advice on Zone VI head appreciated

**finnagainn** · 22-Dec-2010, 00:48

I got this head recently and I am a bit confused with the wiring. The black cord on the photo lights the tube up. So what is the gray one? A heater? Why three pin then? A stabilizer? But I don't see any photo cells (should I?)

Any help is highly appreciated - many thanks in advance!

**DanK** · 22-Dec-2010, 10:03

The second cord is the heater...

Not sure why the two prong and three prong (probably only needs one safety ground at the housing) my Zone VI heads have three prong plugs for both lamp and heater...(older beseler has two prong for both)

Thanks,
Dan

**ic-racer** · 22-Dec-2010, 16:12

Yes, a heater. Kind of a poor-mans stabilizer, but it works reasonably well.

Odd that the heater is the 3 pronged one. In general, heating elements in toasters, tacking irons, clothes irons, etc are usually 2 pronged. You are more likely to get a shock when sticking a fork in a toaster to get your bread if the toaster body is grounded, thus the usual 2 prong cord.

**bobwysiwyg** · 22-Dec-2010, 16:32

Originally Posted by ic-racer

You are more likely to get a shock when sticking a fork in a toaster to get your bread if the toaster body is grounded, thus the usual 2 prong cord.

Can you explain your rationale here? Personally, I would always prefer GFI and a ground, even though the ground is not necessary for the GFI to work.

**ic-racer** · 22-Dec-2010, 17:11

Originally Posted by bobwysiwyg

Can you explain your rationale here? Personally, I would always prefer GFI and a ground, even though the ground is not necessary for the GFI to work.

If you touch only one wire of a 'free floating' ac line, and you are not grounded, you will not get shocked.

There are a lot of exceptions and sometimes making one situation safer, makes another more dangerous.

This article is excellent in explaining how you can and cannot get shocked in non-polarized, polarized and 3 pronged AC delivery systems.
http://amasci.com/amateur/whygnd.html

**bobwysiwyg** · 22-Dec-2010, 17:39

Thanks, good read. Now I know why I limit my electrical work to changing bulbs.

**banjo** · 24-Dec-2010, 15:05

Hey all
the two pronged one goes to the timer NOT ALL TIMER have 3 pronged outlets
that why!! as too the 3 pronged one will ground the thing anyway !

banjo

**Leigh** · 24-Dec-2010, 16:55

Originally Posted by bobwysiwyg

Personally, I would always prefer GFI and a ground, even though the ground is not necessary for the GFI to work.

Toasters pre-date GFCIs (not GFIs) by many decades.

Three-prong household outlets only came into use in the 1960's(?).

As others have mentioned, you only need one grounded cord for a piece of equipment; other cords can be two-prong.

- Leigh