🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <15NOV199212004732@elroy.uh.edu>, st1r8@elroy.uh.edu (Guillot, Burt J.) writes:
>That subject says it all ...

But doesn't get automatically included in replies, and would be meaningless to
someone whose home hasn't been rewired in the last 15 years or so.

The two-prong plug is used for a circuit that's taken from one side of a
center-tapped transformer.  The center tap is grounded.  That means that one
side of the circuit is nominally at ground potential, while the other is "hot."
The purpose of the polarized plugs is to allow the manufacturers of appliances 
to know which wire is hot and which is neutral.  Armed with this information,
the manufacturers can design the appliances so that, in the event the case
somehow gets shorted to one of the wires, it's more likely the neutral wire to
which it gets shorted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL

Disclaimer:  Hey, I understand VAXen and VMS.  That's what I get paid for.  My
understanding of astronomy is purely at the amateur level (or below).  So
unless what I'm saying is directly related to VAX/VMS, don't hold me or my
organization responsible for it.  If it IS related to VAX/VMS, you can try to
hold me responsible for it, but my organization had nothing to do with it.