This is what you're looking for.
Anti-static grounding plug
Assuming the same thing is available in your local plug style, and your house grounds are correctly wired.
Earthing or grounding is designed to protect the users of electrical equipment by preventing dangerous voltages to appear on metal casings, etc.
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
Figure 1. Building supply neutral is earthed / grounded at the supply transformer.
In most countries the electrical utility grounds one of the wires from the local step-down transformer. This "neutralises" the wire as there is now no potential relative to earth. The live wire, on the other hand, has full voltage between it and earth. This explains why your transformer will work with the neutral wire connected to earth. The fact that it works also suggests that you don't have "earth leakage" or "ground fault" protection in your house. (You should have.)
My question is, What is wrong with this design, and why did it sort of work?
It sort of worked for the reasons explained above.
There is plenty wrong with your circuit:
- You are using ground as a return for your neutral current. Ground resistance can vary and can be high. This can give problems with your circuit.
- Safety: if the ground wire becomes disconnected from your ground connection the wire will be live. This provides a potentially lethal shock hazard.
Additional information:
simulate this circuit
Figure 2. Supply transformer supply and earthed appliance.
Yes Live is the supply, Neutral is the return and the Earth is protection. Normally there is no current in the earth wire but if, for example, a live wire fell off inside the appliance and contacted the metal there is a risk of electrocution. Earthing the appliance prevents the case rising to dangerous voltages. In the event of a severe fault a high current may flow but the fuse will then blow, making the system safe.
Double insulated devices don't need to be earthed so a two-pin plug is adequate.
See also:
In any electrical equipment having single ph 230 v ac supply ,if neutral and earth wire exchanged then what will be the consequence.
Finally, what you are doing is dangerous given your poor understanding. I recommend that you work on low-voltage circuits until your knowledge of electrical theory is improved.
Best Answer
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
Figure 1. Illegal earth to neutral connection on an appliance. A break in the neutral wire will cause the appliance chassis to go live.
Your question shows a dangerous lack of understanding of the principles of earthing. As shown in Figure 1, your proposal exposes the user to lethal electric shock of the neutral connection breaks anywhere between your 2-pin socket and the local supply transformer neutral. Voltage will be applied via the motor and your neutral to earth connection to the chassis. In addition, if the neutral voltage is higher than ground for any reason - due to high currents in other circuits, for example - the fridge chassis will also have this potential.
"Get away with"? No.