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Ungrounded/unearthed High-End Computer?

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Joined
Jan 16, 2006
Messages
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So, I've got a pretty high-spec computer (3500+, x1800xt, nf4 board) that I hoped to use for gaming this summer, until I started unpacking yesterday in my new 40's era apartment - 2 prong connectors galore :mad: ! I'm currently writing from my 2-prong-power-brick-having laptop, and am not sure what to do. Most places in the house use a ghetto 3 prong adapter. What would you all recommend?

Oh yeah, it's an aluminum case, so chances of being zapped + current generation in the case are increased - :(
 
I have used my PC in my sig for a year now, and all my previous PCs for years using 2 prong outlets, and never had a problem. I usually use an adapter to a power strip, and the PC and stuff plugged into the strip. Yea, Its not as safe, but Ive never had a problem.
 
Get one of those AC wall outlet checker things. It'll have 3 prongs on it, so you'll need to use it with your 3-prong adapters, which is what you're really trying to check anyways.

If all 3 lights light, then you're still grounded.

Just make sure you use the 3-prong adapter properly. If you look, the 3rd prong is really a tab. You're supposed to unscrew the center screw on your outlet, and put the screw through tthe tab and reattach it. That way the 3prong is grounded through the dround in the elctrical box.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...&cp=2032058.2032235.2032306&parentPage=family
 
pressure your lan lord to rewire the house. Is not 3 prong require by building standards and codes nowadays? maybe old buildings are exempt from rewiring
 
Asian Dub Foundation said:
pressure your lan lord to rewire the house. Is not 3 prong require by building standards and codes nowadays? maybe old buildings are exempt from rewiring
Click to expand...
yeah but i think thats in certain states though
 
In PA, the building code states that the electrical system must meet current standards before the building can be sold. Also, any time the electric meter is removed due to remodelling, the electrical service must meet current code and be inspected.

Since he is renting, and not BUYING the place, his landlord would be exempt from this.
 
Asian Dub Foundation said:
pressure your lan lord to rewire the house. Is not 3 prong require by building standards and codes nowadays? maybe old buildings are exempt from rewiring
Click to expand...
In many cases existing wire is grandfathered in when new codes are implemented. However, anything you do to the existing wire is subject to all applicable codes. So if his landlord were to replace a broken outlet or something, code requires outlets to be grounded, which requires three conductor wire, so he would have to upgrade the wiring also. Plus whatever upgrades need to be done at the panel box. But in most cases there is no requirement for existing wiring to be upgraded to meet code.

With that being said, I would still talk to the landlord to see if something can be worked out. Running a computer without proper ground will probably be okay, but I would definitely feel safer with a ground.
 
SarverSystems said:
Get one of those AC wall outlet checker things. It'll have 3 prongs on it, so you'll need to use it with your 3-prong adapters, which is what you're really trying to check anyways.

If all 3 lights light, then you're still grounded.

Just make sure you use the 3-prong adapter properly. If you look, the 3rd prong is really a tab. You're supposed to unscrew the center screw on your outlet, and put the screw through tthe tab and reattach it. That way the 3prong is grounded through the dround in the elctrical box.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...&cp=2032058.2032235.2032306&parentPage=family
Click to expand...

My power strip has one. It's not grounded.
 
I feel your pain. My house is 136 years old. Only a few outlets are grounded outlets that were probably rewired at some point.

Luckily, my office is one of those rooms :D
 
Ask the landlord if he can have a new grounded circuit installed. He may be willing to do so.
 
If you are on the ground floor (no pun intended), you can go out and buy a 6ft copper ground pole and the necessary hardware to make your own grounded outlet.

Just use the black and white wire from the old outlet, and wire it to the new outlet in the same way. Then for the ground, use copper wire of the porper gauge, run it out your window to the ground pole and attach it with with a grounding clamp.

MAKE SURE you pound the stake in all the way. If it is only 1 ft in the ground, it isn't going to be very effective. Also make sure to use solid copper wire specifically for grounding applications.

Check with wherever you are buying this stuff, to find out the proper gauge wire and maximum length you can go. Also, you MIGHT be required to use an 8ft pole depending on where you live.
 
SarverSystems said:
If you are on the ground floor (no pun intended), you can go out and buy a 6ft copper ground pole and the necessary hardware to make your own grounded outlet.

Just use the black and white wire from the old outlet, and wire it to the new outlet in the same way. Then for the ground, use copper wire of the porper gauge, run it out your window to the ground pole and attach it with with a grounding clamp.

