can i remove the third prong on a plug
Right, will try that. And lastly, the black wire goes on the right side of the plug. Follow answered Mar 31 '15 at 18:13. gpeddle gpeddle. Electronics have the third prong to protect from electrical malfunctions, fires, and electrical surges. Note: If you cut off the third prong you would would forever lose the ability to properly ground your device. What number increased by 3 is equal to 3 less than twice the number? Find a small screw and screw it into the hollow ground prong and the pull it out. If for a two prong plug, the wider prong is the neutral, the narrower is the hot. Other devices may be shielded using plastic cases and other insulators to prevent short circuits from electrically charging their outer cases or shells. The plug contains three wires – the live, know what each color of wire does in the circuit, The black wire is the "hot" wire, which carries the electricity from the breaker panel into the switch or light source. These same concepts can apply to your dryer outlet and we have the product solutions you will need. The, Attach each section of exposed copper to the appropriate terminal screw: green. Polarized plugs reduce the risk of electrical shock on many home appliances and lighting. How do you install .NET Framework 3.5 includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0 offline? However, some older plugs do not have an internally connected ground, and many people never actually connect the screw properly to a three-to-two prong adapter. just jam something in the top hole as your putting the plug in and it should work. If a grounding circuit is present and intact, the electricity flows along the ground and trips the breaker or blows a fuse, which halts the power supply. This is where the ground prong comes in. First, turn off the power to the outlet circuit. In North America, looking at a wall outlet with the ground pin to the bottom, you will find the neutral conductor hole to be on the left, and it is deeper (wider pin). When you remove that functionality it becomes easier for the electrical device to break, and cause further damage. The third prong is there for electrical devices that have metal exteriors. It would still work, but it would be less safe. "you should always plug them in the correct "polarity." What cars have the most expensive catalytic converters? Identify the neutral wire in the fixture by looking at the wires. This type of plug is used for hair dryers, power tool chargers, power strips, and a range of … You might have wondered about the third prong on an electrical plug. The black wire is the, If for a two prong plug, the wider prong is the, The national electrical code (NEC) calls for outlets that have a, The live wire carries current to the appliance at a high voltage. Most likely the neutral wire is white and the hot wire is red or black, but test to make sure. yeh, if it was just a plastic pin then it should be safe, the only reason its there so you can actually put the plug in. The third prong is your grounding wire/connection. I know someone who has a power strip and on the plug the third bottom prong is not there and there is just a hole where it should be? It is a critical piece included with outdoor extension cords and also on any device that is not fully shielded. The ground prong—the part of your plug that goes into the round hole in your outlet—is primarily there for your safety. I discovered that the electrical socket that I thought was broken actually does work, but it still has a broken plug prong stuck inside of it. Isn't this a safety concern and can cause a short circuit resulting in a electrical fire? Disadvantages of Cheater Plugs. 2 Answers2. As far as I know, the 3rd is just metal casing grounding that blows out the fuse directly if … tweezers? Copyright 2020 FindAnyAnswer All rights reserved. The national electrical code (NEC) calls for outlets that have a third connection for grounded plugs. A polarized plug has two prongs of different widths. It is only there for polarity so if you plug it in the same you will be safe. If you have any questions about whether or not your electrical receptacles have proper grounding capability or if you need help in converting older two-prong receptacles to modern three-prong ones with grounds, please give Mr. Sparky a call today to schedule a service appointment. Now the socket is dead and you can SAFELY remove the prong that broke off in the socket. Connect the red cord wire to the other hot terminal. Just make sure you plug the cord into the machine in … Technically, you don't need to cut off the third prong, just purchase a “Polarized Grounding Adapter” at a hardware store. If you cut the third prong off of a plug, you defeat the safety feature. Does it matter which wire goes where on an outlet? You can think of it as an emergency path for electricity to travel through if a short circuit or other fault develops inside the electrical device. Yes you can use it. Normally the electrical box is is grounded through metal conduit or, with plastic boxes, the third (uninsulated or green) wire