When it comes to electrical and refrigeration questions, sometimes the simplest problems have the most complex answers.
Upgrading electrical and refrigeration systems is an unfortunate necessity in some homes. Two prong outlets are much rarer to find these days, as many new homes have updated to three-prong outlets which can provide more power to appliances. But if you find your home or apartment is still operating with two prong outlets, are you doomed to inconvenience for the rest of your days?
Here’s the information you need to know to properly update your electrical and refrigeration systems:
Outlet 101
Have you ever gone to plug in an appliance and been stymied by the realization that there aren’t enough holes to complete this very simple action? The prongs on any electrical device are designed to fit into the available outlets slots, which offer a complete circuit for the electricity to travel through. Most appliances have three prongs these days for better and safer power supply.
Updating Outlets
The first step in this process involves determining the status of your fuse box. An electrician will be able to tell you if the fuse box is grounded or not. If all the outlets in your building are two-prong, the fuse box is not grounded and will need to be before you can update to three-prong. (The third prong in a three-prong outlet is a grounding source.) Transferring the wires from the old outlet to the new can be very dangerous and should only be done by a trained professional after the circuit breaker has been shut off.
Short-Term Solution
If the outlet issue is only a minor inconvenience in one part of your home, consider purchasing an adapter that will allow you to utilize the two-prong outlet. You can convert the old outlet into a usable power source, with very little cost and inconvenience.