Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!sci.ccny.cuny.edu!sukenick
From: sukenick@sci.ccny.cuny.edu (SYG)
Subject: Re: polarity
Message-ID: <1991Apr27.174257.21380@sci.ccny.cuny.edu>
Keywords: polarity, stupid, babooze
Organization: City College of New York - Science Computing Facility
References: <11864@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> <889@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov>
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 27 Apr 91 17:42:57 GMT

>> What's the purpose of polarized wall outlets with an AC >> signal?

>(the hot side).  Inside the outlet it is wired with black wire to

"white is for weddings, black is for funerals"

>make it easy to tell from the neutral, which should be near ground >potential.

>If a plug is somehow forced in wrong, the equipment will still work,
>but an electrical hazard is created.

At the fuse box, ground (bare, green and/or cable shield ) and neutral
(white wire)  are tied together.  Ground is usually
tied to a pole in the ground and/or maybe the metal plumbing.
The difference between ground and neutral is that neutral carries current,
and since wires have some resistance, may be a few volts above ground.

Some devices have powered parts which may be exposed in use or if damaged.
It'd be better if these parts were at or near ground rather than 120 volts AC..

