I found a ground on one of my electrical outlets by I have a question. (1 Viewer)

I recently moved my home theater into the living room but I had a small problem. None of the outlets in the living room nor in the dinning room had 3 prong outlets. Only the bedrooms have them so I tried the closest room and none of them have a ground because the wire fault light would turn on on my powerstrip. I than tried my old room and I found one with a ground but its far so I would have to run a extension cord. Now if I run a heavy duty 14 gauge extension cable to the powerstrip would the powerstrip still do its job as far protecting my equipment from power surges and other harm? The fault wire light stays off. Two will everything still get enough power having to run an extention cord instead of plugging it straight to an outlet? I'm thinking a heaving duty extension cable and a Monster Bar Powerstrip should do fine but I don't know much about this kind of stuff. Thanks guys.

I think we did this one about a month ago, but anyway.

The cable should be ok, but if it is strained then it will get warm, so just feel it every now and than.

For short term, the screw in the middle of the wall socket plate shold be grounded, and they have those little adapters with a flat spade lug that you put under the screw, so you could try that out.

Of course, the wall socekts should be replaced, and someone that knows what they are doing (hint: qualified electrician) can find out if there is a ground connection running back to your electrical panel, be it a 3rd wire or flex.

Glenn

If you're going to rely only on a point-of-use protector, and I use the term loosely, then go out and get yourself one with the most amount of joules. You'll find the Stratitec, available at Sam's Club or online at www.directron.com in the vicinity of $20.
Myself, I'd keep the distances as short as possible and try to find a closer ground. If you don't have a ground you don't have any protection.