Skip to main content

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.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top Tips to improve your office lighting

Whether we have experienced in our own lives, or have seen it in a movie, offices can be portrayed in many ways. They can be seen as a bustling haven where millions can be made…or can be seen as a miserable dark place where you show up every day to earn not enough money. Whatever way you may see it, an office can be great. You get to work indoors, you get to sit down, eat a hot lunch and can often talk to your employees. However, on the other hand, an office can be a small, dark cubicle, where you are required to complete a certain number of calls before you leave. You communicate with nobody else besides customers on the phone, and it can be a very dull and dark environment. Let’s talk about the many ways that you can liven up your workplace with some improved office lighting. Firstly, the most obvious, and preferred way to lighten up the office space is by using free lighting…natural lighting! Having plenty of well-placed windows is a great way to add plenty of light to an office s
Post a Comment
Read more

Top Tips that help your appliances last longer

Getting an electrician on the Gold Coast can be a difficult job with demands rising every day. That's why when your refrigerator suddenly breaks for no reason, you're less than pleased! With only a few hours to get all the food into another fridge before it goes off, you may ask yourself, how could make my appliances last longer? If you are looking for a reliable electrician, talk to the experts at NDF Electrical, however, no one wants to be constantly replacing or repairing expensive appliances, so here are the top tips to help your appliances have a longer lifespan. How to make your oven last longer: A regular oven can last between 10 to 20 years, however, to maximise the lifespan of your oven, you simply need to keep it clean. It’s a super simple tip but extremely effective! By cleaning up any spills that happen straight away will save you a lifetime of pain. It's recommended to deep clean your oven once a month including the racks and trays, to remove all the food
Post a Comment
Read more

5 Reasons you should schedule an Electrical Inspection

Every building needs to have a regular electrical inspection to ensure the safety of your family and possessions. There are many reasons why you may need an inspection from the effects of time and the environment to the destructive influence of pests. These are five reasons you should schedule an electrical inspection with your local electrician in Reedy Creek : Buying a home or property When you buy a home or other type of property you will want to be 100 percent sure that your new investment is safe. After all, it’s a huge decision and you will want to reduce any chance of buying a potential problem. Having a professional electrical inspection before you buy means you know the exact condition of the property and if any issues become apparent you can use this as a bargaining point to reduce the price to cover any costs. Selling a Property When selling a property you have to compete with all the other properties and sellers in your area. Having a professional ele
Post a Comment
Read more