Quote:

Quote:
People are thus far less likely to accidently burn/electrocute themselves when changing bulbs.

So you're saying that touching one of the prongs will electrocute me, while touching another prong would be harmless?

How is that possible in an ungrounded AC system?


The system *is* grounded.

You can only be electrocuted by inserting yourself into the current flow loop. Like standing on the kitchen sink in bare feet to change a light bulb --> perfectly safe when things are properly polarized because you are unlikely to stick your finger deep inside the empty bulb socket.

But if not polarized, then the hot wire could be on the outside shell of the socket instead of the inside contact, and you'll get fried.

Our neighbours here once called me over to their house next door, because they were getting sparks from their dining room light fixture. Turns out the hot and neutral wires were reversed on it, and electricity was flowing down the decorative metal hanging chain instead of through the correct wiring path.. Which is where the third, earth, wire comes in. It provides a mostly failsafe path for current to find the ground (mother earth) when the neutral wire is broken.

Cheers


Edited by mlord (11/10/2007 18:45)