MAKE SURE you pound the stake in all the way. If it is only 1 ft in the ground, it isn't going to be very effective. Also make sure to use solid copper wire specifically for grounding applications.

Check with wherever you are buying this stuff, to find out the proper gauge wire and maximum length you can go. Also, you MIGHT be required to use an 8ft pole depending on where you live.
Click to expand...
In some kinds of soil, even an 8-foot rod won't give a good ground, and in about every case the ground rod should have a thick wire running from it to the building's main ground.

I'd use a ground fault interrupter (GFCI) to prevent dangerous electric shock with any ungrounded outlet. The kind that looks almost like a wall outlet costs $5-10, but there are plug-in GFCIs that are $15-30. Both types have 3-prong outlets but won't be grounded unless a third ground wire is added.
 
SarverSystems said:
If you are on the ground floor (no pun intended), you can go out and buy a 6ft copper ground pole and the necessary hardware to make your own grounded outlet.
Click to expand...

Thats not going to be up to code anywhere in the US because it's unsafe.
 
How is it unsafe? sure, it may not be pretty, but at least it's grounded. And it's grounded in exactly the same way as the entire house would be grounded.
 
You could just run a new wire from your breaker box that is grounded, and put in a new grounded outlet. I just put in new wiring for grounding purposes in my basement, and it really isn't very hard. Just pick up a book on it and you will see that it really isn't too difficult. Can't remember if you were renting or not though. Or even run a wire from the existing outlet to your plumbing. Not the best solution, but at least it would be better grounded than before.
 
SarverSystems said:
How is it unsafe? sure, it may not be pretty, but at least it's grounded. And it's grounded in exactly the same way as the entire house would be grounded.
Click to expand...


It's not grounded the same way the house would be. Code states that all grounds must connect at one single point in a single dwelling setup. This point is located at the main disconnect. Usually the main breaker panel, but sometimes you have the main disconnect in the meter itself, so it would be there.

It has to do with current resistance and where and how it flows if electricity should ever have to flow on the ground due to a fault.

Look it up, there's some genuine reasons why it's not safe. Plus, it's not his house, and doing something illegal likd this will get him into trouble.
 
I lived in a building built in the 40's for three years with all two prong outlets and never had an issue with any of my computer equipment or home theater equipment. I wouldn't worry about it.
 
valve1138 said:
It's not grounded the same way the house would be. Code states that all grounds must connect at one single point in a single dwelling setup. This point is located at the main disconnect. Usually the main breaker panel, but sometimes you have the main disconnect in the meter itself, so it would be there.
Click to expand...

Good point.
 
valve1138 said:
It's not grounded the same way the house would be. Code states that all grounds must connect at one single point in a single dwelling setup. This point is located at the main disconnect. Usually the main breaker panel, but sometimes you have the main disconnect in the meter itself, so it would be there.

It has to do with current resistance and where and how it flows if electricity should ever have to flow on the ground due to a fault.

Look it up, there's some genuine reasons why it's not safe. Plus, it's not his house, and doing something illegal likd this will get him into trouble.
Click to expand...

I worked for a very large Telco and it's quite common (well..used to be anyway from what I was told) to drive a 9ft rod into the ground to provide ground. I was even trained on it back during the strike a couple years ago (granted...I may not remember all the specifics...and in fact I can say for sure I don't). It's more common to see in Trailer parks than houses though. All grounds *should* connect to a central point, but that's not always possible and that's when the Telco drives the rod in. They also put nice bright yellow labels on the rod, and the ground wire for indication.

The house I rented a while back had such a rod near the captel box where the phone line came in. The house was only about 10 years old as well.
 
nst6563 said:
I worked for a very large Telco and it's quite common (well..used to be anyway from what I was told) to drive a 9ft rod into the ground to provide ground. I was even trained on it back during the strike a couple years ago (granted...I may not remember all the specifics...and in fact I can say for sure I don't). It's more common to see in Trailer parks than houses though. All grounds *should* connect to a central point, but that's not always possible and that's when the Telco drives the rod in. They also put nice bright yellow labels on the rod, and the ground wire for indication.

The house I rented a while back had such a rod near the captel box where the phone line came in. The house was only about 10 years old as well.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's telco equipment. The cable company might do that too if they dont have a proper ground available. Totally different from the home's electrical system.
 
valve1138 said:
Ask the landlord if he can have a new grounded circuit installed. He may be willing to do so.
Click to expand...
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Just tell him the outlet doesn't work, they would be forced to replace it with neew code regulations :D
 
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