subject: Two Wire To A Three Wire Receptacle [print this page] Do you live in an older home? Two wire outlets can be replaced with a similar outlet or they can be upgraded. National electrical Code doesn't allow you to change a two wire ( old ) receptacle to a three wire ( new ) receptacle. But there's a solution to this problem. I recommend changing them to a ground fault circuit interrupter frequently called a GFCI or GFI. It's the easiest method to replace a two wire receptacle with a 3 wire receptacle.
Before you do anything, always turn off the electricity to that receptacle or group of receptacles you will be working on or changing out. You can test a receptacle with a metering device or simply employ a lamp. Ensure that the receptacle is off before making an attempt to change.
The white wire should be hooked up to what is called the line side of the GFCI on the silver screw. There may be more than one white wire. Link them both to this silver screw. Screws should be color coated to know which to use for which side ( white and black ). Some GFCI may be marked white for the white wire as electricians reference it as the 'grounded conductor.' In some receptacles, you could have more than one wire because it may feed other receptacles from those wires. White wires should be on the side of the receptacle with silver screws.
Black wires should be on the gold screws. If there are 2 black wires, attach both to the gold screws. This is straightforward to recollect. Black to gold : white to silver. This is crucial because it is what electricians call 'keeping your polarity correct.' This means white wire on the outlet is the wider part of the prong. The white wire is the widest part of the wire called the 'grounded conductor.'
GFCI monitor a circuit or current flow within itself. That's why it is possible to replace a 2 wire receptacle with a GFCI. You can not just replace with a three prong receptacle because it doesn't have a grounding conductor. If you have apparatus that faults or fails, it'll go thru to its nearest path that might be you. Be safety sensible, it's best.
