Mainly to prevent electrical shocks to the user of the appliance. Also helps keep the appliance from being damaged.
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The purpose of the grounding pin or prong is to connect the metal casing and any metal parts inside the appliance straight back to ground independently to the neutral wire.
Then, if ever the metal casing or any metal parts inside the appliance become electrically "hot" or "live" because of an equipment failure, accidental damage - or some other cause of a malfunction - the direct path back to ground will in effect produce an immediate short circuit that will make the fuse or circuit breaker, that is protecting the circuit supplying current to the appliance, to operate to break the supply of current.
By doing so, it helps to prevent electrical shocks to the user of the appliance.
For more information see the answer to the Related Question shown below.
boost the current flow to the appliance
It is to prevent electrical shocks.
The third prong is to protect from shock. If there is any way for you to come in contact with a conducting surface on the appliance you have the third prong.
The equipment grounding conductor is attached to the rounded prong in a three prong plug. Electrical work is dangerous, call a qualified electrician to install. Improper wiring could lead to personal property damage, you or someone else being injured or killed!
The third prong is a ground prong. Some appliances have 3 pronged plugs is so that if there is an electrical problem, it sends the electricity to the ground so you don't get electrocuted. All appliances should have 3 prongs, but no all outlets are made for that so they don't. Plus it uses more money to make them that way.
In most cases, a plug socket is not live until all the prongs are inserted. This is because the third prong, called the grounding prong, is responsible for connecting the appliance to the earth. Until all three prongs are in, the circuit is not complete and the socket remains inactive.
To avoid a shock if the hot wire in the appliance should come in contact with a metal appliance part that the user could touch.
It is to prevent electrical shocks.
The third prong on the bottom of the plug is for "grounding," in case of a short.
Because - the 2-prong socket is NOT connected to earth !.. Any fault in the appliance - could result in electrocution.
The third prong is to protect from shock. If there is any way for you to come in contact with a conducting surface on the appliance you have the third prong.
The equipment grounding conductor is attached to the rounded prong in a three prong plug. Electrical work is dangerous, call a qualified electrician to install. Improper wiring could lead to personal property damage, you or someone else being injured or killed!
The third prong is a ground prong. Some appliances have 3 pronged plugs is so that if there is an electrical problem, it sends the electricity to the ground so you don't get electrocuted. All appliances should have 3 prongs, but no all outlets are made for that so they don't. Plus it uses more money to make them that way.
In most cases, a plug socket is not live until all the prongs are inserted. This is because the third prong, called the grounding prong, is responsible for connecting the appliance to the earth. Until all three prongs are in, the circuit is not complete and the socket remains inactive.
The three prong plug incorporates a ground wire for safety. If there is a short circuit in an appliance that has a three prong plug, the current will travel back to the electrical panel and either blow the fuse to that circuit, or trip the circuit breaker to shut power down on that circuit.
buy a 3 prong cord and plug set at lowes or home depot and change the cord on the appliance.
The 50 amp receptical will not be a three prong receptacle it will be a 3-pole 4-wire grounding receptacle. It will be a 125/250 volt rating NEMA number 14–50R. The red and black wires connect to the X and Y terminals, the white wire to the W terminal and the ground wire to the G terminal.
You'll need to contact an electrician who will pull a new wire for you. If you only have 2 wires on the 240 line, you don't have a neutral or a ground; both of which are essential for a modern electric range.