From: "James Sweet" 
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.repair misc.consumers.house sci.electronics.misc alt.home.repair
Subject: Re: Plug Wiring Reversed?
Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2004 02:18:13 GMT


"Sam Goldwasser"  wrote in message
news:6wvfeqqos6.fsf@saul.cis.upenn.edu...
> "James Sweet"  writes:
>
> > "D. Gerasimatos"  wrote in message
> > news:chjdko$6ms$1@agate.berkeley.edu...
> > > In article <0H2%c.5096$5Y6.1028@trnddc07>,
> > > James Sweet  wrote:
> > > >
> > > >Yes you can buy 2 wire outlets and no it's *NOT* legal to install 3
wire
> > > >outlets on a non-grounded circuit.
>
> > > As someone else said, it is legal if they are GFCI outlets.
>
> > But how many of those installed in the real world are on GFCI? I've lost
> > count the number of times I've seen someone install 3 wire receptacles
in
> > non grounded houses, a lot of times the houses don't even have a GFCI at
> > all. Certainly adviseable to add, though not everything will work right
on
> > them. I've seen a lot of computers and a few microwave ovens that would
trip
> > them regularly.
>
> Part of the problem is that it's not that easy to find 2 wire outlets at
> your local hardware store.  Our local large chain hardware store probably
> has 16 varieties of duplex outlets, all 3 prong, and no 2 prong types.
>
>

Home Depot stocks 2 wire outlets in both almond and brown, saw them there
just the other day.