Comments on: Why can’t you connect neutral to ground to convert an outlet from 2-prong to 3-prong? http://mattgadient.com/2006/04/06/why-cant-you-connect-neutral-to-ground-to-convert-an-outlet-from-2-prong-to-3-prong/ Informational blogging by Matthew Gadient. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:38:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jalenhttp://mattgadient.com/2006/04/06/why-cant-you-connect-neutral-to-ground-to-convert-an-outlet-from-2-prong-to-3-prong/#comment-5444 Jalen Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:11:53 +0000 http://mattgadient.com/2006/04/06/why-cant-you-connect-neutral-to-ground-to-convert-an-outlet-from-2-prong-to-3-prong/#comment-5444 Deep thought! Thanks for contribtuing. Deep thought! Thanks for contribtuing.

]]> By: Matt Gadienthttp://mattgadient.com/2006/04/06/why-cant-you-connect-neutral-to-ground-to-convert-an-outlet-from-2-prong-to-3-prong/#comment-5432 Matt Gadient Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:56:02 +0000 http://mattgadient.com/2006/04/06/why-cant-you-connect-neutral-to-ground-to-convert-an-outlet-from-2-prong-to-3-prong/#comment-5432 sky jumper: I'm about 9 months late on the response here (sorry).But no, it doesn't require a fault that shorts the chassis to hot - just the open neutral. A picture would probably have been the easiest way of showing this, but if the ground prong is wired to the neutral prong via a jumper and you get a broken neutral, essentially this is the route the power takes: -"hot" wire -"hot" prong -through device internals -neutral prong -"jumper wire" you put in -ground prong -device-caseThe moment you touch the device-case, your body will complete the circuit if you're grounded. sky jumper: I’m about 9 months late on the response here (sorry).

But no, it doesn’t require a fault that shorts the chassis to hot – just the open neutral. A picture would probably have been the easiest way of showing this, but if the ground prong is wired to the neutral prong via a jumper and you get a broken neutral, essentially this is the route the power takes:
-”hot” wire
-”hot” prong
-through device internals
-neutral prong
-”jumper wire” you put in
-ground prong
-device-case

The moment you touch the device-case, your body will complete the circuit if you’re grounded.

]]> By: sky jumperhttp://mattgadient.com/2006/04/06/why-cant-you-connect-neutral-to-ground-to-convert-an-outlet-from-2-prong-to-3-prong/#comment-3480 sky jumper Thu, 10 Mar 2011 01:28:30 +0000 http://mattgadient.com/2006/04/06/why-cant-you-connect-neutral-to-ground-to-convert-an-outlet-from-2-prong-to-3-prong/#comment-3480 I guess the problem with this explanation (not just yours, but the electrical code as well) is that it requires BOTH a fault in the device that shorts the chassis to AC "hot" AND an open ground/neutral feed for the danger to exist. To me this seems very unlikely. Further, you'd have to assume that whatever caused the neutral to open circuit would not also cause the ground to open - since the wires are all run together I think it's likely that any disruptive event that would open the neutral (e.g. a contractor's recip saw) would also cut through the ground and hot wires. I'll admit that I'm not an electrical inspector or fire investigator that has seen many cases of improper grounds causing problems -- but the logic behind it still escapes me. I guess the problem with this explanation (not just yours, but the electrical code as well) is that it requires BOTH a fault in the device that shorts the chassis to AC “hot” AND an open ground/neutral feed for the danger to exist. To me this seems very unlikely. Further, you’d have to assume that whatever caused the neutral to open circuit would not also cause the ground to open – since the wires are all run together I think it’s likely that any disruptive event that would open the neutral (e.g. a contractor’s recip saw) would also cut through the ground and hot wires. I’ll admit that I’m not an electrical inspector or fire investigator that has seen many cases of improper grounds causing problems — but the logic behind it still escapes me.

]]> By: Steve Gergetzhttp://mattgadient.com/2006/04/06/why-cant-you-connect-neutral-to-ground-to-convert-an-outlet-from-2-prong-to-3-prong/#comment-2366 Steve Gergetz Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:56:58 +0000 http://mattgadient.com/2006/04/06/why-cant-you-connect-neutral-to-ground-to-convert-an-outlet-from-2-prong-to-3-prong/#comment-2366 Matthew,Thanks for a concise and very clear explanation. I've heard it before but couldn't remember the explanation. Your version of it was stated so simply I'm sure it will stick in my head this time.Steve Matthew,

Thanks for a concise and very clear explanation. I’ve heard it before but couldn’t remember the explanation. Your version of it was stated so simply I’m sure it will stick in my head this time.

Steve

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