Ground statements made in article

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

cppoly

Senior Member
Location
New York
Saw an article on MSN about grounding.

"[FONT=&quot]If, for instance, a wire came loose in your metal-encased toaster and touched the toaster’s metal exterior, the device would become electrified. If you were to then touch the toaster’s exterior, the electricity could then flow into you, shocking or potentially killing you. However, the ground wire ensures that any errant electrical charges are being sent to ground, a non-conductive destination where they won’t cause harm."

This is incorrect, the ground wire is there so that current can return back to its source so that an OCPD will open quickly. Current doesn't just magically, go to ground. Or am I missing something?

Quick read on article here:
[/FONT]https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/smart-living/the-secret-reason-why-outlets-have-three-prongs/ar-AAvcQVV?li=BBnb7Kz
 
cppoly said:
Saw an article on MSN about grounding.

"[FONT=&quot]If, for instance, a wire came loose in your metal-encased toaster and touched the toaster’s metal exterior, the device would become electrified. If you were to then touch the toaster’s exterior, the electricity could then flow into you, shocking or potentially killing you. However, the ground wire ensures that any errant electrical charges are being sent to ground, a non-conductive destination where they won’t cause harm."

This is incorrect, the ground wire is there so that current can return back to its source so that an OCPD will open quickly. Current doesn't just magically, go to ground. Or am I missing something?

Quick read on article here:
[/FONT]https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/smart-living/the-secret-reason-why-outlets-have-three-prongs/ar-AAvcQVV?li=BBnb7Kz
Click to expand...

The header starts out why outlets have 3 prongs.

Keep in mind, not everyone is an electrician, Thank God.

This is no different than one of my family members trying to describe something to me that they don't understand, and there's nothing wrong with that.

I'm sure I don't understand a lot of things they might know either.

No use picking on something that is simply somebody trying to explain things in simple terms to some that have no electrical background without scaring the H***l out of them.

This is how I'd go about explaining something to my Grandmother.

Give em a break.

And, by the way, some of that magic return current does actually go the ground so he's not completely off base.

JAP>
 
Of course it's incorrect, but it's close enough so that the vocationally challenged 99% of the population will know that a ground is an important safety requirement.

If you go deeper than that their eyes will gloss over and return to their cell phones again. :dunce:

-Hal
 
hbiss said:
Of course it's incorrect, but it's close enough so that the vocationally challenged 99% of the population will know that a ground is an important safety requirement.

If you go deeper than that their eyes will gloss over and return to their cell phones again. :dunce:

-Hal
Click to expand...

Much like mine did at the Super Bowl half time show.

JAP>
 
Ok just making sure.

I know the article has good intentions, I guess I would be a lot more upset if people in the field explained it like this.
 
cppoly said:
Ok just making sure.

I know the article has good intentions, I guess I would be a lot more upset if people in the field explained it like this.
Click to expand...

I'm with ya.

If we didn't have to worry about typing "Grounded Conductors" instead of "Neutrals" and "Ungrounded Conductors" instead of "Hots" , in an attempt to sound somewhat professional to others, our responses would come much quicker.


JAP>
 
drcampbell said:
Seems OK for a general-interest article, even if I've never seen a toaster with a three-conductor plug.
Click to expand...

Never seen a toaster with a cord that has a ground either. So the author is using an example that does not even apply to his story. And I like this gem in the last paragraph regarding why some cords are not 3 wire: "[FONT=&quot]they don’t use enough electricity to cause lethal harm"
[/FONT]All in all, the typical fluff piece that has no value and just further confuses the public.
 
texie said:
... I like this gem: "they don’t use enough electricity to cause lethal harm"
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's a bit of a misunderstanding and/or oversimplification. I could create a hazard by attaching a two-wire cord to an empty metal box that doesn't consume any electricity.
texie said:
All in all, the typical fluff piece that has no value and just further confuses the public.
Click to expand...
If people take away nothing more than "The ground prong is there for your safety", it's not a total waste of words.
 
drcampbell said:
I could create a hazard by attaching a two-wire cord to an empty metal box that doesn't consume any electricity.
Click to expand...


See.

Put this way is a perfect example of a scary subject for people who may not understand electricity.

If you connected both wires to the empty metal box it wouldn't be a hazard because it would short out and trip the breaker and clear the hazard when you plugged it in from a line to neutral fault.

It would only be a hazard if you left one of the conductors disconnected and let the person who touched it become part of the return path which although not completely accurate the guy in the article was trying to point out.

Seems the post that's being nit picked may not be such a bad explanation at all for the so called "vocationally challenged" as some have described them.


JAP>
 
jap said:
I'm with ya.

If we didn't have to worry about typing "Grounded Conductors" instead of "Neutrals" and "Ungrounded Conductors" instead of "Hots" , in an attempt to sound somewhat professional to others, our responses would come much quicker.


JAP>
Click to expand...

I usually go with the quick easy response... Hot and neutral
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top