why is there 3 holes in an electrical outlet?
i mean what is the grounded for?
can i light a bulb using the live and there ground? is that
the same as using the live and the other one(not the ground)?
2006-09-22 14:11:01 · 6 answers · asked by katie_cali_27 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
The ground wire does not usually carry current. It is a safety device so that if there is a short circuit, that is, if the electric current excapes the wires it is supposed to flow through, it will follow the ground wire into the ground, instead of going into your body.
2006-09-22 14:18:27 · answer #1 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
why is there 3 holes in an electrical outlet?
The electrical device within your homes has three different types of pathway (holes) for providing power. Each pathway has a special purpose.
The first pathway is the supply side which is like a garden hose that provides water and the second pathway is the drain that provides a return pathway to the power source, the third pathway is used by the equipment manufacturer to provide an extra margin of safety and drainage.
What is the ground for?
Only two pathways are required for most devices to operate and drain, but sometimes not all the water flow down the return drain. If this third drain was not provided it would flow thru the person touching the equipment.
Can I light a bulb using the live and ground?
The same as using the live and the other one(not the ground)?
Yes, the light would work using either drain, because it does not care which return path it uses.
2006-09-22 23:09:31 · answer #2 · answered by 2-point-answer 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
P (phase) it carrying positive current, you mentioned it Live
N (Neutral) it does carry current unless a device is attached and the circuit is completed, you mentioned it not the ground
E (earth) This is the same you said grounded. This is connected with earth
Some electric machines (not the all) do carry a three-pin shoe, The wire meant to fix into E point is attached with the body of the machine. It is safety measure - if casually current leaks or flows to the body of the machine, this is directed to ground rather than causing any other harm.
Ya, you can light a bulb via P and E provided that E is properly connected with earth.
2006-09-22 21:28:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
One is for the Live Phase. Another s for the return current and is called Neutral and the third is as you saud for "Earth".
The Earth pin is for your safety. It is supposed to be connected internally to the metal body of your equipment. If by chance the live phase wire touches the body, the earth coducts the electrical energy away. This usually trips the circuit breaker or blows the fuse as a protective measure.
Practically you could use the "Earth" as a return part if the earth wiring is done well. However, as it is only supposed to be used as a protective path, you are advised not to do that.
As a bulb realy has only two connection points. Please use the Live terminal in your socket and the Neutral and avoid using the Earth.
2006-09-23 00:43:02 · answer #4 · answered by Rustom T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The older houses had 2 prongs, we now have three. There are 2 wires running from the pole to your house. These both carry 110 volts in respect to Earth/ground. They are 180 degrees out of phase with each other. When one is positive 110 volts, the other is negative 110 volts (hence 220 volt power.) Your service panel (fuse box) has both wires coming into it. In modern switch boxes they are alternate, so you have 220 between two side by side wires. Even AC has polarity. That is why one side of outlet is larger than the other. The devices that require this polarity use the chassis as a ground and if plugged in backwards will not work properly. (easy explanation). The color code of house hold wiring is red, black, white and green/bare. Red and black are signified as HOT wires and are connected directly to one of the two wires coming in from the street. The white wires are all connected to a NEUTRAL BUSS BAR in the service panel. This in turn is connected to ground. Switches are always in the black or red wires. The Neutral and ground wires are electrically the same point in the service panel. Yes you can get a 110 volt reading between the red/black and bare/green but remember that electricity follows least resistance so you would then electrify your grounding system. Red to white 110 volts, black to white 110 volts, red to green/bare 110 volts, black to green/bare 110 volts. White to bare/green zero volts.Red to black 220 volts. The third prong or grounding prong, is essential to GFI circuits in the bathroom and surge protectors. Surge protectors and the safety outlets in bathrooms cannot work with out the ground connected.
2006-09-22 23:29:44 · answer #5 · answered by orion_1812@yahoo.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "other one" is the nuetral. It is tied to the same place in the breaker box. The third hole is used to propely ground equipment so you don't get shocked by a short in the equipment.
2006-09-22 21:20:05 · answer #6 · answered by prd2boft 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