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passer_by | 14:16 Mon 29th Aug 2005 | How it Works
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why is it that some appliances have three pin plugs while some have two pin plugs
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I'm not an electrician but it might have something to do with the 2 pin plug item being insulated in plastic and therefore giving a low probability of electric shock if it was faulty (where the earth would come in use if it wasn't insulated in plastic). 
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The third pin is Earth, which is not always used in European connections. 2-pin UK appliances such as razors don't necessarily need an earth because they are very low current. Similarly, there are 2 different sized eurpoean plugs, the bigger of which doe contain an external earth connection through the socket and is used for higher current appliances

As ugly_bob mentions, the larger Euro plug has two earth connections - either side of the plug in a groove.  This is in addition to the 2 pins.

I quite like the Euro plugs, especially the extension leads because they have a selection of large and small plug connections - the small obviously take up very little room.

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