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   rec.arts.sf.written      Discussion of written science fiction an      448,027 messages   

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   Message 447,081 of 448,027   
   Mark Jackson to Scott Lurndal   
   Re: xkcd: Truly Universal Outlet   
   28 Dec 25 18:22:48   
   
   XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips   
   From: mjackson@alumni.caltech.edu   
      
   On 12/28/2025 12:42 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:   
   > Mark Jackson  writes:   
   >> On 12/27/2025 1:44 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:   
   >>> Don't blame the electricians if you're shorted (pun intended);   
   >>> they're contracted and paid by the builder.   
   >>   
   >> While doing my thesis research I discovered that the floor receptacle   
   >> where I worked, although with a three-pin face, had no internal   
   >> connection for the safety ground.   
   >   
   > If the circuit is run in metal pipe, the conduit itself can act   
   > as the grounding conductor[*].   I believe that this was allowed by   
   > NEC in the past, so you won't find an explicit grounding   
   > conductor in that situation.   
      
   The grounding pin receptacle was connected to *nothing*.  Had it somhow   
   been grounded the other half of the problem - hot and return flipped,   
   for most of the equipment on the island - would have instantly tripped   
   the breaker.   
   --   
   Mark Jackson - https://mark-jackson.online/   
      Every human society must justify its inequalities.   
                       - Thomas Piketty   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)   

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