I am looking at the inside of a 3 prong outlet cord. (for a house with 120 volt ac )
It has 3 different color wires
white
black
and green
But realisticly why do we need three wires?
To complete a circuit you should only need 2 wires?
I have read that black and white wires are used in completing the house circuit and the green is only ever used when their is a faliure in the white/black circuit. (for protection)
But I don't really get how a third wire could protect you?
I have read that the green wire basically touchs the devices metal case.
So if the black wire comes undone and touches the metal case it will travel to the green ground wire instead of thru you.
But is this the only reason or is their more to the protection reason what happens if the device didn't have a metal case then would the green ground be completely worthless. Where would you even attach it?
Where is green in the house circuit connected to?
I know black is power and white is the return of the power.
I am assuming since it is ac it osscilates between black having current flowing to white and white having current flowing to black.
-----black ----->
|
<-----white----
It has 3 different color wires
white
black
and green
But realisticly why do we need three wires?
To complete a circuit you should only need 2 wires?
I have read that black and white wires are used in completing the house circuit and the green is only ever used when their is a faliure in the white/black circuit. (for protection)
But I don't really get how a third wire could protect you?
I have read that the green wire basically touchs the devices metal case.
So if the black wire comes undone and touches the metal case it will travel to the green ground wire instead of thru you.
But is this the only reason or is their more to the protection reason what happens if the device didn't have a metal case then would the green ground be completely worthless. Where would you even attach it?
Where is green in the house circuit connected to?
I know black is power and white is the return of the power.
I am assuming since it is ac it osscilates between black having current flowing to white and white having current flowing to black.
-----black ----->
|
<-----white----