Most electrical appliances are connected to the mains using cable and a three-pin plug. The cable we use to connect appliances to a plug is called flex, this is because it is . Most Flex is made up of 3 cores, each in its own colour coded insulation, all within an outer sheath.
Most Flex is made up of 3 cores, each in its own colour coded insulation, all within an outer sheath.
The live terminal between positive and negative potential with respect to the neutral terminal. The neutral terminal stays at a potential close to with respect to earth. While the earth wire and fuse together the appliance and the user.
Appliances with cases are usually earthed. Appliances with cases are said to be double insulated and so do not need an earth wire. Such appliances use a two-core cable in which there is only and conductors. The appliance's flex is normally connected to the mains with a 13 amp square pin plug:
The appliance's flex is normally connected to the mains with a 13 amp square pin plug:
The plug contains 2 safety features of its own:
It is important that the earth wire is the longest of the 3 wires, so that if the wire is tugged out of the plug the earth wire is the last to be disconnected.
