Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!dali.cs.montana.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!samsung!emory!ogicse!zephyr.ens.tek.com!gvgpsa!gold.gvg.tek.com!grege
From: grege@gold.gvg.tek.com (Greg Ebert)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: polarity
Keywords: polarity, stupid, babooze
Message-ID: <2213@gold.gvg.tek.com>
Date: 23 Apr 91 18:48:56 GMT
References: <11864@jarthur.Claremont.EDU>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Grass Valley Group, Grass Valley, CA
Lines: 16

In article <11864@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> cliff@jarthur.Claremont.EDU (Clifford Stein) writes:
>What's the purpose of polarized wall outlets with an AC
>signal?  I don't understand.   Is it really bad to force
>something to plug in the wrong way?
>
>I am serious.  With a real AC signal (sinusoidal waves) I can see no reason
>at all for it.  How can the electrical equipment tell?
>

Hot-chassis sets that I have fixed/examined/destroyed always had the
(presumably) neutral lead connected to the chassis. It makes it a bit safer
for homes where curious children like poking metal objects into vent holes, etc.
I say presumably because you shouldn't ASSUME that the outlet is properly wired.

My friend had such a stereo in his garage (minus the case). I used to reverse
the plug on him, until one day he reversed it again and I got zapped !