National Home Inspector Practice Exam

Home inspectors report receptacles with reversed polarity as potentially hazardous because:

1. They contribute to the overheating of the receptacle.

2. They increase the shock likelihood at connected equipment.

3. Single phase appliance motors will run backwards.

4. They trip ground fault circuit interrupter outlets.

The correct answer is: They increase the shock likelihood at connected equipment.

Reversed polarity in electrical receptacles means that the hot and neutral wires are connected to the wrong terminals. This condition is considered potentially hazardous primarily because it increases the likelihood of electric shock for anyone who uses the equipment plugged into the receptacle. In a properly wired outlet, the hot wire is typically connected to the narrower slot, while the neutral wire connects to the wider slot. If the polarity is reversed, the outer metal parts of an appliance, which are supposed to be grounded through the neutral wire, may become energized. This creates a risk where someone touching the appliance could complete the circuit to the ground and receive an electric shock. While other issues related to reversed polarity may exist, such as potential overheating or affecting the operation of certain appliances, the primary concern from a safety standpoint revolves around the increased risk of electric shock to users, which is why this condition is reported as hazardous.