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From: "Phil Allison"
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design
References: <3D9A856D.99A017C7@110.net> <3Dun9.46477$g9.133083@newsfeeds.bigpond.com>
Subject: Re: Wall wart with two blade polarized plug,,,Why?
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Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 16:15:18 +1000
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"Bob Wilson" wrote in message
news:upvhdol6dfi215@corp.supernews.com...
> > ** Well - it is nice if the switch is in the active and not the
> >neutral. All Aussie plugs are polarised - we have two flat but
angled-in
> >pins for A and N and a slightly longer one for ground. It can only go in
> >one way even if there is no ground pin fittd to the plug.
> >
> >
> > Regards, Phil
>
> What is particularly intersting here, is that the standard Schuko plug is
> used nearly everywhere in Europe, and it has no polarity. Nonetheless,
there
> are no documented safety problems related to "polarity reversal' there
(the
> Schuko is also a far safer plug in other respects as well).
>
> So I find it interesting the regulatory agencies in North America (and
other
> places as well) seem so anal about an issue (polararity reversal) that
seems
> not to be a problem in the first place (if one is to judge by the European
> experience).
** It is no simple task to compare appliance safety from one country
to another. There are so many hidden variables that only someone resident
in that country would even know about. When 240 volt rules are compared to
120 volt ones apparent anomalies abound.
The safety rules are not isolated concepts but rather in integrated
set of rules and prohibitions that make things reasonably safe when all the
items in the set are combined.
Usually active and neutral are treated the same in regards to
insulation, clearances etc. Just like they might be swapped at any time.
But when it comes to gadgets like double adaptors no internal swapping is
allowed - it can be very dangerous.
Sometimes the earth and neutral have been accidentaly swapped in an
appliance or extension lead and this may go un-noticed for years. If an
adaptor which swaps the active and neutral is used with them - guess what ?
Regards, Phil
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