Here we go, reverse polarity does not seem to be much of an issue here in Italy. As we know, reverse polarity is prohibited in the U.S.--according to the NEC (National Electrical Code) and other national standards. Reverse polarity is created when the grounded conductor and the ungrounded conductors are reversed when wired to a 120v receptacle/outlet. In the U.S. appliance plugs are designed to connect to receptacles in only one direction. Here in Italy, the design of the receptacle, allows the plug to be installed in either direction which can result in polarity reversal. Reverse polarity can be dangerous. Lets take a normal household lamp for example,(just a standard 100w incandescent lightbulb). If we have reverse polarity at the receptacle, the srew shell on the lamp is now hot, even if the swith on the lamp is in the "off" position. [The srew shell is where the lightbulb srews in]. Anyway, as we replace a lightbulb, it is possible that our fingers can make contact with the screwshell of the lamp and we can get shocked. So, my question is: Why are receptacles and plugs in Europe designed in such manner?
