Originally Posted By: David Suelflow
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Does anyone have a quick and easy way to test 2 prong outlets?
Does anyone have a quick and easy way to test 2 prong outlets?
Originally Posted By: jpeck
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Voltage detector. Tic Tracer, Voltage Sniffer, etc.
Depending on which one you use. some will allow you to get close enough to even check polarity on the two wire ones with the polarized slots.
On the ones which are not polarized, just check for power.
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Jerry Peck
South Florida
Originally Posted By: jtedesco
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–
Joe Tedesco, NEC Consultant
www.nachi.org/tedescobook.htm
Originally Posted By: Mike Parks
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David
Do not check the old two prong outlets. Just note that they are present.
Too much liablity with testing them.
Mike P.
Originally Posted By: jpeck
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| Mike Parks wrote: |
| David
Do not check the old two prong outlets. Just note that they are present. Too much liablity with testing them. Mike P. |
Mike,
Please explain. Don't test them in what way for what reasons?
It is, of course, best to just tell them that these should be replaced with new receptacles because old receptacles get old and wear out. That the new receptacles will be the grounded type with not ground (most likely no ground) and that they will need to be GFCI protected. And that many old two wire wiring systems are in need of replacement.
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Jerry Peck
South Florida
Originally Posted By: dbozek
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At the very least, a 39 cent 3 prong pug adapter with a outlet tester connected to it will tell you if the polarity is at least right.
Tick tracers tend to pick up small voltages present at neutrals on k and t wiring, thus giving you a false reading as to which wire is actually "hot".
In regards to "not" testing the things at all......that sounds like the lazy way out to me. Seems like there would be more liability in "not" testing them, rather in leaving them alone.
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You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln
Originally Posted By: jpeck
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| dbozek wrote: |
| At the very least, a 39 cent 3 prong pug adapter with a outlet tester connected to it will tell you if the polarity is at least right. |
Dennis,
You did note that I separated out the polarized and non-polarized receptacles, right? With the older non-polarized receptacles, that would not do any good, might note even be able to get that larger neutral prong of the adapter into the receptacle.
That's when the tic tracers come in. With mine, I can usually (95% of the time) determine which side is hot and which is not, just by moving my voltage sniffer to the receptacle from either side. The other times (that other 5%), all I can check is 'Yep, power there."
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Jerry Peck
South Florida
Originally Posted By: dbozek
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Jerry
Was just trying to emphasize the point that they should be checked/tested in some way. Ya gotta watch them tick tracers tho, especially with k&t.
Ideal and I'm certain others, makes a probe that has a pin on either end. At one end there is a neon lamp embedded into it. I use this testing device often with k&t. Simply insert one end into the outlet and touch the other end with your finger. If the neon light glows.....you got a hot...if not...tis a neutral.
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You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln
Originally Posted By: jmyers
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Dennis,
What happens if you are grounded when you touch the other end with your finger and you found the hot wire?
Joe Myers
Originally Posted By: jpeck
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Joe,
If Dennis is describing the ones I am thinking about, they have an insulated tab which is inserted into the receptacle, which lites the neon lamp when there is voltage present on that line.
My point with two wire receptacles which are not the polarized type is that *it does not matter which is the hot*. Both slots are identical in size and shape. Is the receptacle upside down or right side up? I.e., should the hot be on the right or the left? Let's see, with a grounding type, and with the ground down, the hot is on the right, with the ground up, the hot is on the left. Now, remove the ground reference point. Should the hot be on the right or the left? Doesn't matter.
Thus, ANY test device which indicates that there is or is not power at those receptacles will tell you the same thing: Yes - there is power, or No, there is not power. Polarity? Doesn't matter. Speaking of the non-polarized two wire receptacles only , not the polarized types.
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Jerry Peck
South Florida
Originally Posted By: dbozek
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Not the same device Jerry. This testing instrument has metal pins on it, much like that of a meter lead. I don’t know if anything would happen to ya if you are grounded when touching the other pin, but then it is not really a good idea to be grounded anytime you are messin with electricity
It is just a quick way to identify a hot instead of reading it with a meter or trying to guess which one it is by using a glow stick.
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You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln
Originally Posted By: jmyers
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Jerry,
I was serious. That would be the same as grabbing the hot wire, correct? Technically speaking, you would get shocked if you were properly grounded and provided a path for the current to flow, right?
I was just curious if Dennis was ever zapped from doing this, meaning do you think this type of testing is a safe manner which to test two prong receptacles. I do agree with his statement that grounding yourself while working on electrical is not a good thing to do, ever.
Unfortunately, I have done just that in a number of times without ever thinking of it. The last time I was working on romex in my own basement, while standing in a rather large puddle of water. Yes, not one of the brightest things that I have ever done and I am lucky I am still here to tell about it.
Joe Myers
Originally Posted By: dbozek
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I tell you what…I dunno the answer to your question Bob…but I will try it to see ok
Haven't been zapped for a while....could use one to keep the ole ticker functioning 
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You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln
Originally Posted By: dbozek
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Umm I mean Joe…guess I better hurry huh
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You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln
Originally Posted By: jmyers
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So you are telling me you could use a jump start!
Joe Myers
Originally Posted By: dbowers
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I have a Tic-Tracer but would not use it for this purpose. I bought it so when I was crawling in wet crawlspaces and saw electrical wires coiled up and laying in a pool of water that I had to cross through - I could quit testing the wires the old fashioned way - by touching them to my tongue, or by wetting your finger-tips and touching the bare wire ends. Boy did that make your hair curl.
The 1st 10 years I did home inspections (before we had electric screwdrivers and outlet testers, etc) was REALLY ROUGH on us. Oh the good old days (????) - that was before A$$I wanted to own the world.
I think most of the guys can check a lot of 2-prong outlets with whatever brand of pocket volt-ohn-hound they have - easier than Tic-Tracer.
Originally Posted By: dbozek
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Sure Joe…but do realize I won’t try it on a 277 circuit…that stuff will make you taste copper.
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You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln
Originally Posted By: jmyers
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Dennis,
I am an avid hand loader and firearm enthusiast, so tasting copper has always been one of my favorite hobbies. 
Joe Myers
Originally Posted By: tallen
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Just take the ground off of a three light tester. Don’t need it to test a non grounded system anyway. Would that work?
–
I have put the past behind me,
where , however, it now sits, making rude remarks.
www.whiteglovehomeinspections.net
30 Oct 2003-- 29 Nov2005
Originally Posted By: Greg Fretwell
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You could just use a 2 to 3 prong adapter but I wouldn’t want to touch the ground tab. If you put the tab under the plate screw it can give you an indication about whether ground is present in the box.