How to replace a 3 prong outlet

Índice Show

Two-prong vs three-prong outlet: What’s the difference?
Two options for upgrading a two-prong outlet
The Three-Prong Access vs. Affordable Solution Conundrum
Should You Change a Two-Prong to a Three-Prong Outlet with No Ground Wire?
How Electricians Replace a Two-Prong Outlet with a Three-Prong GFCI
How to Ground a Two-Prong Outlet
Trust Mr. Electric to Upgrade Your Two-Prong Outlets to Three-Prong
Instructions

Our professional answer? Yes. If you have an older home (one built before 1962) that has two-prong outlets, your safest option is to have those outlets rewired to a grounded three-prong outlet.

Why?

Because two-prong outlets are “ungrounded outlets”, meaning they don’t have an extra “ground” wire that protects you from possible surges of electricity. And without that extra protection, you’re at a higher risk of experiencing:

Electric shock
An electrical fire
Damaged electronics

Let’s take a closer look at these two different types of outlets.

Need a professional to change a two-prong outlet to a three-prong? Just contact us and we’ll send over an electrician right away.

Two-prong vs three-prong outlet: What’s the difference?

The main difference between a two-prong outlet and a three-prong outlet is that a three-prong outlet has a ground wire, while a two-prong outlet doesn’t.

So, what exactly is a “ground wire”?

Well, a ground wire is basically a wire that acts as a shortcut and directs any surge of excess electricity to safely flow into the ground.

You see, every outlet has a hot and neutral wire. Your hot wire delivers electricity to the outlet while the neutral wire sends the electricity back to the main electrical panel. And both wires are designed to handle only a certain amount of volts (usually 120 volts).

But if those wires receive more electricity than they’re designed to handle (i.e. from plugging in too many appliances) they can deliver an electrical shock, heat up and cause a fire or damage the plugged in appliances.

But when there’s a ground wire present, the extra electricity travels along this wire and is simply absorbed into the earth instead.

Two options for upgrading a two-prong outlet

If your home has multiple two-prong outlets, 2 upgrade options include:

Adding a ground wire to upgrade to a 3-prong outlet. This is the safest option and requires running a ground wire from the main electrical panel to the specific outlet. Adding a ground wire must be done by a professional, and each two-prong outlet needs to be updated separately.
Adding a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). This is an alternative option to adding in a ground wire. Although the circuit will still be “ungrounded”, the GFCI will monitor the flow of electricity traveling through the outlet and cut power to the outlet if the voltage ever gets too high.

A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet

Have an older home and need to update your two-prong outlet? Just contact us.

We’ll send over an electrician to handle the job quickly and safely!

Posted in: Tips

Live in an older home with two-prong outlets? You’re probably running out of outlet space for electronics with three-prong plugs.

Here's how an electrician can fix this problem for you!

The Three-Prong Access vs. Affordable Solution Conundrum

There are abundant reasons homeowners shy away from rewiring their homes. Although this option offers the safest solution for three-prong outlet access, it may not be the most feasible one. Rewiring a home is expensive and time-consuming. There are other ways your electrician can upgrade your outlets without rewiring. For example, ungrounded three-prong outlets can be installed; however, there are risks involved with using non-grounded three-prong outlets.

Two-prong outlets have no ground wire, without which the risk of electrocution and appliance damage is substantial. Simply adding an outlet with an additional prong will give you added appliance access, but it will not give you the safety that grounding provides.

Should You Change a Two-Prong to a Three-Prong Outlet with No Ground Wire?

Converting a two-prong outlet to an ungrounded three-prong GFCI protects you from electric shock. However, a ungrounded three-prong GFCI will not provide the necessary ground protection that prevents sensitive electronics from being fried during voltage fluctuations.

Think using a surge protector strip will fix the problem? Unfortunately, those devices are only as good as the outlet they’re connected to. No grounded outlet = no surge protection. Mr. Electric does not recommend installing ungrounded three-prong outlets, but we understand that it can provide a temporary solution for some homeowners.

How Electricians Replace a Two-Prong Outlet with a Three-Prong GFCI

Here’s how professional electricians replace two-prong outlets with three-prong GFCI plugs without running a new ground wire to the electrical panel:

The power to the outlet being replaced is turned off at the service panel. This will be confirmed at the outlet with a multimeter.
The cover plate screw and cover will be removed, along with the two screws holding the old receptacle into the box.
The old outlet will be pulled out, being careful not to crack the old wiring. It will be gently extended to gain access to the wires.
The old outlet will be disconnected.
Some old boxes are tight, so the new GFCI must be test-fitted by gently pushing the wires back and ensuring the new box will fit. If it doesn’t fit, a new, larger electrical box will be used.
If the wires aren’t long enough, a 4-6" extension (“pigtails”) will be added using the appropriate wire for the circuit amperage: 15 amp = 14 gauge; 20 amp = 12 gauge. (DIYers with significant electrical experience attempting this project would have to pick up one white wire and one black wire from a local hardware store, along with the appropriate wire nuts to add the extensions.)
If the wires are long enough, the electrician will look at the terminals on the GFCI and identify the “Line” terminals. These are the only ones that will be used. The wires will be connected:
- Black wire to the brass “Line” terminal screw.
- White wire to the silver “Line” terminal screw.
The wires will be gently folded back in the box, pressing in the new outlet.
The box will be screwed-in to fasten.
The outlet will be tested by pushing RESET to turn it on, and then TEST to shut it off. The cover plate will be re-attached and a NO GROUND sticker will be applied.

