If you switch the hot and neutral wires that may not quite be the case, and parts of the device will remain energized or potentially energized even when the electrical device switch is OFF. Most electrical appliances and devices are designed so that their "on-off" switch interrupts electrical power at the point of entry into the appliance or device circuitry or components. This adapter and its use is discussed in more detailĪt ELECTRICAL WALL PLUG ADAPTERS - using a wall plug adapter, power strip, surge protector, or electrical spike protection device What Happens When Polarity is Reversed at a Receptacle?Ībove we show how easily a wall plug might be plugged into the wrong slots on a gang adapter used to expand the number of devices that can be plugged in at a single location. The more narrow wall plug blade on a polarized plug is the "hot" blade and is intended to connect electrically to the hot or live terminal in the electrical receptacle. Notice that the neutral blade on a wall plug (sketch at left) is the wider blade, plugs into the wider slot in the electrical receptacle, and is intended to connect electrically to the neutral wire inside the receptacle. One of our buddies argues "what the heck, it's "alternating current" - the energy is flowing rapidly back and forth at 60 cycles per second on the wires - why would direction or polarity make any difference whatsoever?"Ī non-technical answer might be "Why do you think wall plugs and electrical receptacles are 'polarized' or designed with a wide plug blade slot and a narrow plug blade slot (and on many devices a ground connector too) so that the plug will only go into the receptacle one way?" Given that there is extra cost and trouble involved, surely that's not for "no reason"! Which Wall Plug Blades Connect to Which Receptacle Slots? the neutral wire, will be connected through the receptacle's internal parts to the wide slot on the receptacle face in order to assure that the neutral wire side of an appliance being plugged-in there is properly connected. The "neutral" white wire should be connected to the silver-colored screw terminal on the electrical receptacle, usually marked NEUTRAL or WHITEĬarson Dunlop Associates' sketch points out that the white wire, i.e.The connection shown in our photo (left) is correct.
#REVERSE POLARITY OUTLET HOW TO#
This article series describes how to choose, locate, and wire an electrical receptacle in a home. What happens if you reverse the hot and neutral wires at an electrical receptacle? We also explain the difference between reversed polarity and reversed LINE - LOAD connections in a building electrical circuit. Reversed polarity electrical receptacles:ĭefinition of reversed polarity at an electrical receptacle, its causes, cures, and dangers. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
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