Not Grounded -- What will happen? Does anyone know what will happen if I use a surge protector to plug in a floor lamp, a laptop, a phone (& maybe a printer) in a wall socket that's not grounded? Will I start a fire? Will I electrify my apartment? There's only 1 grounded socket in my apt, & it's for the AC in another room. Thanks, Arlene Not Grounded -- What will happen? Does anyone know what will happen if I use a surge protector to plug in a floor lamp, a laptop, a phone (& maybe a printer) in a wall socket that's not... » Read More Not Grounded -- What will happen? Does anyone know what will happen if I use a surge protector to plug in a floor lamp, a laptop, a phone (& maybe a printer) in a wall socket that's not grounded? Will I start a fire? Will I electrify my apartment? There's only 1 grounded socket in my apt, & it's for the AC in another room. Thanks, Arlene « Show Less
798051
in electronics, when a live wire comes loose it can electrify the entire casing. the ground plug for electronics help ground the casing so that it causes a short protecting anyone that touches the case.it could be fairly deadly/dangerous depending on the equipment and power draw, but most of the time it should be fine. I would definitely worry about using ungrounded plugs if you have pets or small children.
798052
Try touching your refrigerator at the same time you are touching your faucet - use the back of your fingers so the fingers will contract AWAY from the device when you get shocked.It would be interesting to see inside the wall outlets to learn whether the WIRING is 3-wire and just not connected to the grounding screw of the receptacle.Ungrounded - you can check with a tester such as UL -U-ground Outlet Wiring Tester (110 Volt) the 'surge protector' will NOT protect. It will still function as a glorified multi-tap device. Try touching your refrigerator at the same time you are touching your faucet - use the back of your fingers so the fingers will contract AWAY from the device when you get shocked.It would be interesting to see inside the wall outlets to learn whether the WIRING is 3-wire and just not connected to the grounding screw of the receptacle.Ungrounded - you can check with a tester such as UL -U-ground Outlet Wiring Tester (110 Volt) the 'surge protector' will NOT protect. It will still function as a glorified multi-tap... » Read More Try touching your refrigerator at the same time you are touching your faucet - use the back of your fingers so the fingers will contract AWAY from the device when you get shocked.It would be interesting to see inside the wall outlets to learn whether the WIRING is 3-wire and just not connected to the grounding screw of the receptacle.Ungrounded - you can check with a tester such as UL -U-ground Outlet Wiring Tester (110 Volt) the 'surge protector' will NOT protect. It will still function as a glorified multi-tap device. « Show Less
798053
If you have a ground fault indicator on your surge protector, than the surge protector offers no real surge protection. The ground wire from the wall outlet serves to pass current into the frame of the house, as opposed to the electronic device. I learned this the hard way, because my apartment didn't have a ground wire on the plugs. A power surge fried my router and battery backup, and upon reading the fine print, I learned that this is necessary for any surge protector to work properly. So, I got a 8 gauge wire, and hooked it directly from the new GFCI wall outlet ground to the box in the wall. The metal from the box will ground out, so long as you securely attach the wire using a bolt or screw. If you have a ground fault indicator on your surge protector, than the surge protector offers no real surge protection. The ground wire from the wall outlet serves to pass current into the frame of the house, as opposed to the electronic device. I learned this the hard way, because my apartment didn't have a ground wire on the plugs. A power surge fried my router and battery backup, and upon reading the fine print, I learned that this is necessary for any surge protector to work properly. So, I got a 8 gauge wire, and hooked it directly from the new GFCI wall outlet ground to the box in the... » Read More If you have a ground fault indicator on your surge protector, than the surge protector offers no real surge protection. The ground wire from the wall outlet serves to pass current into the frame of the house, as opposed to the electronic device. I learned this the hard way, because my apartment didn't have a ground wire on the plugs. A power surge fried my router and battery backup, and upon reading the fine print, I learned that this is necessary for any surge protector to work properly. So, I got a 8 gauge wire, and hooked it directly from the new GFCI wall outlet ground to the box in the wall. The metal from the box will ground out, so long as you securely attach the wire using a bolt or screw. « Show Less
798054
pen and paper-Never, never, never plug a three-pronged device into a two-pronged socket. How do you know that your wall socket is not grounded in the first place?Jim
798055
Well, update, my sockets are 'grounded'; that is, they have 3 holes, 1 round. But the red light indicator on my Belkin is lit & says not grounded.So, I don't know. I'm using it, & will ask my building manager if it's really grounded or not.
798056
Nothing will happen; it will work fine. But IF one of the AC wires shorts to a metal part and IF that metal part is exposed and IF you touch it and IF you are also touching some other piece of grounded metal at the same time you'll get shocked.
798057
according to the nec , if you have an existing 2 prong, 2 wire outlet, you must change to a gfci receptacle, you can install in the first receptacle from the panel and wired correctly will upgrade the rest of the outlets on that circuit.
1330473
I have been fortunate enough not to have the surge protector do it's intended job. I just looked at the unit and noticed that it does not have a reset, test like a ground fault circuit interrupter. I have a hunch that if the alarm is triggered un-plugging and re-plugging the unit will reset it. The device is cheap enough to protect your expensive appliances, I would have no problem buying another one if there was a problem with the actual device.Hope this helps.JerryO
81023
Because it is in your attic, it doesn't need to be grounded. There will be something higher - the roof and chimney - that lightning will hit first.
