Can you just replace a 2 wire outlet with a 3 wire? My dau bought an old house that has 2 wire outlets and does not have the money to replace all the wire with 3 wires. We just want to replace the 2 wire outlet with 3 wire and only use 2 wires to do this.

The house is probably wired with BX/shielded cable.

U can update to the outlets that have a ground screw(green in color).

When changing outlet, run black wire to brass screw-white wire to silver screw-jumper wire from green screw to metal of box.

Good luck

Chuck

No, you cannot just replace 2 wire outlets with 3 wire outlets and not be grounded.

Before assuming the metal boxes are grounded because there may be BX cable, should test and confirm this. Using a voltage tester, test across the live line and the metal box. If you see 120 volts, then the box is grounded, and three wire receptacles can be installed.

If not, the only method will be to install GFI devices. This can be a GFI circuit breaker, which will protect the entire circuit and all outlets on that circuit.

Or a GFI receptacle can be installed at the beginning of a circuit, and protect all outlets downstream on that circuit.

If either of these methods are done, then any two wire outlet can be changed out to a three wire outlet, AND have have a label on each 3 wire outlet stating "No Equipment Ground".

Using GFI devices, while allowed by code, DOES NOT create an equipment ground.

Certain devices, such as surge protectors, will only work properly when grounded. Using 3 wire outlets protected by GFI devices will not give the ground that is needed.

Only is allowed as the GFI device will protect people from ground faults.