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I'm pretty sure that the third prong goes to the ground wires. for some things that have alot of watts they need to be grounded or something like that. like ext. cords.

hope this helps!

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Q: What is the third prong in a polarized receptacle used for?
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On a two prong plug which side is neutral?

the wider of the 2 blades, provided that the plug is polarized


What is the extension cord with 3 prong could be used for?

Depends on the size of the wire in the extension cord. The 3 prong is just the hot, neutral, and ground.


What is a four prong outlet used for?

There are a couple of catagories for plug descriptions. Straight blade and twist lock blade. The amperage and voltage rating is embossed on the plug (trade name for plug is cap, wall part receptacle). See related links for a chart.


Is there an inexpensive and safe way to convert 2 prong outlets to 3 prong without rewiring your house?

You can convert your 2-wire ungrounding outlets to 3-wire grounding outlets by installing a GFCI receptacle in place of the 2-wire receptacle. The GFCI will be a 3-wire receptacle. In addition, if you replace the first receptacle in a series with a GFCI, you can protect all receptacles downstream of the first one by wiring them on the LOAD side of the GFCI. Once this is done, the 2-wire receptacles downstream may legally be replaced with 3-wire receptacles. They must be marked "No equipment ground", and there may not be an actual grounding conductor installed between the GFCI and the protected devices. You can easily convert a 2 prong to a 3 prong by just replacing the outlet. This will not give you the protection of a grounded outlet as there is no ground wire to connect. I know it is expensive but if you plan on staying in this home, have it rewired, for the safety of your family. The first thing u need to know is which wire is the neutral. If u know which is the neutral u can use that one for the ground also, consequently making a 2 prong into a 3 prong. I seen an electrician do this. Get a "neon tester." This is a neon bulb with two wires coming out of it. Take the screw that holds the cover plate onto the outlet off, and set it to the side. Then plug one wire from the tester into the right-side slot on one of the outlets, and one wire into the left-side slot. The tester should light up. (We did this to make sure the tester works. Sometimes they don't.) If it does, pull the wire out of the left-side slot and stick it into the screwhole. If it didn't light up, stick the wire back in the left-side slot then pull the wire out of the right-side slot and stick it in the screwhole. If it lit up on either occasion, you have a ground going to the box, and you can legally put a three-prong outlet in without rewiring. I tell you this because at one time, they used to wire houses this way--in places like the kitchen and bathroom you needed three-prong outlets, but in bedrooms you only need two-prong, so they'd use outlets and wiring that grounded the center screw. If you really NEEDED a grounded outlet, you bought one of those little 2-prong to 3-prong adapters and ran the screw through the tab to ground it. If you don't get a light on either position, don't put a grounded outlet there.


Can you plug a 2 prong extension cord into a 3 prong extension cord?

I don't know about an extension cord, but they do sell plug adabters. You can pick them up at any hardware store or even Wal-Mart. They are ussaully grey or orange , and look like the plug end of the extension cord. One end will have the 2 prong, the other side will have the slots to plug in the three prong.

Related questions

The third prong on a cord is used for?

Grounding.


On a two prong plug which side is neutral?

the wider of the 2 blades, provided that the plug is polarized


How do you use receptacle in a sentence?

we used a receptacle to hold the cookies.


Is a prong an insulator?

No, a prong is used at tips of metal like forks and spoons.


How do you replace an old 2 prong plug with an updated 3 prong plug?

You don't. A 2 prong plug has two wires, one called live (black or red wire in the US) and the other is neutral (white or gray wire in the US). A 3 prong plug needs a third wire for ground (bare copper, green, or green-yellow in the US). The only time you can replace a 2 prong plug with a 3 prong plug is if the 2 prong plug incorrectly replaced an original 3 prong plug.


EXPLAIN WHAT WIRES DO IN A RECEPTACLE?

Wires bring the voltage source to the junction box of the receptacle. At this point they are terminated under the screws of the receptacle. With the receptacle screwed to the junction box and the cover plate installed the outlet is ready to be used. The last thing to do is turn the breaker back on to energize the receptacle.


Will a ground fault interrupter work at any outlet with only 2 wires?

Yes. GFCI receptacles do not rely on a ground conductor to work. They sense any difference between current flowing in the hot wire and current returning in the neutral wire. Under normal circumstances, these two currents will be exactly the same. If there is a difference, then some of the current is flowing from the hot to somewhere else, possibly through a person to ground. This causes the GFCI to trip. The National Electric code even permits an old 2-wire receptacle with no ground wire to be replaced with a GFCI 3-prong receptacle. No ground wire is used, and the GFCI must be labeled "No Equipment Ground". See NEC Article 406.3(D)(3)(b) and (c). This is the only legal way to install a 3-prong receptacle in place of a 2-prong without running a new ground wire.


Does prong set costume jewelry mean it is at least 25 years old?

Prong set jewelry allows more light in under the stone to allow more flash from the stone. This type of setting is used regularly. Prong settings can not be used to determine age since they are still being used.


What does the word prong mean?

The word "prong" can be used as either a noun or a verb. As a noun, it is used to describe the projecting points at the end of a fork. As a verb, it means to stab or pierce with a fork.


Which one of the folling types of wire can be used with the pressure terminals of a duplex receptacle?

The types of wire you can use on duplex receptacle with pressure terminal are labeled on the receptacle, next to the holes. AWG 14 and AWG 12 are the typical wire gauges used in this application.


What is a silent butler?

A receptacle with a long handle used for collecting ashes, crumbs, and other small particles on a floor. Typically, a small broom is used the sweep the pieces into the receptacle.


What is the extension cord with 3 prong could be used for?

Depends on the size of the wire in the extension cord. The 3 prong is just the hot, neutral, and ground.