do like gfcis in them. :)
 
brother said:
over hear its more like 12 plust tax. interesting thought though, i havent heard much about many kids getting shocked in rentals with 2 prong outlets. but i do like gfcis in them. :)
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That's close enough to ten bucks. If I wanted to split hairs I could say I used to get em in bulk at 5 for $40, but close enough.

It seems to be a too-common experience here, and I would guess in any number of economically depressed areas. An owner of a duplex or apartment will have some screwball install grounding receps on a 2-wire system, with no GFCI protection. Occasionally the screwball in question can't tell black from white, and *ding* hot shell on a fridge, stove, washer, you name it. Along comes a renter in their bare feet, and that's all she wrote.

Even more sadly, when people get killed, we rarely see criminal prosecution. GFCI protection is one of my personal little crusades, it's too cheap to *not* have.
 
noxx said:
That's close enough to ten bucks. If I wanted to split hairs I could say I used to get em in bulk at 5 for $40, but close enough.

It seems to be a too-common experience here, and I would guess in any number of economically depressed areas. An owner of a duplex or apartment will have some screwball install grounding receps on a 2-wire system, with no GFCI protection. Occasionally the screwball in question can't tell black from white, and *ding* hot shell on a fridge, stove, washer, you name it. Along comes a renter in their bare feet, and that's all she wrote.

Even more sadly, when people get killed, we rarely see criminal prosecution. GFCI protection is one of my personal little crusades, it's too cheap to *not* have.
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I agree, you should read my post in response about the 'extension' of existing 2 wire circuits with GFCI protection. more like debate between me and george. http://www.mikeholt.com/code_forum/showthread.php?t=78496&page=2george.

I feel that in some instances (not all) a GFCI can provide even more protection for person than even an EGC. (Im not saying that EGC are not needed, i feel they do serve their purpose. :)

Unlike Afci, GFCI's have been PROVEN in the field. so i advocate them as well.
 
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ron said:
Why is it required to screw the adapter ground to the face plate? If there was a function EGC within the box, they probably would have a three prong receptacle to begin with.
I usually use the screw down adapter ground to make sure that the adapter doesn't fall out of the old receptacle that has no "tension" left (avoid pullout via gravity). :)
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Not quite. I've seen lots of installations where they ran the undersized ground to the metal box and installed a two pronged outlet. In these cases, the converter plug you talk of is to be used and screwed to the faceplate. However, most people don't understand the whole concept. They just want to plug something in and have it work, safety isn't the main priority. Shoot, I caught my father-in-law bending the prongs on his table saw so that the fit into the 120v outlet. Only problem was that his saw was 240v. But he fixed that by re-wiring the outlet up to 240v. He just told people not to use it for anything but the saw. My point is that you can never protect people from themselves no matter how hard you try. Some are going to cause harm no matter what.
 
infinity said:
I don't think so. If they were then the 1 out of 100 times you need to use one people would be cutting the grounding prong off. Now the other 99 times out of 100 the appliance, tool etc. would be ungrounded.
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They should get rid of the 2 wire adapter, with the two prong adapter they could still follow the directions (and most don't) and secure it with the screw but if there's not a ground at the box they would still feel that it was installed properly, all they have to do is plug it in and there done. I think allot of people would cut off the ground but at least that way they would be modifying a product and would have to at least think about what they were doing especially if they just dished out allot of money for what there trying to plug in, most people I know when they cut of a ground they know its wrong but do it anyway and most probably don't understand the hazard they have created. I know some but not all would call an electrician to install a 3 prong, I think the 2 prong just makes it too damm easy to create a hazard.:(
 
iwire said:
Are they 'legal' now? I don't see them covered in the NEC.
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They don't need to be in the NEC. They are "used" by the HO, and not "installed" by the EC. Oh, sorry, that's another thread. ;)
 
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