provides this connection. I solemnly vow to all of the electricians here that I'm not trying to make a three prong plug fit into ANY two prong outlets. I know that cutting a third prong off of any American electrical plug is considered a 'bad idea' and a fire risk. An electrical plug prong that breaks off in an outlet creates two problems, one with the plug, the other with the outlet. The 'hot conductor' is on the right and is smaller, and would have a black or red supply wire. Just plug it into the socket as if it was there. In the UK Also, adapters were designed to use the cover screw to complete a ground circuit on some older plug designs. The ground prong on an electric cord is there to protect you in case something goes wrong with the tool or appliance while you are handling or touching it. What does it mean when it says Check Tel Line? What happens if you remove the bottom prong a three prong plug? You should be aware that if you personally disable any part of an electrical system's protective equipment (including the third prong on your plug) and you experience an incident within that tiny minority of the time and your removed pin is discovered by investigators, then you will personally be held liable... and that liability could be enormous if someone gets hurt or dies in your incident. Do not "clip" polarized plugs to fit into a two (2) prong receptacle or a receptacle not designed for polarized plugs..." "I just don't believe the fact that reversing the plug for a alarm clock can harm it. I believe you mean the round prong of the 3 prong receptacle your cord plugs onto. You can use the snow blower and you will be safe. However, some older plugs do not have an internally connected ground, and many people never actually connect the screw properly to a three-to-two prong adapter. Remember to … The third prong grounds the electricity to protect anyone who uses the metal-encased appliance from electric shock. Inside all appliances that have plugs are wires and other electrical components that can potentially break off or dislodge. Also, adapters were designed to use the cover screw to complete a ground circuit on some older plug designs. They run just over $1.50 each at Home Depot. The rounded pin is called the ground pin. Note: If you cut off the third prong you would would forever lose the ability to properly ground your … When you plug in a three-pronged plug, that third prong is providing an alternate pathway for electricity in the event of a fault. The black wire is the hot wire. Should the internal wiring of the line voltage (120VAC) come loose, the voltage gets shorted to the third prong. Improve this answer. Connect the green cord wire to the ground screw. A three prong plug is designed so that electricity can be safely supplied to electrical appliances. You will not die immediately without the ground prong, but you will no longer be protected from shock, burns, or electrocution by a faulty device. Share. A tiny wire or other component that is carrying household current can come loose and charge the outer case or metal connectors of an electrical appliance. What happens if you cut off the third prong on a plug? In most modern fixtures the neutral wire will be white and the hot wire is red or black. Connect the white cord wire to the center neutral terminal. it's a safety feature." Current in AC "flows" both ways, so how can that matter." The third prong is wired directly to the metal exterior. How do you wire a 4 prong plug to a 3 prong plug? If you remove the third prong the item you are using will not have the safety ground. Technically nothing happens if … I guess I could use the broken off pin to jam in there. All three-prong plugs must be connected to electrical receptacles that can receive a three-pronged plug. I have a Kenmore free standing electric range with a 4 prong cord which was already connected. It would be connected to the white supply wire. If you cut the third prong off of a plug, you defeat the safety feature. In any case, you should definitely fix this, at the very least, it will be a problem at some point later when you want to use a three prong plug. The third … The color code is standard in electrical wiring. The ground prong on the cord is there because surge protectors divert excess current to … You might be asking yourself why there's a third section on a three prong outlet if the current already has a pathway along which to travel, thanks to the two existing plugs. What happens if you reverse hot and neutral wires? What's the difference between Koolaburra by UGG and UGG? Failure to replace polarized plugs that are damaged can … Things such as washing machines. How do you test a 4 prong starter switch? That said, I have a lamp that has a five-foot-long two-prong plug. Secondly, how do you tell which wire is hot and which is neutral? Now turn the Item on and go to the breaker box and by using a breaker, turn off the fan or light. In an old two-wire house system, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI or GFI) can be added to eliminate the shock hazard but it won't help with interference