MadSci Network: Engineering
Query:

Subject: CAN A GROUND PRONG BE SAFELY ATTACHED TO THE NEUTRAL LINE IN AN OUTLET?

Date: Wed Nov 14 18:27:03 2007
Posted by John
Grade level: nonaligned School: No school entered.
City: kansas City State/Province: MO Country: United States
Area of science: Engineering
ID: 1195090023.Eg
Message:

I was replacing a 3 prong electric outlet and discovered that it has had the ground contact wired 
directly to the neutral line, instead of having a separate ground wire attached. Is that a safe 
arrangement, or must I replace the outlet with a 2 prong (no ground) outlet? It would really be useful to 
have a 3 prong outlet there, but I want to be safe. I know that the ground wire and neutral wire both go 
to the same ground bar in the breaker box, but I don't know if it is safe to connect them above that 
level.

 I submitted this question yesterday, and today I found:

“1195007409.eg: No contact email for notifying or requesting further information concerning
No email address entered for notification. We were unable to contact you either with information of 
where to find an answer on our site, or to ask you to clarify further specifics.”

I know I submitted my email address yesterday, but I am trying again.


Re: CAN A GROUND PRONG BE SAFELY ATTACHED TO THE NEUTRAL LINE IN AN OUTLET?

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