10 Fundamentals About DFW Electrician You Didn't Learn in School
A short-term option could cost you more than you believe From time to time, all of us ask ourselves big deal questions: Why are we here? Is there life on other worlds? Which came initially-- the chicken or the egg? And why the heck do some, but not all, of my electrical cords have three prongs instead of simply 2? OK, OK ... possibly that's not one of your "big deal" questions, but we're guessing it's crossed your mind at least as soon as-- specifically when your plug has 3 prongs and your extension cable has only two areas. (That's so aggravating!) So let's unpack this mystery. Why the 3rd prong?
The 3rd prong on an electrical cable is the ground prong. Because lots of cords have only 2, it might not seem awfully important-- but it's a crucial security function that could save your life. Literally. So, in response to this post's title: No. It is not safe to cut the ground prong. Ever.
Here's why: A ground prong produces an emergency path for electricity to travel through if a short circuit or fault occurs within the device. All home appliances with plugs have other electrical parts, like wires. If among these wires breaks or ends up being dislodged, the electrical present won't stream properly though the gadget. At best, this ruins your device. At worst, the misdirected current might offer a nasty and possibly lethal shock. The third prong premises the gadget to prevent this issue. If there's something incorrect with your device, the grounding prong produces a new, low-resistance path to the primary electrical panel. This trips the breaker, stopping the electrical current and avoiding damage to your device, a house fire, or an electrical shock.
Ok, so why do some of my appliances have just 2 prongs? Some electronic devices are built to avoid an electrical overload without a ground prong. An appliance may have an internal voltage adapter so it will never ever put out a deadly voltage, even in the event of a fault. Other devices have plastic cases or other insulation to protect the gadget and prevent brief circuiting. Protecting doesn't protect versus water, however. Devices or appliances for outside or wet-area usage must have a ground prong to prevent electrocution. Gadgets with metal housing-- metal you 'd touch when handling the device-- will likewise have the third ground prong to prevent electrical shocks. Simply make sure: Can I get rid of the ground prong? Absolutely not. Once again, the ground plug provides an alternative path for electrical energy to stream if there's an issue or fault. If you eliminate that 3rd prong, you eliminate the precaution. Sure-- most of the time, the third prong does not matter at all. Your device is in good condition and is working completely. But when there is a concern, it can end up being life or death. So, no. Don't eliminate that ground prong! OK, fine. However my outlet only has follow this link 2 prongs. What now?
A lot of people make the mistake of cutting the ground prong so their device will be compatible with a two-prong outlet. Another-- more secure-- service is to use an adapter.
A three-prong adapter is likewise called a cheater plug. You've seen them before-- one side of the adapter belongs to insert your three-prong cord and on the other side there are 2 prongs that plug into your outlet. What you probably haven't observed is the little metal tab that stands out on the top.
Most individuals disregard the little tab. They just plug the appliance into the adapter, then the adapter into the outlet. While this is generally more secure than eliminating the ground prong all together, it still does not ground the device properly. That little tab assists to make the ground connection to the outlet, replacing the grounding work that the 3rd prong would do. To securely use an adapter, you need to follow these steps: