With a polarized plug, it is perfectly safe to have a single-pole switch there-- one just makes sure it interrupts the "live" contact; With a non-polarized plug, one either has to put a more expensive double-pole switch, or to accept that half of the time, powered-off power strip would present a shock hazard. Neither of these options is very good.

For example, if a lamp is properly wired with a polarized plug into a polarized outlet, and it is turned off, you could stick your finger in the lamp’s bulb socket without getting a shock. If the lamp is improperly wired, you would get a shock, even though the lamp switch is off.

Jun 11, 2022 · Upgrading to polarized prevents this, again so long as the socket and extension also are polarized and correctly connected. Old-school hot chassis, vintage light strings or modern lamps, the polarized plug provides improved safety as long as the plug and socket is wired correctly and it isn’t defeated by a bogus cord or adapter.

Aug 6, 2014 · Take a look at obvious toaster example: If you live in Europe and have non-polarized plug and a toaster (a bad one without double-pole turn off) - you have a 50% chance of touching the hot wire (via the heating elements or even bread if you're unlucky) if you plug it in the wrong way, so that the off switch turns off just the neutral wire.

It's also backward-compatible with older non-polarized plugs that have two narrow blades, however newer plugs that are polarized are not compatible with older receptacles (barring the improper use of tin snips). Edit: As kabZX points out, when one side of the line is switched or (most importantly) when one is fused, it should be the hot side only.

Aug 30, 2023 · Short answer: No, an unpolarized C7 connector (rounded on both sides) should not be used in place of a polarized one (square-shape on one side), even though it fits. The polarized version of the C7 connector is non-standard and was not designed to be interchanged with the unpolarized version nor was it designed to prevent doing so.

Jan 13, 2022 · NA changed wiring in the '60s from non-polarized 2 pin receptacles to polarized 3 pin receptacles and the appliances followed suit many years later. Yet some double insulated products, especially from China are still not polarized plugs, with smaller blades.

Assuming a US standard electrical system, polarized plugs/sockets have two different sizes in the plug blades. The neutral blade is the larger blade and the hot/live blade is narrower. You can test it by measuring the voltage between the terminal in question and an earth ground using a voltmeter or voltage tester.

Jul 12, 2023 · As pointed out in a comment by jonathanjo, the polarized C7 is not part of the IEC 60320 standard, and the wikimedia image has been alternating between square is neutral and square is line. Finbarr has pointed out in a comment that the non-polarized C7 plug will fit into a polarized socket, and that polarized to non-polarized cables are ...

Jul 23, 2023 · Wherever such lamps are in use, non-polarized plugs should not be used. However, if such lamps, and appliances with similar safety issues, are not available in a country, then non-polarized plugs should not be an issue in that country. I.e. if you make your appliances safe to use with non-polarized plugs, then non-polarized plugs will be safe.