How to Ground a Two-Prong Outlet

To ensure safety, eventually you’ll want to have grounded outlets. If your home is grounded but some of your outlets are not, bringing in a licensed electrician is the best way to ensure the modifications are completed safely and correctly.

Grounding an outlet requires attaching a wire and running it all the way from your outlet to the grounding screw at the back of your electrical box, which is often a long, complicated endeavor, and exceedingly painful for the inexperienced – sometimes “shockingly” so.

Trust Mr. Electric to Upgrade Your Two-Prong Outlets to Three-Prong

Mr. Electric® is here to help you avoid unnecessary safety risks. Contact us today to upgrade your two-prong outlets to three-prong outlets safely and quickly. You can schedule an appointment online or call us at (844) 866-1367 to connect with your local Mr. Electric.

Alongside your outlets, do you have some cracked drywall that needs repair or replacement? Learn about the expert help that our fellow Neighborly® brand, Mr. Handyman can offer.

This blog is made available by Mr. Electric for educational purposes only to give the reader general information and a general understanding on the specific subject above. The blog should not be used as a substitute for a licensed electrical professional in your state or region. Check with city and state laws before performing any household project.

By continuing to use this site, you consent to the use of cookies. To learn more about cookies and how to disable them, view our Cookie Policy.

By clicking I Agree on this screen you agree that Say Media and its partners may process your personal data for the purposes of information storage and access; personalisation; ad selection, delivery, and reporting; content selection, delivery and reporting; and measurement. For more information please view our Privacy Policy.

I've replaced over 30 electrical outlets in my house; it's a useful skill to have.

Though it might initially seem somewhat intimidating, you can actually learn how to replace your own 3-prong electrical outlets pretty easily without the need for an electrician.

Brian Patrick Tagalog, CC0-BY, via Unsplash

Electrical outlets in homes wear out, become outdated, go bad, break, get smeared with paint, or otherwise succumb to a host of other problems that necessitate their replacement. Luckily, replacing an electrical outlet is a simple task that one can do without the help of an electrician. Since most electricians will charge you $25 or more to replace an outlet in your home, it's a useful skill to learn how to replace them on your own when you can.

Don’t let this task intimidate you, though. I must have changed out 30 electrical outlets when we bought our home. Eventually, I got lazy and didn’t even cut the power off when changing them, since I was so used to replacing them. I did, however, get zapped a few times! But this guide will show you how to do it the right way through a handful of simple and easy steps.

This diagram should help you distinguish which pin is which. The bottom pin is the ground (copper), the slot on the right is the hot pin (brass/black), and the longer slot on the left is the neutral pin (white/silver).

Public Domain, CC0-BY-SA, via Wikimedia Commons

If you just follow these simple steps, you'll have changed your 3-prong electrical outlet in no time:

Materials

Any electrical appliance
Voltage tester (optional)
Wire cutters/pliers
Electrical tape
Phillips and flat head screwdrivers
New 3-prong outlet and outlet cover

Instructions

Locate your fuse box and turn off the power to the outlets you will be replacing.
Before beginning, use an appliance or electrical tester to make sure the power is in fact cut off.
Once you confirm the power is off, remove the outlet cover with the correct screwdriver (dependent on your outlet). In each 3-prong outlet, you will see two parallel slots and a bottom pin. The bottom pin is the ground, the slot on the right is the hot pin, and the slot on the left (which is longer) is the neutral pin.
Remove the screws holding the outlet securely to the metal junction box.
Carefully pull the outlet out of the junction box it is secured in.
You will see terminals on the back or sides of the receptacle. The brass or black screw is the hot wire, and the silver or white is the neutral. You will also see a copper wire, which is the ground.
Once you determine which wires are hot, neutral, and ground, begin detaching the wires one at a time.
Attach those wires to the new outlet in their corresponding positions. (Since the power is off, you can remove one and then replace it on the new outlet as you work, so you do not get confused.)
Once all wires are attached to the new receptacle correctly, wrap a 2- to 3-inch piece of electrical tape around the part where the wires connect to the terminals. Two layers of tape are fine. Pay attention to cover the brass screws well. Doing this will help protect the wires, and it will also serve as an extra safety measure. This can prevent short circuits if anyone ever jams things into the outlet the wrong way.
Return the outlet to the wall and attach back to the junction box with the securing screws.
At this point, you should turn the power on and test the outlet. If the power comes on when plugging your appliance in, congrats! You did a great job! If it does not, turn off the power again and repeat steps 1–11.
Once everything is working as it should, replace the outlet cover and you're done!

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.