What do different types of power cord do?

Power cords make use of an A/C or alternating current and very strict specifications are set out regarding the manufacture of these cords including their size and shape and the balancing of voltage and current. An A/C Power cord has 2 ends – referred to as the male and female – the female end connects to the electrical appliance while the male end plugs into the power point. All cords are similar except for the plug end; this determines the difference between power cords. A/C power cords come in a range of types including polarised, non-polarised and grounded – just to name a few.

The electricians in Sydney from Electrician To The Rescue today want to discuss the different types of power cords.

Polarised cords – have plugs with a specific shape to ensure that the electricity doesn’t move along the wrong wires, this is in place as a safety measure. The plugs are designed in a special way so the plug can only enter the socket one way. The electrical poles are now connected safely. You will notice one of the 3 prongs is larger than the other 2 this is to help align it properly in the socket.

Non-polarised cords – all the prongs on a non-polarised cord have the same size which means the live and neutral wires are both joined in a random fashion. These cords depend largely on the device they are plugged into so to ensure safety the appliance must have polarity shut-off and shifting features. You will find that non-polarised cords are more heavily insulated than normal polarised power cords.

Grounded power cords – an A/C power cord with a plug that is either polarised or non-polarised is commonly called a grounded cord. These cords have plugs that come with 3 prongs in order to sidetrack the flow of any stray voltage from the electrical equipment and users. Grounded power cords have the greatest level of security and safety and should always be used for the protection of expensive or valuable appliances.