this post was submitted on 27 Sep 2025
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This picture doesn't show how to wire socket, but now to wire a plug. The wire that's labeled ground is actually attached to live connector, although I guess that doesn't matter as live and neutral are shorted by white wire.
Plug, not outlet. It's even labeled as such
No, it's not the only wire in the circuit. If that plug is plugged into an outlet, then the hot live wire is coming into the circuit at the pin labelled live, and connecting to the ground wire of the device. That ground wire is usually connected to the metal frame of an appliance. Because of the white wire connecting the live and neutral pins together, it's going to immediately flow back to the breaker box. However, if for whatever reason the path from the ground of the device to actual ground is shorter, then the electricity will flow through the device. It is possible for a person to be in the path to ground. The way this is wired might also circumnavigate an RCD, preventing the safety switch from operating correctly.
An RCD measures the difference in current flow between the phase and neutral, so it will trip in this scenario. An alternative path to earth is precisely what they're designed to detect.
Ah yeah, you're right, my mistake. It's wild to me as an Aussie that they aren't universal in the States. Plenty of houses (or outlets?) don't have them IIRC?
Plenty of old houses still don't have them in Australia and NZ, but they're required on power circuits in new builds.
As they should be, they're an incredible technology.
I don't think I've ever lived somewhere without them. I'd be willing to bet it's a requirement for rentals, in Victoria at least.
Labeled as ground that mysteriously vanishes in the machine???
It should; but it's also important to note breakers are not intended to prevent electric shocks, they are intended to protect the wiring within your walls.
The time in between this being plugged in and the relevant breaker tripping IS enough time to receive a harmful shock from that 'ground' wire. Preventing this is the purpose of GFCI devices.
Assuming everything else is in good working order, the fault current would probably be enough to trip the breaker in a similar time frame to how fast a GFCI would react.
But, if the owner of the house is asking AI for electrical advice, it's entirely possible they've fucked up wiring the socket as well.
I mean, potentially, I guess; but you're rolling the dice with resistances across a few dozen connections, high fault currents, and trip time curves that altogether I certainly wouldn't want to play games with.
Regular breakers are not designed to trip at high speed and prevent shocks, they're there to stop your wiring from bursting into flames. The larger the fault, the faster they will cut off power, but there's no guarantee that'll be fast enough to save you from electrocution.
I did say probably.
Unless you have a broken neutral, in which case someone dies.
Yes; obviously a broken neutral is a problem in itself, but that's usually a relatively minor issue that just leaves an outlet inoperable at worst.
The way this plug is wired is such a hazard that if it was plugged into an outlet with a broken neutral, it could be potentially deadly for an extended period of time (as opposed to tripping a breaker, only presenting a hazard briefly).
A really simple example: an outlet that has worn out, meaning the neutral does not always connect with the inserted plug. You insert this plug into that outlet and the casing of the appliance you've just plugged in is now live.
You do understand things break over time, right? Just because your outlets worked when you moved in doesn't mean the neutral contacts haven't snapped off in the plug or something.
Also, most people don't randomly test every outlet in their house, no. That's kinda weird.