Very simple: They are used incorrectly 99.9% of the time.

UL lists them to be used in accordance with the manufacturers directions. The problem, as I see it, is that Joe Homeowner doesn't read the directions, doesn't care as long as it works, and will not complain until someone is hurt. Now it is someone else's fault (UL?) and let the attorneys get them some money for their stupidity.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Charlie Eldridge, Indianapolis, Utility Power Guy

I will admit to frequently having to use these things....when I use my OSHA mandated 3-wire extension cord to power my two-wire, double insulated tools from an older ungrounded system.

Do you think that a homeowner who knows how to use one of these gizmos correctly would be smart enough to know how to change the receptacle?
Seems to me that after they test the cover plate screw and find it grounded, that would be the logical step.
These are almost "produced to be misused" IMO.

I have used these back when I was renting an apartment (and therefore could not change the receptacles myself) for a window AC. I did test that the box was grounded. In my house, I would of course change the recept to a 3-wire or at least a labeled GFCI.

/mike

 
Realize that for decades there used to be a far more treacherous version of grounding adapter—it had a ‘flying’ ground lead, that could contact the ungroudned or ”hot” blade of the adapter and unintentionally energize an appliance enclosure.

It is fortunate that GFCIs are permitted to be installed on 2-wire (ungrounded) breach circuits.

Maybe Canadian members can verify that the pictured adapter was NEVER permitted by CSA?

These things are "legal" because of the fiction that they're supposed to be grounded through the cover-plate screw on a grounded box. The reality is that everybody, from the manufacturer, to UL, to the store, to the user, knows full well that the real purpose is to allow 3-pronged devices to connect to older, ungrounded receptacles. The alternative is that people would be cutting off a lot more ground pins than they already are, making a bad situation even worse. (That is, if they leave the ground pin intact, then there is at least the possibility that the appliance will be properly grounded on occasions when there is a grounded receptacle available.)

So, we have the legal fiction that these things are going to be connected to grounded screws. Why we need to do things this way, I don't know. (The answer probably starts out with, "What do you call a thousand lawyers chained together on the bottom of the ocean?" But that's another thread...) But, there's no reason to get too anal about these gadgets--they're intended to be used the way they're being used.

[This message has been edited by SolarPowered (edited 01-24-2005).]

Bump.

Was going to post a new thread, but did some searching and found this old one...





The local Ace now carries these brand new. The owner of the store ordered the "legal" ones, and got these instead.

Ian A.

Many three prong to two prong adapters are actually listed. The problem is the only maintain their listing if installed IAW installation instructions. The proble is the instuctions states that the fork must be attached to a grounded screw. It you still have a two wire system like I do, technically you can not use them since the center screw is not grounded. NEC allows the run of a ground wire but the hassle it takes to run wire in old work, with a few dollars more you can use romex and get rid of the old fire starters.

Does it? I was under the impression all conductors of a circuit (not only all current carrying conductors as by many other codes) had to be in the same cable or conduit.

It's not a perfect world. Their use is better than the alternative, which would presumably be breaking off the grounding pin forever disabling the unit from being grounded even if a three pin recep was available. It's our (collective) fault for designing and creating an electrical system where this type of device is the OBVIOUS answer. I challenge all of you out there to come up with a safe and PRACTICAL solution. And, no rewiring the house or every recep wont cut it.

Now they obviously wouldn't be 2 for $1.50, but an adaptor with an integral GFI device maybe? Figure China is popping out questionable GFCI outlets for $3.99, I don't see why they couldn't do the same with an adaptor ...

Wally World sells these for about $10 a piece, some of them actually work too. Still need the cheater, but at least you get a GFCI.

Only problem I have with this is the "three outlets means three hair dryers" mentality, where the wiring is usually old, already taxed and serves half the house.

Ian A.

The reappearance of adapters with leads startles me. In terms of the manufacturers reducing costs, this is a big step backward. At the very least, there's the added lead, and now both ends of the lead have to be swedged or spotwelded to something. More material, more labor, more overhead. Ian, I'm curious who the maker of record is, if you can tell. It may just say 'Master Electrician', or is Ace 'True Value'? I forget.

RH:

No marks on it but "Made in China." Bought it loose, so no box to go back to either.

Like I said, the owner ordered the "legal" Cooper solid-plastic ones, and got these hollow things instead.

Ian A.

Ian,

In case you didn't know, the box where you got the url to post your picture here is a drop-down box and also has urls for the Medium Image:

The problem is without rewiring it, the adapter's listing is invalid thus can not be used per the NEC. If a jusrisdiction is under the International Fire Code (IFC) you can not use them. Someone proposed a fix of a GFCI pig tail which is is not a subsitute for permanent wiring.

"Made in China."

Don't they Kill every 3rd child and repress their population?

Why do we do bussiness with them? GREED!.
Oh never mind. VOTE!! Oh Never mind.

Greed wins again. GET USED TO IT!!!!!!
Comming to a Country near you.

The NEC allows an older ungrounded receptacle to be converted to a grounded outlet by running a separate equipment grounding conductor.

My problem with these adapters (as well as the DIY advice for un-grounded receptacle replacement) is that even if you follow the directions explicitly and check to see if you have voltage to ground at your box, that does nothing to guarantee that you have a low impedance ground capable of tripping a breaker.

It only takes a couple of milliamps of current flow to allow a tester or Wiggy to read properly, but that ground path has to effectively sink at least 15A to trip a breaker in the event of a fault. Many older houses wired with BX will seem like they have a grounded box, but without a bonding wire in that BX it will heat up like a light-bulb filament in the event of a ground-fault and the breaker might never trip.

They've turned what was "just" an electrocution hazard into an electrocution and fire hazard.

-John