problems. How do you find the exact value of CSC 5pi 3? Cheater plugs are not designed to be a safe solution to powering a three-pronged electrical device. The white wire is the ". Think laptop computers and game consoles that connect to a transformer brick or power adapter. The 3-prong plug, which people also call a NEMA 5-15P, looks a bit different. It simply is used to connect the external conductive parts of the device to the earth and, thus, in normal operation is completely unnecessary. Asked By: Iasone Chandramouleeswaran | Last Updated: 22nd February, 2020, That exposes the three wires in the cord, and if you strip the insulation back and separate the wires, you'll see that they are all colored differently. If you didn’t know, the third prong on plug is the ground connector. When you plug in a three-pronged plug, that third prong is providing an alternate pathway for electricity in the event of a fault. Electronic devices that connect using a voltage adapter that lowers the household current before it gets to the device do not have lethal voltage. Notice how the plug has two flat pins and a third, rounded pin. It is round and just under the two blade-style plug protrusions. Remove the prong by what ever means needed pliers? 0. In this manner, which side of the plug is the black wire? Next, attach the white wire to one of the silver screws on the left side of the plug. Also, the electrical receptacle itself must have a ground circuit connected internally that goes back to the main service panel. Ribbed, grooved or striped side is grounded (neutral), smooth side is ungrounded (hot). Connect to the live and neutral of a 3-prong plug. The third … Removing the ground pin from an adapter or using ungrounded outlets can lead to a fire, shock, or even worse. This type of plug is found on a range of household appliances, from vacuum cleaners to your coffee maker—even computer cords. On a power plug, can you ignore the 3rd ground pin without a problem? If the box is grounded, you can install a three prong outlet and ground it by attaching it to the armored, or BX, cable in the back of the box. However, water intrusion and other things can cause a potential for a lethal shock in a shielded device. Does Hermione die in Harry Potter and the cursed child? The first rule of addressing such a situation is basic: turn off the electricity to that outlet immediately, even if the broken prong is the grounding prong (the bottom of three) on the cord. All electrical appliances designed for outdoor and wet area use should have a third prong ground on the plug and be connected to a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacle. Can you replace a 2 prong plug with a 3 prong plug? If you remove the third prong the item you are using will not have the safety ground. The ground prong delivers excess electricity that might have … NEVER remove the ground pin of a 3-prong plug to fit into a 2-prong outlet always have the outlet changed to match the plug. This is why you can use a 3-prong to 2-prong plug adapter to bypass having to use the ground line and the device will still work just fine. The color code is standard in electrical wiring. Place the prong of the multimeter's black, 4 Answers. How do you wire a 3 wire switch to a 3 way switch? Use a small needle nose pair of pliers to grab the prong and pull it out. Can you cut the third prong off? Using three prong devices on a two prong outlet is dangerous. Household current has the capability of killing a human being. If you cut the third prong off of a plug, you defeat the safety feature. The place has mainly 2 prong outlets. If the ground prong is hallow then insert a small screw driver into the space and twisting it slightly until it is wedged then pull out gently. In time, plugs can become damaged and frayed, requiring replacement. While it possible to plug a surge protector power strip into a two prong outlet if you remove the ground prong on the cord or use an adapter (also called a “cheater plug”) at the receptacle outlet, it won’t function properly. Using three prong devices on a two prong outlet is dangerous. Plug a light or a fan into the socked, anything with a two prong plug. Extension Cord Wire Colors That exposes the three wires in the cord, and if you strip the insulation back and separate the wires, you'll see that they are all colored differently. Ever. The national electrical code (NEC) calls for outlets that have a third connection for grounded plugs. If the device is not grounded, it is highly likely that the next person who touches the device will receive a potentially lethal electric shock. Do Not Sell My Information - California Residents. Silver. Connect the black cord wire to either the left or right terminal, next to the center neutral. Also, adapters were designed to use the cover screw to complete a ground circuit on some older plug designs. The neutral (wider prong) gets connected to the ribbed conductor, the hot (narrower prong) gets connected to the non-ribbed conductor. If you are going to use this for your computer, then you should not remove the grounding prong.