APC which manufactures UPS units has a white paper called Neutral Wire Facts and Mythology.

It's rather lengthy, but I felt it could be recommended reading for people who are convinced of the importance of polarisation. However, I would welcome your input on this. Is it the definite answer or is it way off?


[This message has been edited by C-H (edited 04-29-2003).]

Very basic explanations using "laymen" terminology. But overall no factual areas that are worth fighting over.

Arguing about specific technical terms with a non-technical person is usually not a winable, nor necessary, action.

I disagree with the statement:
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The actual answer as to why plugs are polarized in North America is found in a ubiquitous appliance: the screw-in incandescent lamp...All modern two prong appliances and office equipment are designed so that they can be plugged in either way and they just use the standard plug,
which happens to have the differently sized prongs.
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In my experience, lamp cords are the least likely to have polarized plugs. Electronic equipment such as televisions are the ones with two prong polarized plugs. They are also the ones to have warnings on the plugs that tell you not to defeat the polarizing.

While other items may have polarized plugs, all listed lamps with a screw shell socket will have a polarized plug.
Don

New products sold in todays market and for at least last decade or so have polarized plugs. I don't see anything sold without them.

What Kale may be referring to is older lamps still found in many homes. There is no requirement to upgrade them.

Allowing that the document is directed toward the layman, it seems fair.

It's good to note the reference to isolation transformers and the explanation that inclusion of these on the power feeds will not eliminate problems with ground loops.

The latter requires either electrical isolation of data paths between devices (e.g. opto-isolators) or the separation of protective and signal grounds.


[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 09-07-2003).]

Have downloaded the .PDF file, and will read up on it.

Scott35