[Jewelry making - Article 00316] - Re: [Orchid] Electrical question

[Ron Charlotte]

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>         Regarding polarity: It is my understanding that plugs are
>     polarized (one prong wider than the other) to protect electronic
>     components from power spikes, and it has nothing to do with
>     grounding the appliance. True or false? 

    It's a bit more complicated than that.  In most modern US
    residential and light commercial wiring, the neutral and ground are
    actually bonded together at the breaker panel, and a lot of plastic
    cased appliances and tools take advantage of that fact to avoid the
    need for a ground conductor.  The wider blade is neutral, and the
    narrow is hot. 

    The polarization is a good thing for a lot of technical reasons. 
    Improperly wired outlets and appliance cords can result in some
    pretty bizarre phenomenon (I've seen a dishwasher that would run by
    itself because of a hot/neutral reverse.  The voltage bypassed the
    motor controls and ran back thru the motor, completing the circuit
    via the ground wire.).  A single reversed outlet in the middle of a
    string of correctly wired ones can have some pretty funky effects on
    the other outlets as well. 

    (I'm a jewelry hobbyist, and a 20+ year electrical worker) 

Ron Charlotte -- Gainesville, FL
ronch2 AT bellsouth.net OR afn03234 AT afn.org


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