Smitty Two wrote:
In article ,
Aloysius Q Roger-YoMama wrote:

I live in a little house built in 1954. It has a certain number of
ungrounded receptacles.

In the context of DC power, I have some notion of the importance of
polarity.

For years, all small electrical devices/accessories (i.e. extension cords)
with 2-prong male plugs that I've seen have 1 wide and 1 thinner blade.
To facilitate connections and minimize hassle, I've been grinding the
wider to the width of the thinner blade.

This'll likely qualify as a "naive question". In the context of single-phase
power and small ~120v 60 hz AC ("Alternating Current") household devices,
what purpose does having 1 blade wider than the other serve?

Thanks,
AQ

You've been grinding off the wide prong? And your outlets are
ungrounded? Good lord man, you're about to start your whole neighborhood
on fire, kill your entire family including those living in other cities,
and destroy the protection you've been experiencing from your tin foil
hat. You must immediately evacuate your home, and spend at least $75,000
to have it completely remodeled and brought up to date.

If you believe the majority of those who are about to respond, that is.

Now, to your question. It's safer to switch the hot rather than the
neutral. That's how wall switches are wired. And it's the intent of
small appliance makers to have you run then hot through the switch on
the appliance. The wide prong, assuming your outlets are wired
correctly, assures compliance with that convention. Then if you go to
fiddle with something without unplugging it, you can't get that exciting
little tingle if you touch the wrong thing.

Carry on.

If this is an issue because you have REALLY old receptacles, two-prong
receptacles are still available for just this situation, if you don't
feel like rewiring and/or running supplemental grounds.

If you're grinding the prongs off just so you don't have to flip the
plug over if you get it wrong, well... now you know why they are the
way they are.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel