Ungrounded power cord: Will I die?

I'm guessing if they have a ground there, it is for a reason.

Someone above mentioned it will ground through the interconnects to your other components, and this is not necessarily true. Some equipment has the interconnects isolated from the metal chassis or case. So, don't think this will take care of it.

Some equipment may also have a capacitor/capacitors or other semiconductor connected from a hot 120 volt line to help reduce line noise by tying that hot line noise to the ground, or case that had a ground. If any of these parts shorted, there can be a possibility the case will have the full 120 volt line voltage. Plus, any other part mechanical failure can cause a risk, if it happens.

If this would happen, you could have 120 volts between this to any ground, or your other equipment right next to this unit, with the ground removed. In other words, yes, 120 volts between your amp and preamp, or any other equipment.
Also, to any ground your on, or any other conductive item you may touch.

In my opinion, removing any ground wire that was there always has a risk.

In my apartment circa 2005 ALL outlets were groundless and needed cheater plugs. Is this illegal? (California) If not, why would that be allowed if potentially lethal from everyday use?
Eugene81 (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

I believe it is. It states it started in 1962 here. Link[http://www.electrical.com/national-electrical-code/]

In reference to PS Audio, their newer products I found contain a safety warning about the ground. Links [http://www.psaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/HumbusterIII_-Manual.pdf][http://www.psaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/P3001.pdf] [http://www.psaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Juice-Bar-II.pdf]

02-01-12: Kijanki
Their logic is a little fuzzy.

It makes me curious about how much some of these companies know about power grid, cords, and other products they make. Any electrical engineer knows about the risk.

Maybe this was brought to their attention, and they put the risk, warning part in the manual to help keep them from getting into trouble if they go into litigation. They can say the customer didn't take the warning serious.

That pin removal was, or still is a selling feature for them.

Those ground adapters are banned in Nova Scotia Canada.
Also, a college professor was electrocuted using one. So that shows it can happen. That's in the Wiki link. Link [http://www.gov.ns.ca/lae/electricalsafety/esbadapterplugs.asp]Wiki link [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheater_plug]

02-09-12 Not dead yet. Ebm

02-09-12 Hi all ! not yet Bradluke0

I hope not! If you were, this could be a real strange one for?...

02-10-12: Eugene81
Can you tie a floating chassis to a grounded chassis with a speaker wire?

If your planning on tying two different metal component housing cabinets (i.e. preamp to CD player) together with a piece of speaker wire, you should be able to do it with a 14-16 gauge wire. If I'm wrong, jump in somebody. I've done this in the past.

Doing this can cause a ground loop, and result in hum in some cases.

Don't go inside any component, and tie any floating grounds to the chassis. This can be risky, and there may be a reason the designer did this inside.