Household Electricity

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The circuits are polarized. That is, the black wire is connected in a certain way and the neutral wire is connected in a certain way.

Polarized plugs reduce the risk of an electrical shock by forcing electricity to flow in one general direction

Slide 25

Types of Plugs Used in the Home

Drier Plug or Stove Plug

(Ground)

Lamp Plug or Hair Dryer

(Polarized)

Slide 26

Three Prong Plug

Slide 27

Three pronged plug

The round prong is the ground

The longer hole is connected to the white wire (neutral). We need this wire to complete the circuit.

The shorter hole is connected to the black wire.(hot – 120 Volts)

The grounded plug is safer than a two pronged plug.

Slide 28

Grounding the Current

The service panel is connected to a long metal stake that buried outside the house.

If a person is electrocuted most of the current will go to ground.

In much older houses the wiring is grounded on the copper water pipes.

Slide 29

Ground Wire

Slide 30

Improperly Grounded Appliance with Short

One milliampere: tingling sensation Ten milliamperes: nerves and muscles overloaded 200 milliamperes: potentially fatal; heart fibrillation 500 -1000 milliamperes: not necessarily fatal; heart will restart -- One ampere or more: burn alive

Slide 31

Slide 32

Grounded Appliance

Slide 33

Ground Plugs Prevent You from becoming the Shortest, Easiest Path to the Ground!! 

Slide 34

Avoid! Or Thou Shalt Not! …

Frayed electrical wires

Octopus outlets

Water and electrical wires

Plug receptacles to protect small children

Over loading electrical circuits