This has just reminded me of a question that's been bugging me since
school physics class. If we run alternating current on the power
supply, with the current reversing 50 or 60 times a second, why bother
labelling live and neutral and having to remember which way round to
stick the wires in the plug. You get it wrong and 1/50th of a second
later you got it right. What's the difference between live and neutral?
James
On 13 Apr 2004, at 20:16, Jim Brokaw wrote:
> on 4/12/04 9:21 AM, Walt Wayman at hiwayman@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
>> Still, I can't help but wonder, is there some lack of understanding
>> of the
>> fundamental principles of electricity over there? Do American
>> electrons
>> commit unnatural acts on European devices?
>>
>> Walt
>
> Walt - I think the problem is in the electrons. In the USA, the +
> electrons
> go down the right side of the wire, whereas in the UK they go down the
> left
> side of the wire. Probably the many electron collisions that result
> from the
> 'wrong side' electronics eventually wears through at the intersections
> and
> corners, then all the electrons escape and the piece fails. Since the
> holes
> start out small, just a few electrons escape, accounting for your
> gradual
> failures (aka "graceful degradation" or "soft failure mode"). I think
> if you
> can find an independent electronic repairman who understands this they
> may
> be able to rejigger <-(technical term) the box so the electrons get
> fooled
> into running on the USA side of the wires.
> --
>
> Jim Brokaw
> OM-'s of all sorts, and no OM-oney...
>
>
>
>
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