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 Message Boards » » how likely that i'm going to burn down my house? Page [1]  
quagmire02
All American
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got a new range for the kitchen...house was built in the 60's, so the line is 3-wire, not 4...it was also connected to my old range via caps, not a plug...i put in a new box and plug, got a 3-wire plug for the range...flipped the switch and everything's a go (no sparks or fires so far)...so how likely is it that i'm going to come home a week from now and find a smoldering pile where my house used to be?

seriously, i worry about this

3/5/2010 3:23:05 PM

Skwinkle
burritotomyface
19447 Posts
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I have no idea, but that's the kind of thing I would really not want to chance ...

3/5/2010 3:25:56 PM

LaserSoup
All American
5503 Posts
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I have no idea, but that's the kind of thing I would really not want to chance ...

3/5/2010 3:27:48 PM

quagmire02
All American
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ever since my computer exploded with sparks and a *pow* and all, i'm scared of electricity...not enough to pay an electrician, though

message_topic.aspx?topic=585459

3/5/2010 3:28:03 PM

NeuseRvrRat
hello Mr. NSA!
35386 Posts
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it'll be fine

3/5/2010 3:30:12 PM

Supplanter
supple anteater
21831 Posts
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http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~ssanty/cgi-bin/eightball.cgi

Let us know the result

[Edited on March 5, 2010 at 3:30 PM. Reason : .]

3/5/2010 3:30:22 PM

Slave Famous
Become Wrath
34079 Posts
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I hope at least your computer burns, because I don't particularly care for you

3/5/2010 3:30:34 PM

Arab13
Art Vandelay
45181 Posts
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you should be ok, assuming the gauges of the wire feeding the range and what the range will try to pull aren't horribly mis-matched......................

3/5/2010 3:35:54 PM

quagmire02
All American
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if there WERE a problem, it would likely trip the breaker before setting the kitchen ablaze, yes?

3/5/2010 3:37:26 PM

H8R
wear sumthin tight
60155 Posts
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You would hope so...

3/5/2010 3:38:00 PM

quagmire02
All American
44225 Posts
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i do, in fact, hope so

3/5/2010 3:38:19 PM

Førte
All American
23525 Posts
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Question: Is the 8 ball a nigger?


"Absolutely!"

3/5/2010 3:40:01 PM

wwwebsurfer
All American
10217 Posts
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"Do you even work?"

"Negative"

3/5/2010 3:46:21 PM

parsonsb
All American
13206 Posts
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you're old range was connected using capacitors? or do you mean wire nuts?

3/5/2010 6:54:13 PM

vinylbandit
All American
48079 Posts
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WATCH OUT

YOU MIGHT GET WHAT YOU'RE AFTER

3/5/2010 7:03:03 PM

quagmire02
All American
44225 Posts
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^^ wire nuts

just to let you all know...SO FAR, SO GOOD

3/6/2010 11:55:15 AM

saps852
New Recruit
80068 Posts
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lol @ slave famous

3/6/2010 12:09:29 PM

moron
All American
34901 Posts
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It depends which one you didn’t connect…

if the ground is fine, it should still work, just maybe not heat as fast i’d guess (PURELY A GUESS)

3/6/2010 12:15:22 PM

quagmire02
All American
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^ all of the wires are connected...the house is 3-wire (the hot red and black, and the neutral white)...the range has those three plus the ground...since the 3-wire pigtail doesn't account for the ground, i cut some 8-gauge wire and crimped ring terminals on the end...one end is screwed into the range chassis and the other end is tied in with the white

my understanding is that the new standard (the green ground wire) is simply just a backup to the white, so it's not a big deal unless your white comes unattached (in which case your range is electrified, yes?)

3/6/2010 12:27:32 PM

ThePeter
TWW CHAMPION
37709 Posts
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When I installed ranges working for Lowe's, we'd come across older houses with 3 plug outlets all the time, despite the range having 4 connections. Its pretty common, the green connection just doesn't get used.

3/6/2010 12:34:20 PM

eleusis
All American
24527 Posts
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Quote :
"if there WERE a problem, it would likely trip the breaker before setting the kitchen ablaze, yes?"


if a fault occurs between a difference in potential between the white and the house or you, the breaker won't see the load and will never trip. A lightning strike to the house could cause this, or a bad connection somewhere on the white wire between the appliance and the panel. A really bad ground on the utility side could cause it as well.

Old houses with copper wires that have been connected with aluminum connectors can corrode over time and cause bad return paths on the white wire. This can cause a potential difference between the appliance and the rest of the house and be a fire hazard or a shock hazard to you. This would be my biggest concern with not having the ground wire. There are a lot of what-ifs that have to happen for the lack of the ground wire to be a problem, but having a ground wire return path to the breaker panel does provide you with some additional safety.

3/6/2010 12:53:36 PM

ThePeter
TWW CHAMPION
37709 Posts
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Mr College breakin it down with some knowledge

3/6/2010 12:57:38 PM

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