On Tue, Jan 10, 2023 at 05:14 PM, dcc98_05 wrote:
Back in the time frame of 1974-75 power tools for CA had to have polarized plug plus double insulated. Most US brands made the switch instead of running 2 production lines. One thing that drives me crazy in old houses was you never knew if the black or white wire was HOT! Then some one installs a modern grounded outlet but no ground wire GRRRR.
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Re: Back in the time frame of 1974-75 power tools for CA had to have polarized plug plus double insulated. Most US brands made the switch instead of running 2 production lines. ?
My recollection is that at first, hand-tools had to be 3-wire¡ making a lot of sense for metal frame tools, and later they allowed 2-wire double insulated perhaps more reasonable for plastic cases, but I was not aware of what the CSA standards said.
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Re: you never knew if the black or white wire was HOT!?
Long before that, the rule was white for neutral. However, once at/inside any non-polarized outlet, any intent to maintain polarization was lost.
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Re: Then some one installs a modern grounded outlet but no ground wire GRRRR. ?
Well, if the neutral was really white, there is no excuse for not ensuring polarization, as any grounding [3wire] outlet is inherently polarized. If the wiring did have a ground, there is no excuse for not connecting that correctly, but most likely it did not have a ground wire; and that is the problem anywhere. I think there is still an escape clause here for old buildings, that allows a GFCI to be inserted near panel.
73? don VA3DRL
don Root