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How to Replace Electric Outlets

	©Copyright Dave Rongey - About Me - Summary: Installing Replacement Outlets Sponsored Links Electrical Question: My house was built in the mid 1950′s and is wired with Type NM copper 14/2 cable with a ground wire. The bare ground wire is a little smaller gauge than the hot and neutral wires and appears to be 16 gauge. All the outlets in the house [...]

Installing Replacement Outlets

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Electrical Question: My house was built in the mid 1950′s and is wired with Type NM copper 14/2 cable with a ground wire. The bare ground wire is a little smaller gauge than the hot and neutral wires and appears to be 16 gauge. All the outlets in the house are 2 prong polarized duplex outlets without a third U-ground socket. The #16 ground wire is just connected to the metal boxes. I would like to update all my outlets to 3 prong duplex receptacles using the existing house wiring by connecting the green screw to the box and the #16 ground wire. But I wonder if this is safe or permitted, since today all conductors in type NM 14/2 with ground cable are 14 gauge, including the ground wire.
By the way, all these branch circuits in the house are on 15 amp circuit breakers.

This home electrical repairs question came from: Richard, from Erie, Pennsylvania.

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Richard.

How to Chose the Right Electrical Outlet

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate.
Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools and a Voltage Tester.
Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools and the number of outlets that will be replaced.
Precaution: Identify the outlet circuit, turn it OFF and  Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring.
Notice: Always replace outlets with the same voltage and amperage rating and never install an grounded outlet if the circuit does not have a ground wire provided.

Installing the Right Type of 120 Volt Receptacle is Very Important

If the circuit wiring has a ground wire then the replacement receptacles may be the grounded type. The original electrical wiring in some older homes did have a smaller ground wire which was sufficient however the ground wire of the newer 15 and 20 amp 120 volt circuit cables are the same wire gauge as the insulated wires. As long as the older ground wire has not been damaged and may be tested or verified as functional then the older ground wire may be attached to the new replacement outlets that have a ground terminal. If the original ground wire is bonded with a ground screw to a single metal outlet box then you may install an additional grounding screw with a new ground wire to attach to the outlet, or fasten the original ground wire directly to the new replacement outlet. Make sure the new receptacle outlets are the same voltage and amperage as the original outlets and the circuit rating.

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