Grounding

[Franc Zabkar]

Doesn't a similar situation exist under the hood of your car?

Two wires emerge from the alternator, a thick one and a thin one, and both
go to the positive pole of the battery.
I wonder how many people have stood pondered why that might be?

Graham.

%Profound_observation%

The heavy one supplies current to the battery. The thin one is used by
the alternator's built-in regulator to sense battery voltage. This is
to compensate for the voltage drop in the current carrying cable.

A term often used to describe this technique is "remote sensing".


- Franc Zabkar

 

[Brett]

But the real point is that it is not electrically the same in the case of a
failure of the neutral line.

Leonard

No, I don't think they are the same. The green wire grounds the
housing of the appliance (for safety), in case there is a short in the
circuit. Will the appliance work if you connect the green wire in
place of the white wire, no. The green wire is connected to the
appliance housing in case of an electrical short. The white wire is
the common (ground) return. Do not connect the green wire to the white
wire! Listen to the advice already given. These guys know their stuff.

 

[AC]

The main problem in applying Darwin's theory to humans, is that animals
rarely sell their houses. Some barter, or steal them, but they are usually
"as-is", and the new owner lives with the consequences as their actions have
produced. Our situation relies on laws to protect ourselves from each
others' stupidity, and although not a perfect system, still allow for
someone to sue you for everything you have if your wiring causes injury, or
death to another.

Luckily, you have benefitted from the free advice of several learned people
here. I hope you have learnt more than just basic power circuit safety...

 

[[email protected]]

Of course the proper, NEC-approved way to convert 2-prong outlets to
3-prong without installing a proper ground is to use GFCI outlets.

The NEC also happens to allow the ground and neutral to be tied
together in some special circumstances. For example if the circuit
only supplies a single appliance like a dryer or stove (some 3-wire
corded dryers connect them internally).

-Chris