Plugs

A plug connects a device to the mains electricity supply.

The cable between the device and the three-pin plug contains three copper wires that are coated with plastic.

Each part of the plug has a function.

Features of a plug	Function
Outer insulation	All three wires in the cable are bundled together and there is extra plastic insulation wrapped round them all for safety.
Cable grip	This holds the cable tightly in place so that wires do not become loose.
Live wire	Copper wire coated with brown plastic along which the current enters the device.
Fuse	A glass or ceramic canister containing a thin wire that melts if the current gets too high.
Neutral wire	Copper wire coated with blue plastic that also connects to the cable in the wall and completes the circuit.
Earth wire	Copper wire coated in striped plastic that provides a path for current to flow from the case of the device to the ground if there is a fault.

Features of a plug	Outer insulation
Function	All three wires in the cable are bundled together and there is extra plastic insulation wrapped round them all for safety.

Features of a plug	Cable grip
Function	This holds the cable tightly in place so that wires do not become loose.

Features of a plug	Live wire
Function	Copper wire coated with brown plastic along which the current enters the device.

Features of a plug	Fuse
Function	A glass or ceramic canister containing a thin wire that melts if the current gets too high.

Features of a plug	Neutral wire
Function	Copper wire coated with blue plastic that also connects to the cable in the wall and completes the circuit.

Features of a plug	Earth wire
Function	Copper wire coated in striped plastic that provides a path for current to flow from the case of the device to the ground if there is a fault.

One way of remembering the position of the wires is:

Colour	BLue
Position	Bottom Left

Colour	BRown
Position	Bottom Right

Electricity in the home - CCEAPlugs