Live and neutral pins of Ultra
- Thread starter Chaplyga
- Start date
-
- Tags
- wiim ultra
Pragmatist
Major Contributor
This very early morning, with eyes not really open, I have written a very long sermon about correct phases as answer, only to notice a bit later that it is the in Germany often so called Euro Stecker/Kupplung. Deleted with shame 
There's always just an alternating voltage between both pins and since there is nor further ground as a reference it doesn't matter which is which. Signal ground is not connected to either pin but free floating.
These so called Class II devices (with no safety earth) must provide isolation of the case to protect users from electric shocks. Neither of the power pins must be connected to any part reachable by the user.
You can still try and revert the polarity of the plug to see if there are any unexpected secondary effects, but no matter what you do, the device is safe either way.
That’s why I try to resist posting an hour before bedtime or an hour after waking up (I don’t always succeed) - my brain is in slow motion then…This very early morning, with eyes not really open, I have written a very long sermon about correct phases as answer, only to notice a bit later that it is the in Germany often so called Euro Stecker/Kupplung. Deleted with shame
FYI, there are non-polarized (Type A) and polarized (Type B) plugs. Type A are more common, but Type B do exist. It seems like Wiim just uses Type A.
Here is a type B plug.
Here is a type B plug.
slartibartfast
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2024
- Messages
- 3,949
I am not sure they are common in UK.
Yeah, don’t think I’ve ever seen one either
Neither am I. It's what the German Wikipedia article says.
"Never in my whole live" includes my (few) trips to the UK, at least.
slartibartfast
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2024
- Messages
- 3,949
This is from the UK WikipediaNeither am I. It's what the German Wikipedia article says.
"Never in my whole live" includes my (few) trips to the UK, at least.
dangermouse
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2023
- Messages
- 265
I've got one of those Type B in a box somewhere. Not sure what it was ever used for, but I'm one of those "It might come in useful someday" people.
I'm in the UK.
I'm in the UK.
Some background.
In many 2 wire plugs used in the US, one blade is larger than the other with matching small and large holes in the receptacle. That insures that the plug only goes in one way and that the hot is always connected to the hot and the neutral is always connected to the neutral. Since the neutral is always connected to ground back in the electrical panel, this guarantees a ground is available in the device, although a separate independent ground wire provides better protection. The C7 polarized plug is just another example of this type of connection. Older plugs often have blades of the same size but those have generally been phased out in favor of 2 different sized blade plugs in devices that draw significant current. The additional of an actual ground wire in 3 wire plugs just provides a separate independent path to the earth ground.
More fun reading :
With 120 volts systems there is 240 volts coming into the electrical panel on 2 hot wires, 1 neutral and 1 ground. To get 240 volts, you use the 2 hot wires. To get 120 volts you use 1 hot and the neutral. The neutral is actually tied to the ground in the breaker box. With European type 230 volt systems there is just 1 hot wire, along with a neutral and a ground, so 120 volts is not available.
In many 2 wire plugs used in the US, one blade is larger than the other with matching small and large holes in the receptacle. That insures that the plug only goes in one way and that the hot is always connected to the hot and the neutral is always connected to the neutral. Since the neutral is always connected to ground back in the electrical panel, this guarantees a ground is available in the device, although a separate independent ground wire provides better protection. The C7 polarized plug is just another example of this type of connection. Older plugs often have blades of the same size but those have generally been phased out in favor of 2 different sized blade plugs in devices that draw significant current. The additional of an actual ground wire in 3 wire plugs just provides a separate independent path to the earth ground.
More fun reading :
With 120 volts systems there is 240 volts coming into the electrical panel on 2 hot wires, 1 neutral and 1 ground. To get 240 volts, you use the 2 hot wires. To get 120 volts you use 1 hot and the neutral. The neutral is actually tied to the ground in the breaker box. With European type 230 volt systems there is just 1 hot wire, along with a neutral and a ground, so 120 volts is not available.
slartibartfast
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2024
- Messages
- 3,949
Really? Three phase in a home? Is it a mansion?
Pragmatist
Major Contributor
Yes, in kitchens it is absolutely normal.
slartibartfast
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2024
- Messages
- 3,949
OK. We once rented a flat where the fuse blew when we used the oven and the electric hob at the same time. Turned out the original oven must have had a gas hob and the landlord had plugged a fully electric oven into the 13A socket. He wasn't happy when we told the agent that it should have a dedicated 32A supply
Three phase inlet, normally split to single phase. I remember I had a three phase outlet installed for tools in a previous home. And honestly charging an electric car (very common in Norway) is more efficient with three phase.
slartibartfast
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2024
- Messages
- 3,949
I think in the UK each house is normally single phase but neighbouring house are probably on different phases. I think three phase is probably required (and an extra expense) when installing high current EV chargers.
