Electricity Wiring question

[K1LOS]

Hey, this is a very simple question, that i just can't seem to find the answer to! All i need to know is on your standard male wall-plug, which side is the "hot " side? Is it the the thin prong or the fatter prong? Now you would think that would be easy to find the answer too, but nobody seems to know. And on the internet, they just assume you already know!

I am trying to wire a thermostat into my ghetto incubator, and i am running out of time. These eggs will be popping out anyday now!

Thanks for you help,

Geoff

[Invictus]

It doesn't matter on a non-grounded plug. As a general rule of thumb, on standard lamp cord, the textured wire is considered your "hot", and it is wired to the silver screw inside the plug and/or the light fixture.

[corr]

Ken is right, but as far as the blades go, I found this site... http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1080/n8_v48/21085838/p2/article.jhtml?term=

"The extra-wide, neutral prong fits only into the wide, neutral slot in a polarized receptacle. It won't fit the narrower, hot-prong slot."

[Invictus]

Thanks. I couldn't remember if the silver screw was in the narrow or the wide.

[K1LOS]

Thanks guys!

Geoff

[corr]

I've wondered which one was which too... now I know! Thanks for asking Geoff lol

[Peter Ludwig]

The smaller blade is the hot, the larger is the neutral. All switching must be done in the hot leg, just remember that when you are wiring.