US NEC: A four pin plug has four conductors - two hot, one neutral, and one ground. It is used in 240V appliances that require a 120V path to neutral, where the electrical code also requires a separate protective earth ground be maintained. Normally, code allows a dryer or range to be connected to a three pin plug where neutral and ground are tied together at the appliance. This is an exception to the normal rule, and is allowed due to the design and "safety experience" of these type of appliances. However, the code requires a four conductor circuit in the case of a mobile home. In this case, ground and neutral must not be tied together at the appliance - they must be run seperately all the way back to the distribution panel. Even if this is not a mobile home, local code may override national code, so you do need to check. <><><> As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed. Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized. IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
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A 4-pin plug is commonly used for connecting peripherals such as computer fans or LED strips that require a 12V power supply plus additional control signals, typically found in computer hardware. The additional pins are often used for PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control to adjust fan speed or RGB lighting effects.
No, it is not ok, it is potentially very dangerous because the two-wire cable has no earth with it. The earth wire is an important safety component that comes with a three-pin plug. An exception can be made for certain low-power appliances that have double insulation. This includes TV sets, radios, and table lights provided the mounting is plastic and not metal. These appliances are commonly sold with a twin-wire cable but often with a three-pin plug on the end of it. The three-pin plug in this case often has a plastic 'earth' pin and it is safe to replace it with a two-pin plug.
In North America the neutral pin is used to complete the circuit. One pin is "hot", one pin is neutral and the last pin is ground.
Yes, you can.
To clean a 3-pin plug, first unplug it from the socket. Use a dry cloth or a small brush to remove dirt and dust from the pins. Avoid using water or liquid cleaners, as this can cause damage to the plug.
The ground blade is the longest in a three blade plug.