lady sparks lover
Senior Member
I'm not sure what this is or what it means, but I figured who better to ask then all the intelligent men and women of this site. Can someone explain what they are and what they do. Also why they are installed? 
Reversed polarity receptacles
- Thread starter lady sparks lover
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Re: Reversed polarity receptacles
What would a male plug configured as an inlet to a piece of equipment be called? Could that be what is described.
In other words a male connector but not on a cord, instead fixed in a recessed socket attached to equipment meant to be supplied by a separate cord.
Jim
What would a male plug configured as an inlet to a piece of equipment be called? Could that be what is described.
In other words a male connector but not on a cord, instead fixed in a recessed socket attached to equipment meant to be supplied by a separate cord.
Jim
Re: Reversed polarity receptacles
Jersey,
It's not a utter.-Grin'in-Reading you post sir,you may haved descibed a recessed mount pin-sleeve device.You might find it at leviton Products site.Or it may be a recessed single receptacle to power the unit/equipment that it's installed on..
[ April 04, 2005, 02:26 PM: Message edited by: dillon3c ]
Jersey,
It's not a utter.-Grin'in-Reading you post sir,you may haved descibed a recessed mount pin-sleeve device.You might find it at leviton Products site.Or it may be a recessed single receptacle to power the unit/equipment that it's installed on..
[ April 04, 2005, 02:26 PM: Message edited by: dillon3c ]
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Re: Reversed polarity receptacles
That would be a "flanged inlet".
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Re: Reversed polarity receptacles
Its also known as a motor base plug. A flanged inlet is commonly used at a building to plug a generator cord into (female on cord, male at building)
Its also known as a motor base plug. A flanged inlet is commonly used at a building to plug a generator cord into (female on cord, male at building)
Re: Reversed polarity receptacles
If you are talking about the actual term "reversed polarity", it is most often used to describe a device that is incorrectly wired.
With 120V., it is when the grounded conductor is connected to the "brass-colored" screw & the ungrounded conductor is connected to the "white/silver- colored" screw.
As don_r says, there is a flanged inlet.
If you are talking about the actual term "reversed polarity", it is most often used to describe a device that is incorrectly wired.
With 120V., it is when the grounded conductor is connected to the "brass-colored" screw & the ungrounded conductor is connected to the "white/silver- colored" screw.
As don_r says, there is a flanged inlet.
lady sparks lover
Senior Member
Re: Reversed polarity receptacles
Ok, so What's the big deal? So the hot is connected to the neutral terminal, and the neutral is connected to the hot, correct?? Ok..I get it....
Other than it being wrong, will it cause a safety issue?
Lady
Wow, thanks for answering...
Ok, so What's the big deal? So the hot is connected to the neutral terminal, and the neutral is connected to the hot, correct?? Ok..I get it....
Other than it being wrong, will it cause a safety issue?
Lady
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Reversed polarity receptacles
It could cause safety issues yes.Should a lamp be pluged in you now made the shell hot.There are also some equipment that might have surge protecters that could fry.
It could cause safety issues yes.Should a lamp be pluged in you now made the shell hot.There are also some equipment that might have surge protecters that could fry.
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Reversed polarity receptacles
On an AC system there is no real reverse polarity as far as the positive or negative, as they interchange 60 times a second.
But from a safety stand point there can be problems with old TV's that reference the grounded conductor to there case, Shell's of lamp holders, and many other items that could have the polarized blade (wide one) used as the grounding conductor. Another problem I have run into is when a DYS boot legs a ground off a neutral and the hot and neutral was switched at another junction box! This allows everything that gets grounded by these plugs to have a 120 volt potential on the grounding (like a freezer in a garage) to Earth which could be lethal.
Maybe if it was DC device on a Dc circuit?
On an AC system there is no real reverse polarity as far as the positive or negative, as they interchange 60 times a second.
But from a safety stand point there can be problems with old TV's that reference the grounded conductor to there case, Shell's of lamp holders, and many other items that could have the polarized blade (wide one) used as the grounding conductor. Another problem I have run into is when a DYS boot legs a ground off a neutral and the hot and neutral was switched at another junction box!
This allows everything that gets grounded by these plugs to have a 120 volt potential on the grounding (like a freezer in a garage) to Earth which could be lethal.Re: Reversed polarity receptacles
LSL: in modern grounded systems, where the neutral is bonded to the grounding electrode system, reversed polarity can be lethal.
it is not a matter of the polarity reversing on the neutral. notice that on most distribution lines the neutral is bare. it has no potential to ground in whatever state it is in. the obverse is also true. the hot is always in some potential to ground.
double insulated drills, for example are not a danger, and it doesn't matter which of the tines of a plug are joined in a receptacle. but take the example of a light and socket. in a correct system, the shell will not shock, even with the light on. however reverse the polarity and touch the shell and you will discover with an intimacy not soon forgotten exactly how conductive household materials are.
there are numerous places where reversed polarity can be life threatening. it is dangerous and against the NEC.
paul
[ April 06, 2005, 02:06 AM: Message edited by: apauling ]
LSL: in modern grounded systems, where the neutral is bonded to the grounding electrode system, reversed polarity can be lethal.
it is not a matter of the polarity reversing on the neutral. notice that on most distribution lines the neutral is bare. it has no potential to ground in whatever state it is in. the obverse is also true. the hot is always in some potential to ground.
double insulated drills, for example are not a danger, and it doesn't matter which of the tines of a plug are joined in a receptacle. but take the example of a light and socket. in a correct system, the shell will not shock, even with the light on. however reverse the polarity and touch the shell and you will discover with an intimacy not soon forgotten exactly how conductive household materials are.
there are numerous places where reversed polarity can be life threatening. it is dangerous and against the NEC.
paul
[ April 06, 2005, 02:06 AM: Message edited by: apauling ]
Re: Reversed polarity receptacles
Wayne, yes, "polarity" is a bit of a misnomer in AC systems, but we all know what it means, I hope.
Paul, I don't believe the shell of a lamp socket contacts either conductor, not on purpose anyway. And, in the days before polarized connectors, polarity could be either way, and no one cared. I can't think of any case where reverse polarity would be a hazard to humans or equipment, but I don't know everything yet.
Should be done right though.
Wayne, yes, "polarity" is a bit of a misnomer in AC systems, but we all know what it means, I hope.
Paul, I don't believe the shell of a lamp socket contacts either conductor, not on purpose anyway. And, in the days before polarized connectors, polarity could be either way, and no one cared. I can't think of any case where reverse polarity would be a hazard to humans or equipment, but I don't know everything yet.
Should be done right though.
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