Should I Use a Three-Prong Adapter or Upgrade My Outlet?
In many older homes, it’s not uncommon to come across two-slot outlets. These outlets can make it impossible to run many modern-day appliances that require three prongs. As a homeowner, you have two options. These are to utilize an adapter or upgrade your outlet to a three-prong outlet. Understanding Safe Amp Draw One of your biggest concerns should be understanding the amount of amperage that a potential device may pull from your outlet. Many older homes have a 100-amp circuit. These are typically too small to handle the amperage draws that are necessary to run today’s bigger appliances like refrigerators, dryers, and electric stoves. Before you utilize an adapter to plug in an appliance, you should go check the circuit to see how many amps it has. Most modern appliances will need a 20-amp circuit to be run safely. If you use an adapter and do not have enough amperage on the circuit to power what you plug into it, it can lead to overheating and a fire hazard in your home. You can identify the amount of amperage a specific circuit has by looking at the number present on the circuit breaker or by calling a professional electrician to...
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