Why Do Some Cords Have 2 Prongs And Others Have 3?
A 2-prong cord, also known as a polarized cord, typically consists of two wires: a hot wire and a neutral wire. These cords are commonly found in older electrical devices and appliances. They are also found on new appliances where the appliance is double insulated, which just means there are two levels of isolation from the energized “hot” parts of the appliance.
On the other hand, a 3-prong cord includes an additional ground wire in addition to the hot and neutral wires found in a 2-prong cord. The third prong, known as the ground prong, is designed to provide an additional safety measure by connecting the appliance or device to the ground, which helps to prevent electrical shock in the event of a short circuit or electrical malfunction by triggering the breaker to trip.
In summary, the primary difference between a 2-prong cord and a 3-prong cord is the presence of a ground wire in the latter. They both are safe to use, but use different methods to protect the user.