Is my whole apartment shorting out?

[cbianco]

Hey all,

Let me start with some background. I recently moved into my apartment. They are very old apartment, I belive that they were built in the 1950's or 1960's. I think that the electrical is heavily screwed up! First of all all of the outlet have just two prongs (no third prong). Whenever I flip a switch in the apartment the TV shows static for a second. Actually, as long as I am turning something on in the apartment this happens. So...

Why is this happening? (static)

Is this something I should be worried about?

What effects does/will this have on my fish tank?

Please help! Keep in mind I know nothing about electricity.

Christopher

[carlinsa]

ask alton he would be the best one to know......................

[alton]

History lesson, My grandmothers house was run off of 2 circuits. One light in each room, a plug in the kitchen for the radio and one for the ice box. Most of these old homes or apartments are typically protected by slo-blow fuses. Which means whatever you do you can not get them to blow. The only thing you can do is to re-wire the entire project and bring it up to code. Of course this is not not going to happen, so lets see what we can do to help keep it at least a little safe. Get with your land lord and find out if they are using breakers or fuses for circuit protection? How many circuits does your apartment have? Is this light you are talking about fluorescent or incandescent? If you share a circuit with fluorescent lighting 9 out of 10 times you will get interference due to the non-linear load. With a 24 gal. nano I don't think you can be overloading the exisitng system. You can buy portable GFCI units for protection. When we did some demo a few years ago in a local large mall, we found even though the receptacles where of the grounding type there was no grounding wire, so your not alone. Christopher if you can wait a couple of weeks, I would gladly come by and look at your problem. If you feel uncomfortable until then, I would call an electrician or at least let your land lord know you are concerned.

[cbianco]

Alton

Unless I am mistaking, I have a circut breaker in my bedroom closet (the kind that flip a switch, then can be reset). What do you mean by "circuits"? If you mean electical outlets then I have 9 regular outlets and two of the larger ones (one for the AC and one for the fridge). The outlets do not have the hole for the third prong, only two holes. There are ceiling lights in every room but none of them are florescent (all incendescent [sp]).

I have been in here since August but did not think to ask MAAST members about this problem. I recently became concerned when I realized that, among otherthings, my computer and my fishtank were not grounded.

I sincerely appreciate any help that you can provide to me!

Christopher

[alton]

Today that is against code but at least you have a breaker panel. "Circuits" How many wires you have leaving the panel feeding plugs or equipment. 2005 National Electric Code #406.3 (D) 3 b & c States that you can replace a non-grounding type receptacle with a GFCI receptacle if you clearly mark the receptacle (No Equipment Ground). At least this would be better than what you have?