Smooth side = hot (small blade)
Ribbed side = ground (large blade)
The ribbed wire on an extension cord is typically the neutral wire. The black wire is usually the hot wire. It's important to check the manufacturer's instructions or consult a professional if you are unsure.
Ribbed wire typically comes in black color for easy visibility and identification. However, it can also come in white or other colors depending on the manufacturer's specifications or application requirements.
Polarized wire typically has one wire with a ribbed or textured surface to indicate polarity, while the other wire is smooth. The colors of the wire insulation itself can vary, but the ribbed wire is commonly white or silver, while the smooth wire is usually black.
Connect the black wire to the smooth wire. The ribbed wire is the identifier for the neutral wire which is connected to the shell of the lamp holder. The smooth wire connects to the center pin in the lamp holder. Using this configuration the hot wire is kept away from your fingers as far as possible when changing out the light bulb.
An extension cord that you plug into your house is neither positive OR negative. It uses alternating current so there's a live wire and a ground. Only direct currents (like those in cars) have positive and negative. On a two wire extension cord the ribbed side is the neutral. If you look close and it is a moulded plug on the end of the extension cord you will find that the side with the rib is also the same side as the wider blade on the plug. This corresponds to the wide blade hole in the receptacle which is also the neutral side of the receptacle.
The ribbed wire on an extension cord is typically the neutral wire. The black wire is usually the hot wire. It's important to check the manufacturer's instructions or consult a professional if you are unsure.
Ribbed wire typically comes in black color for easy visibility and identification. However, it can also come in white or other colors depending on the manufacturer's specifications or application requirements.
In North America the neutral has to be identified as such. On a lamp cord the ribbed insulation side is the identification of the neutral wire. The "hot" conductor of the lamp cord is the smooth insulation.No. Screw material is no safe indicator because they would be too easy to swap round.
The wire that is hot on an extension cord is typically the black wire.
Polarized wire typically has one wire with a ribbed or textured surface to indicate polarity, while the other wire is smooth. The colors of the wire insulation itself can vary, but the ribbed wire is commonly white or silver, while the smooth wire is usually black.
Connect the black wire to the smooth wire. The ribbed wire is the identifier for the neutral wire which is connected to the shell of the lamp holder. The smooth wire connects to the center pin in the lamp holder. Using this configuration the hot wire is kept away from your fingers as far as possible when changing out the light bulb.
An extension cord that you plug into your house is neither positive OR negative. It uses alternating current so there's a live wire and a ground. Only direct currents (like those in cars) have positive and negative. On a two wire extension cord the ribbed side is the neutral. If you look close and it is a moulded plug on the end of the extension cord you will find that the side with the rib is also the same side as the wider blade on the plug. This corresponds to the wide blade hole in the receptacle which is also the neutral side of the receptacle.
The type of wire you are looking for is called lamp cord. It comes in different colours usually to match the fixture. Fixtures hanging from chains use a clear insulation so as to blend in with the fixture chain colour. Remember that the smooth wire of the lamp cord connects to the hot wire and the ribbed wire on the lamp cord connects to the neutral wire in the ceiling junction box.
Ribbed wire typically refers to a type of reinforcement wire used in concrete construction and is not typically hot. However, if an electrical current is passing through the wire or it is being used in a high-temperature environment, then it could become hot.
It depends on the extension cord but I will give you 2 ways and they are each very simple. On a residential type (what I call a house burner) extension cord with just 2 conductors, you will find that the jacket of one wire is smooth and the other one has ridges. The one with ridges is your neutral or white conductor. On a more commercial type extension cord with conductors covered by a protective jacket, your conductors in the cord will be color-coded, with black being hot, white being neutral and green or bare being ground.
You can rewire your extension cord by replacing the existing wire with green, black and white wires. In most situations it is safer and cheaper to buy a new extention cord.
buy a new extension cord