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4 Reasons Why You Should Consider Upgrading To Three-Prong Outlets 

alex807
alex807
4 min read

 

There are many beneficial electrical enhancements done by electrician Mt Gravatt that can be made to a home, and the typical homeowner has a variety of options to choose from. The conversion of two-prong outlets to three-prong outlets is a straightforward improvement that could prove to be quite beneficial; however, many homeowners overlook this opportunity. There are many reasons why they should give serious consideration to implementing this relatively minor but significantly important improvement. 

Insufficiency In Grounding 

Ground wires provide an outlet for excess energy and equip appliances and electronics with a surge protection element, thereby protecting people and electronics from the dangers of electrical faults and surges. Ground wires also help prevent fires. If you have a grounding system installed, any energy that builds up as a result of a surge or fault will travel through a ground wire to your electrical panel. When the electricity exceeds the capacity of a fuse or trips the circuit breakers, the circuit is cut off, which prevents any damage from occurring. After that, the electricity travels through the ground beneath the house, where it harmlessly disperses throughout the environment. 

The wires in standard outlets with two prongs are not grounded, so there is no surge protection provided by these outlets. 

The Standards Can't Be Met By Outlets With Only Two Prongs. 

Many people find that they are unable to make an investment like this because upgrading the electrical system in their home can amount to anywhere from 5 to 15 percent of the total value of the property. In light of this fact, more recent regulations state that homes that only have outlets with two prongs are exempt from having to upgrade to outlets with three prongs. Despite this, the outlets still do not fulfil the requirements of certain safety standards. 

The installation of grounded outlets is a requirement of more recent electrical codes for newly constructed residential buildings. Additionally, outlets that are close to plumbing fixtures are required to have a ground-fault circuit interrupter installed (GFCI). By cutting off power to the device in the event of a short circuit, this component shields homeowners from the dangers of electrical shocks. GFCIs have the potential to save lives in situations like this one, but a standard outlet with only two prongs does not offer this level of protection. 

Inadequate Amperage 

Fuse panels that could hold either 30 or 60 amps were standard in homes built before 1965. Only able to provide 120-volt wiring, fuses with 30 amps capacity are not adequate for meeting the electrical demands of modern life. Even though they have a 240-volt wire, panels with 60 amps are problematic because they are unable to handle the requirements of modern electrical systems. This is the case even though they have the wire. 

As a result, modern appliances might require an excessive amount of electricity for older systems, which could result in the heating up of wires and the blowing out of fuses, posing a risk of fire. Because of this high energy demand, you will also need to replace fuses on a regular basis if the amperage ratings do not conform to the requirements of the appliances. 

 

Avoid Safety Hazards 

Electrical outlets with only two prongs are not only out of date, but they also pose a greater risk to users than their more up-to-date counterparts. When modern appliances are plugged into outlets designed for two prongs, the entire electrical system can be put under a significant amount of strain. 

Upgrade these components by contacting a reliable electrical technician so you can avoid serious issues brought on by the ones you currently have. Electrocution and fire are two dangers that can be mitigated by putting in outlets with three prongs. 

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