Most of the outlets in my older house have been upgraded to grounded three-prong receptacles, but the outlet in my bedroom is still an ungrounded two-prong receptacle. I want to plug in a computer or game console and am wondering whether a two-prong surge protector, adapter, or similar setup would provide any meaningful protection. Would installing a GFCI receptacle be enough, or should I have an electrician run a properly grounded circuit to the room? There are grounded and GFCI outlets on the other side of the wall.
2 Answers
There is not really a special two-prong surge protector that solves this issue. An adapter or extension cord can let you plug in the equipment, but it does not add a ground, so the surge-protection portion may not work properly. Since there are grounded receptacles nearby, have an electrician inspect the wiring before assuming the other side of the wall can simply be connected. The existing box, cable, and circuit all need to be suitable, and the breaker should be turned off and the wiring verified before any work.
A typical surge protector depends on a proper equipment ground to divert surge energy, so using one on an ungrounded two-prong outlet will not provide the protection you expect. A GFCI can improve shock protection and may be allowed as a replacement where rewiring is difficult, but it does not create a ground. It would need to be labeled as having no equipment ground, and your computer or console would still be ungrounded. The best solution is having an electrician install a properly grounded circuit or verify whether the nearby grounded outlet can be extended correctly.
That helps. I was considering replacing the two-prong receptacle with a GFCI, but it sounds like running a real grounded line would be the better option if it can be done safely.