0611 Reversed Polarity - Electrical Electricity - Lights Outlets Switches Junction Boxes -

Image Text: Polarized (grounded) receptacle > should be neutral > silver screws (for white wire) > green screw (for ground wire) > should be hot > brass screws (for black wire) > ground slot > hot blade > neutral blade > polarized plug > when the polarity is reversed, the wide receptacle slot is (incorrectly) hot and the narrow slot is neutral - this is not uncommon when people forget that the black wire should be attached to the receptacle's brass screws