Keep in mind, that it is expected that many of the items that you are talking about, are being plugged into GFI outlets, which is everything outside, in garage, in bathroom and kitchen. Not justifying anything, just making an observation. -
David Wilburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] K4DGW K2 S/N 5982 On Sun, 2007-11-25 at 16:45 -0800, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > Has anyone noticed how little that "safety ground" is used by commercial > products these days? > > Few, if any, household appliances such as vacuum cleaners or even kitchen > appliances use it now. They all have two-wire plugs. For outdoor use I have > a electric chain saw, and electric circular saw, an electric weed-whacker, > an electric lawn mower and an electric hedge trimmer NONE of which use a > 3-wire cord. They were all purchased in the last five years. > > All of these devices revert to the standards of the 1940's and 50's, relying > on insulation without a "safety ground" tied to a metal enclosure. The > insulation is probably better than was used in the old gear, but it's the > same old design. > > Most of these devices have a polarized plug. The wide spade on the US plug > is the neutral or grounded side of the mains circuit. Presumably (I haven't > opened any of them up) they are wired so that a likely short to the metal > parts would be on that side of the mains. That's also how it was done in the > 1940's and 50's. > > Sure, I check to make sure the safety ground is attached to my household > outlets. It's astonishing how many outlets I've encountered over the years, > even in new homes, have no ground connection to the third pin. And many more > are wired backwards so if one puts a polarized plug in the outlet the wrong > (hot) side of the mains goes to the normally grounded side. > > Frankly, I pay at least as much attention to the correct wiring of the mains > plug to put neutral on the wide spade as I do about the ground lead being > connected. > > A little three-light tester available at most hardware stores for a few > dollars is well worth the investment. > > Ron AC7AC > > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
