Experience shows that only a few know where the phase wire must be connected to the outlet, and where the zero wire must be connected. I will say that this knowledge can come in handy more than once. Therefore, it is worth remembering once, and then using it on occasion. Ignorance threatens with serious consequences, up to a fire.
In principle, there is nothing complicated and supernatural in installing an outlet. Even a person who does not have special knowledge is able to cope with this task. The most problematic is connect the wires correctly. In 1-phase sockets there are 2 wires, in sockets with grounding - as many as 3.
A striped, green-yellow wire is screwed to the ground. The two remaining wires are a little more complicated. First you need to figure out where the phase is.
Most apartments and private houses today have the following types of sockets:
1. Unpolarized 1-phase
The plug of electrical appliances is inserted into them straight or "upside down". Simple devices can be plugged into such sockets; polarity in this case does not matter.
2. Polarized 1-phase
In this case, the plug can be inserted into the outlet only in one position, so that the phase and zero are in strictly defined places. Devices operating on this principle have safety switches.
Sockets of this type are divided into the following types:
- In Asian, European and some other countries, they use CEE 7/5 connectors. The arrangement of the contacts in this case resembles a triangular shape.
- The British standard for sockets is BS 1363. Plugs are inserted into them with two horizontal pins responsible for the power supply, and one vertical - this is the grounding.
- In America, the standard is NEMA 5-15 plugs. Forks similar to the previous type are suitable for them.
Does something depend on the zero position and phase in the outlet?
I think most of you have ordinary sockets installed, plugs into which you can insert both normally and upside down, since they are symmetrical. Those. phase is suitable for any pin.
More than half of electrical devices are capable of operating in such conditions. Wherever the phase and zero are, there will be no harm to the devices from this.
By the way, in no standard or rule you will not find information about where to lead the phase wire. The choice is up to the electrician installing the outlet.
There is an opinion that the phase must certainly be on the right side. But this is just a generally accepted tradition, and not some kind of rule prescribed in the PUE.
Electricians with a guard operate precisely on this principle: they connect the phase to the right terminal. This is a kind of unspoken rule for them.
In any case, you need to check where the phase is, because often it is brought up from the left side!
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