0
That is a grounding pin. It provides a easy path for electricity to go to ground (all electricity seeks "ground" and will take the easiest path) By having the grounding pin it there it will hopefully prevent the easiest path to ground from being through YOU. Which would cause you you to get shocked.
The third prong connects the body of the appliance directly to ground.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoIt allows consumer devices to have a three-wire cord plugged in for extra protection by the grounded conductor, in addition to the hot/neutral polarization, as compared with a polarized two-prong plug, which has no grounding wire.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe two top prongs carry the main load. They are alternating current so both are positive and negative. The third prong at the bottom is the ground. It carries extra power away from the circuit in case of a power surge.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIt connects directly to the house ground so as to protect a person from a shock should a fault occur that connects the hot size of supply to a conductor that a person could come in contact with.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoIn a 3-pin plug the wires are called live, neutral and earth. The current is carried from the local supply transformer on the live and neutral (the neutral is earthed at the transformer) . The earth wire normally carries no supply current but it has three safety functions.
First, all the external metal surfaces of appliances are connected together via their earth wires, so you won't get a shock by touching two of them at the same time, for example the cooker and the toaster.
Secondly the earth wire is connected to the water and gas mains and to the actual ground outside the house to avoid the buildup of static charge in a lightning storm.
Thirdly if there is a fault inside an appliance such that the live wire touches the case, the earth wire will carry the fault current to blow the fuse or trip the circuit breaker.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThe ground wire that is connected to the ground pin of a plug (cap) is a low impedance path for fault current to go directly back to the distribution panel to trip the breaker on the faulted circuit.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoTo safely ground an electrical appliance. If the hot touches the metal grounded case the circuit breaker will open and stop the current.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe third prong is to make a good ground connection.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThis is earth ground. It is to reduce shock hazard from a device that has a metal cover that could become HOT if there were an internal wiring problem that occurred.
Anonymous
It is the ground plug and protects against stray voltages
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
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
Why is it not safe to plug an appliance with a three-prong plug into an extension cord with a two-slot socket?
Because - the 2-prong socket is NOT connected to earth !.. Any fault in the appliance - could result in electrocution.
What is sound of empty pot and pan?
prong
What does the third grounding wire of a three-pronged plug do?
It provides a safe path for errant electricity. Never cut it off.
What is a ring setting?
A setting is the part of a ring that holds a stone. There are different kinds: Bar, Channel, Pave, Prong, and Tiffany settings (a prong setting with six prongs), among others. A jeweler can show you more.
What does the third prong ion a three prong pulg do?
The 3rd round plug is the ground connection.
Why does a plug have three wires?
The third prong on the bottom of the plug is for "grounding," in case of a short.
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
If your outlet is a 3 prong outlet can you hook up a 3 prong plug from your old stove to a new stove which has a 4 prong plug?
No you can not you will need to replace the plug with a 4 prong the same as the style of your oven and change your breaker to the correct Amp for your style of 4 prong plug
What does the circle prong on a 3 prong plug do?
Ground wire
Are there any dryers with a regular wall socket plug?
No; the third prong is there to protect you from stray voltage and it grounds the wiring. Although you could probably find an adaptor, it would be much safer for you to have an electrician rewire the outlets so they can accept a three prong plug.
How do you covert a two prong welder plug to a three prong and ground out let?
Need to know the amperage rating of the plug or the NEMA configuration of the plug and receptacle
Four prong generator male to a 4 prong female then go to a 110 volt house current?
I,m going to bypass the generator and plug into the house for my race car trailor. Once I pull the plug from the gewnerator I will have a four prong male need to plug into a for prong female then be able to plug into a house socket.
Is the wide prong on an electrical plug connected to the black wire?
No, the wide prong is neutral it is the white wire. The narrow prong is hot it is the black wire. The round prong (in a 3 wire plug) is safety ground it is the green wire.
What is the third prong on a plug called?
It is called a ground, and prevents you from electrocuting yourself if there is a tear in the cord.
What if the top pin on three pin plug broken in electric socket. Is it dangerous?
Not in itself. Do not plug another three prong plug in the outlet until the broken prong (round-ish) is removed from the outlet. The third prong (round-ish) on a three prong plug is the ground. It does not carry any power.Correction"It's the power return"
This is a 2 prong polarized female. However a 2 prong unpolarized male will easily plug into a 2 prong polarized female. just not the other way around.?
This is a 2 prong polarized female. However a 2 prong unpolarized male will easily plug into a 2 prong polarized female. just not the other way around.
