🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1989Jul7.155721.19105@utzoo.uucp>, henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) writes:
> In article <18425@mimsy.UUCP> spector@brillig.umd.edu.UUCP () writes:
> >Question from a novice: My house has "two prong" outlets.  I've been told
> >that the center screw and casing of the outlet boxes is generally grounded,
> >so that I will have a correctly grounded outlet if I attach the wire of a
> >"3 to 2 adapter" to the center screw.  How do I (a vertual electronics
> >know-nothing) check to see if this is working in my case?
> 
> If you are really, seriously concerned about whether it really is grounded,
> you can't assume that the screw is grounded, and in fact you can't assume
> that the third prong in a three-prong outlet is grounded -- electricians
> do get sloppy now and then.
> 
> I'm unable to think of a quick no-equipment test to make sure; perhaps one
> of the higher gurus can.

If I understand what you are asking, any hardware store should have an
AC line tester.  This is not a "no equipment" test, but it doesn't cost
more than a couple of dollars, and 
is a small device about the size of a three prong
plug containing two green and one red neon bulbs.  When you plug it into
a three prong outlet (or your grounded 3-2 adapter), it will show 
several common wiring errors such as reversed hot/neutral, missing ground,
and a few others.  It is probably not 100%, but it gives you a better
feeling.  I found several outlets in my house with hot/neutral reversed.

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-- 
Peter Fales			AT&T, Room 5B-420
				2000 N. Naperville Rd.
UUCP:	...att!ihlpb!psfales	Naperville, IL 60566
Domain: psfales@ihlpb.att.com	work:	(312) 979-8031