1371282
A current surge CAN but may not always burn out this device. As a bulb burns out it CAN create a current surge. As many who have responded to other questions have pointed out, to protect the device remove the incandescent bulb BEFORE it burns out and put it in another lamp to live out its natural life and install a new bulb. Or if that is difficult due to the location put an LED bulb in which ought to last a long long time. I put one of these devices in a bulb socket on the ceiling of my unheated garage in 1997 and with the simple precaution of changing out the bulb every year it is has switched a 100 watt bulb on and off in all light conditions and temperatures ever since. A current surge CAN but may not always burn out this device. As a bulb burns out it CAN create a current surge. As many who have responded to other questions have pointed out, to protect the device remove the incandescent bulb BEFORE it burns out and put it in another lamp to live out its natural life and install a new bulb. Or if that is difficult due to the location put an LED bulb in which ought to last a long long time. I put one of these devices in a bulb socket on the ceiling of my unheated garage in 1997 and with the simple precaution of changing out the bulb every year it is has... » Read More A current surge CAN but may not always burn out this device. As a bulb burns out it CAN create a current surge. As many who have responded to other questions have pointed out, to protect the device remove the incandescent bulb BEFORE it burns out and put it in another lamp to live out its natural life and install a new bulb. Or if that is difficult due to the location put an LED bulb in which ought to last a long long time. I put one of these devices in a bulb socket on the ceiling of my unheated garage in 1997 and with the simple precaution of changing out the bulb every year it is has switched a 100 watt bulb on and off in all light conditions and temperatures ever since. « Show Less
1586642
No, do not attempt to ground this pad to an electrical outlet. This is used as anti static pad for repair of electrical items. People don't ground themselves to electrical outlets
1209617
When you switch the unit off the only voltage present in the unit is at the power cord side of the switch. There is no voltage beyond the switch. No voltage, no surge or sag. A direct lightning strike is another matter, though, it can go anywhere it chooses to go.I have worked with these devices for over nineteen years in a large industrial setting; I've never heard of one failing. That's why I buy them for myself.
1017454
Yes, only two prong plugs are accomodated in the lamp control (which is a dimmer outlet). Presumably, they don't want people plugging in appliances/electronics that routinely use grounding plugs (most lamps don't). If you really want to use this with a grounded plug, you can by an adapter (like the AXIS 45086 3-Prong to 2-Prong Electrical Adapter - 2 Pack) which eliminates the 3rd prong, but if you want to truly ground the lamp, you'll need to solder a wire to the adapter's ground lug, then wrap it (or put a lug on other end of wire) to one of the screws that holds the Decora wall plate to the outlet. If you're not going to bother to actually ground the adapter, you could also just cut the ground prong off your lamp plug instead.
759601
I would not recommend this at all. You CAN plug it into a surge strip, but with a high amperage device like a space heater this is a recipe for an electrical fire. You should only plug this directly into the wall outlet and not into anything else that comes between the outlet and heaters cord.
133141
Just make sure you plug into into a ground fault-protected outlet inside (like in your kitchen or bathrooms). Otherwise you may subject yourself to a significant, if not fatal, shock!
465304
It so does protect againt surges. Those people writing negative reviews more than likely did not have a properly grounded outlet. It will not work without a ground! Get a circuit tester at any hardware store for about $5.00 (a lot cheaper at Harbor Frieght) and make sure your circuit is good. Besides the ground test, it will test the polarity on your circuits, and any GCFI's you have. Easy as pie to read ... not so easy to fix if you DON"T know what you are doing. Good luck -jay
1177854
No! Mine almost caught on fire and it melted the power strip and my wall outlet. It says in the manual not to plug it into a power strip, but I didn't see that until it was too late.
2141521
Make sure that you use a power cord rated for 20 Amps. I used a cheap old 15 Amp cord at first and it got hot and flexible. I would recommend a well ground outlet that is rated for 20 Amps, not just a simple 15 Amp lamp socket. You will most likely pop your breaker or could catch fire.
29176
The instructions say to plug in to an outlet only, no extention cords or other devices. I know it will not work with an extention cord because I tried it. Outlets are protected by a circuit breaker. I would not use a surge protector.
679490
I am not too sure I just took this order for relative in taiwan that burnt some outlets and they are replacing with these to protect anything from catching on fire. Only thing I can tell is the one you mentioned might be grounded to a metal box enclosure where as this one probably is just a ground wire. I noticed enclosures are plastic these days and blue from home depot whereas the old enclosures are metal. Don't quote me, I am no electrician. Sorry couldn't help any further than this.
2187595
When the charging is done (100%), the charging signal is still on, it will keep it at full charging. In the manual book, it says it has surge protection. I put five devices on, just regular warm but not heat or burn. Hope this helps, Thank you
1960207
I use it to plug in my computer which is 3 prongs and also my lamps which are two. Normally, I use a grounded strip for the computer which has many places to plug into like for my printer, desk light etc. But when I move my computer to the living room, I use this GE grounded 3 outlet tap and it works great.
1674719
I have mine plugged into a surge protector. Just my two cents. But I cannot see a reason why plugging this device into an extension cord would create any issues (other than ensuring polarity). Hope this helps...