question

[jetb123]

Hey guys,


  I just moved into A kinda old house that doesnt have a 3 hole socket for my computer. I was wondering will it affect my computer if I bent the 3rd pin. To the power cable. So it will fit or shall I have to buy a converter If there is any. Getting my computer in less than a week just wanna know if it will operate.

[zmeg]

A replacement receptical cost about 97 cents and is very easy to install, but breaking off your ground prong wont hurt anything.

[GunnerCAF]

I was wondering will it affect my computer if I bent the 3rd pin.

Not using the ground prong is not  a good thing.  Your PC will work, but I would not recommend it.  

The ground pin is mostly for personal safety.  If you have a metal case, and a hot wire makes contact to the case, it could kill you.  Your surge suppression will work best if it is well grounded.  

At minimum, find a converter from a 2 prong to 3 prong.  It will have a connector that connects to the screw on the plate.  Some times the old wiring is in metal shielding and you may get a ground through this.

The best thing is to have a grounded outlet installed for your PC.

Gunner

[Skuzzy]

Switching power supplies need grounding to work properly.  They will work without grounding, but the power they deliver will be noisier which can cause some nasty side effects.
Random lockups and shortened component life are the two major side effects.

[jetb123]

ME and dad making 3 prong holes. in ym room for computer. I will take no chances throwing away a computer or my life.

[Ohio330]

hum..im assuming your not just replacing a two hole plug for a three hole plug without actually grounding that third hole properly.

[JB73]

Originally posted by Ohio330
hum..im assuming your not just replacing a two hole plug for a three hole plug without actually grounding that third hole properly.

as long as it is a metal box, and there are no plastic boxes in the line of that circut all modern outlets are designed to eb grounded by default with the screws mounting it to the metal recipticle box.

[CYLONN]

Go to Home Despot, err Depot, and buy an outlet tester to see if the outlet is grounded first.  If it is, then you can use an adapter safely. If it is not a grounded outlet, then an adapter won't do anything for you except make it easier to fry you or your computer.  They're cheap and accurate.  I also live in an old house with this problem and let me guess, you only have one outlet in each room! To my suprise, the 2-pronged outlet in my computer room was grounded.