by Francis Jock

Created on: April 07, 2009

One item that should be high on your home repair list is upgrading all of the two-prong outlets in your older home. Naturally, anything equipped with a three-prong plug will work just fine if you insert a three-prong adapter into the two-prong outlet, but these are unsightly and are prone to sag under the weight of the power cord. It's much easier to just replace the old two-prong outlet with a new three-prong outlet. Here's how to proceed.

First a word about electrical safety.

Always treat electricity with respect. A 110-volt jolt can be nasty and even fatal under certain circumstances.

Never work on any electrical circuit under any circumstances when water or dampness is present. If a circuit must be repaired under these conditions, call a licensed electrician.

Always be sure to turn off the electricity at the circuit breaker or fuse box and then double check the outlet for the presence of stray voltage.

Upgrading a two-pronged outlet isn't a difficult task and can be accomplished by anyone with a basic understanding of household wiring. Naturally, you will need a few tools, so let's take a look at what you will need.

Inside the Electrician's Tool Box.

To accomplish this task, you will need:

A straight slot screw driver

A pair of needle-nosed pliers

A wire stripper

An electrical circuit tester.

Electrical circuit testers are used to test the outlet for the presence of electricity. These devices can be a two-prong plug in device that lights up when a probe is inserted into the outlet. Some electricians use multi-meters or electronic induction testers to perform this task. An electronic induction tester doesn't require inserting a probe into the outlet, as it sounds an distinctive chirping sound whenever the plastic tip is positioned near anything that is "hot", or carrying household voltage.

If these devices are not available to you, you can substitute a lamp or a radio to perform the same test, although they will not provide an indication if any stray voltage is present at the outlet. This sometimes happens if the two-prong outlet is incorrectly wired or there is an wiring problem elsewhere in the home. Troubleshooting the reason for the presence of stray voltages can be a difficult task and should be left to a professional if at all possible.

Steps for upgrading a two-prong outlet.

Once you are satisfied that the electricity is properly turned off, the two-prong outlet can be considered safe to remove and replace with a three-prong outlet. Here's how to proceed:

Step 1.

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