A stupid question(s) about power cords


As the title indicates, I admit that this is probably a stupid question. But since I don’t know (for sure) the answer, I am asking it anyway.

The recent power cord thread got me interested in a power cord upgrade (from the stock cord) on my Maranzt SA10 (SACDP). The power cord receptacle on that particular component does not have a male equipment ground pin--only the neutral and hot pins. Therefore the cord supplied by Maranzt is a two pole (if that is the right terminology) cord. But because I have done it this way before, I do know that it will accept a power cord with an equipment ground as well as a neutral and hot.

Question 1: I went to musicdirect and looked at some power cords and I saw one (an open box Audioquest NRG Z2) that they were calling a two pole cord. The end that plugs in to the component only has a neutral and a hot, but the other end, the end that plugs into the outlet in the wall, does have an equipment ground blade (so that end has three blades). Why would that be?

Question 2: (and this is the stupid one) if a power cord has an equipment ground pin plugged into the wall, even if it is not plugged into an eqipment ground in the component itself, that cord is still connected to the neutral bus bar in the panel, right? So that being the case, since the equipment ground wire in the cord is right next to the hot wire, is there a way unwanted stuff (rf or whatever, my understanding of this is quite limited) can that dirty up the power that is traveling on the hot wire  in the power cord?

I think that the answer to the last question is probably going to be ’no’? And if the answer is ’no’, that means that I really don’t need to shop for only two pole cords, right? And I see this as sort of important because if I buy a two pole cord, the ONLY component I can use it on/try it out on will be my SACDP--there will be no playing around with a two pole cord on my preamp or my amp.

And ALSO, if I don’t feel constrained to shopping ONLY for two pole cords, I would probably have more options to consider.

TIA for legitimate insight to this, and to all others, feel free to ridicule me and my question--I don’t mind.

 

 

 

immatthewj

@immatthewj yep regular 15A IEC plug. Works fine with SA10. And yes sorry not a fan but I think it was more of a synergy and preference since the SA10 gets consistently good reviews. I just didn’t like it in my system. 
What I like about the Nordost power cable on it is that it just improves clarity without adding any nasties. Try it from MD they have 60 days return policy if I’m not mistaken. 

@audphile1  , I think I'll do that tomorrow if that 15% off is still good (I just got the "limited time" email from them today)..  As far as the SA10, I have the feeling that you are travelling in a different league than I am, so that being typed, it is probably easier to impress me.  Thanks for the input--itis appreciated.

Np! Trying Heimdall 2 with 60 day policy is a no brainer. I would also try it on the amp and pre. It’s a great cable.

Using the3pin plug won’t hurt anything your equipment mfg  decided to internally ground it.

it can make it quieter for noise potentially can ride on a common ground ..

thereis no hard in that.

Question 2:

So that being the case, since the equipment ground wire in the cord is right next to the hot wire, is there a way unwanted stuff (rf or whatever, my understanding of this is quite limited) can that dirty up the power that is traveling on the on the hot wire  in the power cord?

No... Even if the 3 wire power cord is an OEM power cord the placement of the safety equipment grounding conductor between the Hot and Neutral current carrying conductors is in what is called the null zone. The electromagnetic fields in the null zone cancel each other out.

 

As for this:

The end that plugs in to the component only has a neutral and a hot, but the other end, the end that plugs into the outlet in the wall, does have an equipment ground blade (so that end has three blades). Why would that be?

I don't think I've even seen a so called polarized audio grade two pole male plug.

Lots of two pole grounding type male plugs though. (Cost, price = demand.)

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