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Benefits of using 3 pin plugs


In Queensland we use a standard three pin plug with a nominal voltage of 230 volts and a maximum of 10 amps. The earth pin is there for safety. It’s possible to get an unearthed version of the plug that can be used with the same outlet. These are only used for devices that are double insulated with a rating of up to 7.5 amps your Electrician in Elanora can advise you if you have any concerns with any of your electrics.

How the electricity in your home, works?

A battery works with the current flowing from one battery terminal to the other in a circuit. A power outlet is just the same, power flows from the positive or phase side through the appliance you’re using to run a motor or cause an action and back to the negative or neutral side to complete the circuit.

When you plug in a lamp with a light bulb in the circuit, the power will flow or run through the positive prong on the plug through the filament in the light bulb and back down the wire to the plug completing the circuit and lighting the plug.

Creating a short

If you created a short between the positive and neutral sides of the power outlet by plugging in a thick wire into the slots, it would cause a huge surge of power to run between the positive and neutral sides and then back to your switch board tripping the circuit breaker.

This does not happen with an electrical appliance because the appliance limits the amount of current it draws or that can flow through it. For example a 60 watt light bulb or 500 watt toasters only allow that much current to flow through them.

The circuit breakers job is to stop high unregulated electrical flows that if allowed would heat up the wires and could cause an electrical fire.

Neutral and Ground slot on an electrical outlet are the same

When you look at how your fuse box is wired you will see that the neutral and ground wires are joined together there. The question many people ask, well if they are the same why do you need both of them? Have your electrician Elanora check your wiring to make sure it’s safe.

If you take a look at all your appliances you will see that everything that is metal, has a three pin plug and the only ones with a two pin plug are double insulated with a plastic body.

The third prong or wire is to protect people in case the positive wire inside the appliance comes loose and touches the metal body of the appliance causing it to become alive and could give anyone touching it an electrical shock which may be fatal.

When the metal body is grounded and a live wire touches the metal casing the current flows directly to ground, stopping the possibility of anyone getting electrocuted and it trips the breaker switch. The circuit is neutralized and nothing on it will work, but it’s also not dangerous.

A three pin plugs a safety measure that is required for all appliances except for those under 7.5 watts with a double insulated body. This is to ensure you cannot get electrocuted.


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