What is reverse polarity-?

Answer 1

Reverse polarity is the opposite of normal polarity. Normal polarity in electronics is when you have the positive hooked up to the positive terminal and the negative to the negative terminal. Reverse polarity would be having the positive hooked up to the negative terminal and the negative to the positive terminal. The same concept can be used with magnets.

Answer 2

A DC motor is marked + (plus) and - (minus). When the polarity of the source is reversed by a special switch, the motor travels in the opposite of the direction shown in the specifications. This type of "reversed polarity" is non-destructive.

Answer 3

reverse polarity is wiring. This is hot wiring from an outlet.

Another Answer

If you ignore the protective (earth/ground) terminal, there are two 'live' terminals at a socket outlet (receptacle) -the line terminal and the neutral terminal . The 'neutral' terminal is roughly at earth (ground) potential, while the 'line' terminal is at a potential of 230 V (Europe) or 120 V (North America) with respect to the neutral terminal.

It's very important that the line terminal is protected by a fuse or circuit breaker at the main panel, while fuses/circuit breakers must never be inserted into the neutral.

If the terminal has been wired the wrong way around, i.e. the 'line terminal' has been wired to the neutral, and the 'neutral terminal' has been wired to the line, then it is potentially very hazardous, and it is described as having 'reverse polarity'.

The problem with reverse polarity is particularly evident with Edison-screw lamps, where it is VERY important that the centre terminal is connected to the line and the surrounding (female) screw thread is connected to the neutral. If the lamp is connected with 'reverse polarity', it's possible to receive a shock from the lamp's thread while it is being inserted or removed from its mount. This is one reason why 'bayonet' fitting lamps are preferred in the UK, where polarity is unimportant, as access to a line terminal is impossible.

Answer 4

when at a point of millions of years the earths polarity is reversed so that compasses instead of pointing north will point south