On 2019-02-23 17:03, tomas@tuxteam.de wrote:
On Sat, Feb 23, 2019 at 11:21:39AM -0500, rhkramer@gmail.com wrote: [...]
* and somewhat similarly (but in a very different context) in a 3 pin power plug for an ordinary household outlet (in the US), the ground pin is longer than the power pins so that the ground is connected before power is applied.
In the second case, the first contact is *protective ground*. It's thereto protect you from a defective device shorting the hot end to its chassis. The power carrying pins are connected "at the same time" (i.e. in some random order, and possibly a couple of times, if you chose your time resolution high enough).
I'm not very good at electricity. As I've had it explained the neutral is driven into the ground at the generating station. The Earth/ground circuit is supposed to be driven into the ground at your house, it's purpose to allow enough electrons to flow to trip the RCB/fuse in case there is a short in the local device/wiring and also a break in the neutral transmission line between you and the generating station.
mick -- Key ID 4BFEBB31