Power and ground in old houses

Let me ask a more basic question. According to your local electrical code who is qualified to change an outlet? If, according to code, you are not "qualified," then you may be opening yourself for liability by doing the favor of changing the outlet. A proper connection for a three prong outlet requires 3 wires, hot, neutral, and ground. This may be a case where you would be better off not doing the electrical and just tell the customer they will need to get an electrician in to redo the outlet. Once the outlet is redone, then you can come back and finish the installation.

Rodgers Platt

I'm not going to do any electrical work. I'm asking if anything short of getting a new run from the panel is acceptable practice.

It depends on local code. AFAIK, the NEC allows two wire service to be converted to 3 prong plugs by replacing the recepticle with a GFI recepticle.

Those cover-plate screw ground adapters are only suitable where armored cable has been run, grounded at the panel and bonded to the outlet metal box. The cover screw is then part of a tortuous ground path.

In any case, a knowledgeable electrician should be involved.

-- Robert

Back when I worked for a telecommunications company, we told the client what power was required. It was their responsibility to provide it. Advise the client what you've found and have them call in an electrician. Any attempts to bastardize the power cables can bring you a lot of grief, should problems develop. The only legal way to use a grounded plug on two wire circuits, is to use a GFI. Then again, unless you're a licenced electrician, you've got no business touching a clients AC wiring.

That's not your concern. It's the customer's responsibility to provide a safe power source. Make sure you use an outlet tester, should a "grounded" receptacle suddenly appear. It's always a good idea, to carry one of those testers in your tool kit.

The customer is asking _me_ for advice.

Al,

Everyone here seems to be singing pretty much the same tune. You don't want to get involved in the outlet or any other part of the electrical situation. Your responsibility ends at the end of the power cord to your equipment. If the proper receptacle is not present, tell the customer what is required and walk away. That way it is not your responsibility if any and we mean _ANY_ problems arise that can be traced back to the circuit or outlet where your equipment was connected to the power lines.

Rodgers Platt

My advice would be -- it is likely possible to do something without replacing the run, but that local codes vary and he need to consult a licenced electrician. Of course you don't know any, because cabler hate electricians, and vice versa :)

You don't want to give him _any_ inkling of solutions like GFI or grounded-box screw taps because should something go wrong, you most certainly will be liable "He told me X would work". _You_ are seen as the expert, and consequently have additional responsibilities.

-- Robert

And the only answer, is "fix it".

Al Dykes posted for all of us...

The only way to test a ground is with an Ideal Industries "Sure Test". The 3 light testers are a wishing and a hoping.

Are you certified in your AHJ for high voltage?

Wiremold/Panduit makes surface mount raceway with this situation in mind. Has a divider between the low & high voltage. Get with an electrician and confab what to install. He/she will be familiar with the area & requirements. Look out for an "electrician" who does low voltage also; he will not be your friend. Provide a package solution to the customer by one of you possibly subbing to the other.

In which case the best advice you can give the customer is "Get an electrician in. Your computer/network/PBX/whatever is not going to work well and could be dangerous without a proper electricity supply."

By the sound of things the existing stuff is not fit for connecting