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When you push the plug into the socket the earth pin engages a < gate which stops the live and neutral from being touched from the outside with any object other than the pins of the plug.
==thats the Answer == In US residential power connectors, the earth pin is longer to provide a return path before the hot pin engages. This way an appliance with a short to its case will simply trip a breaker instead of electrocuting the user. Ground Fault Interrupters provide additional protection by detecting an imbalance in the hot and neutral leads.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoI think it is because of safety reason. The earth pin will be connected to the earth pin receptor in the socket, making the appliance safe for use as it is already grounded even before the life wire (L and N) are connected to the main socket.
Liz.
I think it is because of safety reason. The earth pin will be connected to the earth pin receptor in the socket, making the appliance safe for use as it is already grounded even before the line wire (L and N) are connected to the main socket.
Liz.
First instead of saying longer you should be precise to say that it is LARGER. (length as well as cross section is more)
More the thickness of the wire/conductor, less is the resistance. A thick earth pin provides a less resistant path for the current to be grounded. this is for safety so the leakage current if any will take the less resistant path to earth pin to ground rather than a person operating an appliance.
AnswerAs you use the word, 'earth' (rather than 'ground'), you are likely referring to a British plug (?). In which case, there are two reasons: (1) it is used to open the safety shutters which would otherwise prevent access to the socket's line/neutral terminals, and (2) it then earths the appliance before connecting the line/neutral supply to it.Wiki User
∙ 12y agoTo prevent it being connected into the active or neutral inlets.
AnswerIn the case of UK plugs, it is to (1) open the socket's safetly shutters which normally cover the line/neutral terminals, and (2) to earth the appliance before it is energised.Wiki User
∙ 9y agoIt stops the earth pin, which is connected to the metal surface of the appliance, being plugged in to the wrong receptacle.
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Also, on the British three-pin plug. the earth pin is longer than the positive and negative pins. The longer earth pin enters the socket first, then pushes against a lever inside the socket, which opens a safety flap, and this allows the other two pins to enter the socket and make contact, so completing the circuit. The safety flap is there to prevent children from poking something metalic into either the positive or negative holes and being electrocuted.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoMost outlets in US homes are installed with the earth pin down. If a plug was partially pulled out of the outlet and little fingers or a thin metal object fell or was placed across the two pins, the result could be electrocution or at least an unwanted jolt.
With the earth pin up this eliminates most of the above problem. It doesn't eliminate the shock hazard, but does drastically reduce the chance of one occurring.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoTo conduct large amount of current
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoSo the ground will be made/connected before the hot and neutral pins are powered.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThat is for safety. The earth pin is connected to the body of the appliance, and making that pin bigger makes it physically impossible to put the earth pin in the wrong place.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoIn North America looking straight on at the blades of a 15 amp plug the left blade is hot, right blade is neutral and the U shaped blade at the bottom is the ground
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In three pin switch why earth pin is made bigger in size?
The earth pin is longer in a three pin plug so that when being plugged it it makes contact to ground the equipmemt before the other pins make the equipment live. If the equipment has a fault, the earth circuit is already in place to deal with it.
Can MCB switches be used for Geysers?
Connect a good quality three pin, 15 amps plug the geyser cable with green wire connected to the earth terminal (thicker pin in the plug). If the geyser is to be fitted permanently at one location only, then it is advisable to connect it with a D.P. Switch to avoid burning of wires due to loose connections in three in plug and socket.
Why the pins in the three pin plug are split up to the middle?
In the UK, we use three pin plugs. Neutral (blue cable), Positive (brown cable), Earth (green and yellow striped cable). Positive is also known as the Live cable. The Earth cable is an important safety feature that directs electricity safely to earth should a short-circuit cause the device's metal body (a toaster, for instance) to become live and a dangerous shock is possible to any one touching the device's metal body. Before the modern standard colouring was introduced, black was the neutral, red the positive, and green the earth. This old colouring can still be found in buildings built before the change-over.
What plugs are more efficient 3 points or two points?
If you are referring to the types of 'plug' used with electrical outlets, then one is no more efficient than the other. They both do what they are designed to do: allow portable equipment to be connected to a residence's permanent electrical system. However, three-pin plugs provide greater safety because they provide an earth (ground) connection, which two-pin plugs don't.
What wire to use for 4100r9w plug 250v 3p4w?
This plug is a pin and sleeve 250 volt three phase four wire device. It is rated at 100 amps. A #3 copper conductor with an insulation factor of 90 degrees C is rated at 130 amps.
2 pin cam position sensor on 1999 3.0 windstar?
YES 2 Pin on 3.0 3pin on a 3.8
Where is the speed sensor on a Daewoo matiz?
It's on the gearbox, you need to get under the car to access it. It has a 3pin plug.
Which wire is not present in a 2 pin plug?
The earth wire.
What pin on the plug to the AC outlet is the ground pin and what is its purpose?
The ground pin or earth pin is the uppermost pin on your plug. It's purpose is to provide a safety barrier between you and the supply in the event of an overload or in case of an accident.
Is it okay to use an adapter to change a three pin plug into a two pin plug?
No, it is not ok, it is potentially very dangerous because the two-wire cable has no earth with it. The earth wire is an important safety component that comes with a three-pin plug. An exception can be made for certain low-power appliances that have double insulation. This includes TV sets, radios, and table lights provided the mounting is plastic and not metal. These appliances are commonly sold with a twin-wire cable but often with a three-pin plug on the end of it. The three-pin plug in this case often has a plastic 'earth' pin and it is safe to replace it with a two-pin plug.
Why third pin is plastic in 3 pin plug?
Double-insulated electrical appliances, such as electric drills, only require two connections -a line and a neutral- to the supply. An earth (ground) connection is unnecessary. In the UK, all electric socket outlets have shutters that blank off the line and neutral terminals when there is no plug inserted. These shutters are operated by the earth pin of the plug. As double-insulated appliances don't require an earth connection, a plastic earth pin is moulded into the plug in order to open the socket shutters in place of a normal metallic earth pin.
What is the third prong in plug for?
On a British plug it is the earth pin connected to the earth wire. This is safety feature to stop electric shock
What pin on a power plug is the earth pin?
The third pin usually on the bottom is the pin that goes to the ground/earth.See Sources and Links below.AnswerIt really depends on what type you plug you are using. From your use of the word. 'earth' (rather than 'ground'), you may be referring to the plugs used in the UK, Ireland, and places like Malta, Cyprus, and the Gulf States? If so, then the earth pin is the longest of the three, and located at the top of the plug. Some European plugs don't use an earth pin at all -in Germany, for example, they use a pair of contacts located in the moulded recesses located on each side of the plug.
When use a 3-pin mains plug what is the biggest pin for?
On a UK three pin plug the two smaller prongs are Live (brown) and Neutral (blue). The Larger pin is for the Earth wire. This can prevent you getting an electric shock
When 3 pin plug is used?
To fit a 3-pin socket. The three pins are live, neutral and earth, which must not be confused.
In three pin switch why earth pin is made bigger in size?
The earth pin is longer in a three pin plug so that when being plugged it it makes contact to ground the equipmemt before the other pins make the equipment live. If the equipment has a fault, the earth circuit is already in place to deal with it.
Can I plug my 2 prong Christmas light cord into a 3 prong extension cord?
UK answer only: Yes but you need a three-pin to two-pin adaptor. Alternatively fit a three-pin plug to the light and leave the earth pin disconnected. This can only be done if the lamp already has a two-wire cable fitted to it, anything else is potentially dangerous.
