• Omgpwnies@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    2 months ago

    In household wiring polarity does matter, especially if you are assembling plugs. Only one of the three wires is carrying live current (hot), the other two are the neutral return path, and ground which is for safety. If you accidentally switch polarity, you can cross hot to neutral and cause a short circuit.

    • Revan343@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      2 months ago

      Switching the neutral and hot pins doesn’t matter except for appliances with exposed metal tied to the neutral pin, which is pretty much exclusive Edison screw lamps. This is why many plugs (especially those that immediately go to a rectifier) don’t bother with polarization.

      Swtching hot and ground is a problem

    • ulterno@lemmy.kde.social
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      2 months ago

      My bad. I wasn’t clear enough.

      I was talking about 2 pin plugs, as shown in the post and how it is usually for those cheap lighting thingies.