Timeline for Why AC socket polarity is important?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
9 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Jul 21, 2015 at 23:37 | vote | accept | Sparkler | ||
| Jul 21, 2015 at 23:29 | comment | added | Spehro 'speff' Pefhany | @Sparkler Yeah, I guess there's a historical factor at work. They were not originally polarized but were 'always' hot and neutral. In the UK in construction sites I understand they use 110V centre-tapped so either line voltage wrt ground is 55VAC. Much safer. | |
| Jul 21, 2015 at 22:30 | comment | added | Sparkler | I still don't understand: if the "neutral" is close to ground, then the user still has 50% for an electric shock if they "happen" to touch the hot... So why bother in the first place? | |
| Jul 21, 2015 at 19:18 | history | edited | Spehro 'speff' Pefhany | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Jul 21, 2015 at 19:18 | comment | added | Asmyldof | Or, as is my experience with some "common folk" in stead of tin snips/pliers/dremel just idiotically huge brute force. :-) Further I can only tell you that in zhe Eurrops, the assumption is always made that everything will always be wired badly (except for ground?) and thus no polarity tricks and always Dual Pole switches, unless there's reinforced insulation. | |
| Jul 21, 2015 at 19:16 | comment | added | Spehro 'speff' Pefhany | @kabZX Good point. It used to be verboten to open up the neutral however they seem to have relaxed that rule (at least when an earth is present) to accommodate international approvals- many computer power switches open both sides, for example. Maybe someone knows the UL/CSA history. | |
| Jul 21, 2015 at 19:13 | history | edited | Spehro 'speff' Pefhany | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Jul 21, 2015 at 19:12 | comment | added | kabZX | Also when the equipment has a spst power switch, it should end up opening the live/hot wire and not the neutral one. | |
| Jul 21, 2015 at 19:08 | history | answered | Spehro 'speff' Pefhany | CC BY-SA 3.0 |