If you're plugging a device with a 2-prong plug into an extension cord that has 3 prongs on the other end, does that give it the grounding benefit of the third prong?
Electrical – Does an extension cord from 2 to 3 prongs have any benefits
electricalextension-cordgrounding
Related Solutions
The ground prong on an electric cord is there to protect you in case something goes wrong with the tool or appliance while you are handling or touching it. You will not die immediately without the ground prong, but you will no longer be protected from shock, burns, or electrocution by a faulty device.
There are several things that can happen to energize the casing of an electric device. The most likely is that the insulation on the hot wire could fail, causing the hot to touch the casing. This will cause the circuit breaker to pop open and protect you -- but only if the device is properly fault grounded. The ground prong is an essential part of this fault grounding.
I once heard my neighbor's kid complaining about the rules imposed by his mother. His exact words were "She's so dumb. I played in the street hundred of times and I never got hit by no bus." Operating without the ground prong is playing in the street and hoping there's no bus.
The connector is worn and/or damaged.
The best solution is to replace both connectors (male and female). This is easy for the extension cord but you may need to order a spare-part for the lawnmower connector.
As an alternative, You could probably hard-wire a line connector rated for outdoor use (wet conditions) but you'd need to open up the lawnmower connector and make modifications to remove the existing connector and provide strain relief for the new short cable to the line-connector.
Typical outdoor-rated unearthed line-connector for (double-insulated) lawnmowers etc used in the UK. There will be equivalents for US and other countries.
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Best Answer
No. The two wires connected to the 2-prong plug get connected to the hot and neutral wires in the extension cord. Since there is no connection to the ground in the extension cord, the 2-prong plug does not get the grounding benefit of the third prong.