The ground blade on a three blade plug (cap) is to provide a low impedance return to the voltage source. If the portable equipment develops a short in its circuit and goes to ground, it is this blade that will carry the short circuit current back to the supply distribution panel and trip the breaker open to cut off the supply voltage.
Need to know the amperage rating of the plug or the NEMA configuration of the plug and receptacle
The ground plug on a receptacle typically faces down. This allows for the ground prong on a plug to make contact with the ground pin in the receptacle, providing a safe path for excess electricity to be directed away from the device in case of a short circuit.
The 3rd round plug is the ground connection.
Using a three-prong plug with a missing ground post is unsafe because the ground wire helps protect against electrical shocks and fires.
To wire a three-prong twist lock receptacle to a four-prong male connector for 220V, you will need to connect the two hots, neutral, and ground wires from the male connector to the appropriate terminals on the receptacle. Make sure to follow the specific wiring diagram for your receptacle and connector to ensure proper installation and safety. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with electrical wiring, it is recommended to seek the assistance of a licensed electrician.
An old 2 hole receptacle can be changed to a 3 hole receptacle that will accept a 3 prong plug, provided a ground wire is available at the box and connected to the ground (green) lug on the new receptacle. A 2 hole receptacle has a hot and neutral wire, while a 3 hole receptacle will require a ground wire connection -- in addition to the hot and neutral wires.
The equipment grounding conductor is attached to the rounded prong in a three prong plug. Electrical work is dangerous, call a qualified electrician to install. Improper wiring could lead to personal property damage, you or someone else being injured or killed!
Ground wire
The designations of a three-prong plug are typically "hot," "neutral," and "ground." The hot wire carries the electrical current, the neutral wire completes the circuit, and the ground wire provides a path to the ground in case of a fault to prevent electric shock.
Under the new electrical code rules three prong dryer cord receptacles and therefore cords are not allowed to be installed. As you are finding out, stores are not carrying them in stock any more. You should consider an upgrade for safety sakes, to a four prong plug cord and change the wall receptacle to a four prong receptacle. There are instructions on how to do this your self on Answers.
Look in the back of the range receptacle box that is in the wall. The three wires coming in should have a bare ground wire in the cable set. It wasn't brought to the receptacle because there was no place for it on the three wire receptacle If you find it back there under a screw terminal just add another short piece of wire under the screw and then connect the other end of the short wire to the new ground terminal on the new four position receptacle The wire should be equal in size to the size of the wire that exists around the ground terminal now. If the house is so old that the range cable did not have a ground wire in it the code allows a separate green ground #10 wire to be taken from the breaker panel box to the existing range receptacle This wire is to be bonded on each end. At the panel end to the ground buss and at the receptacle end around the ground screw at the back of the box unbroken and then to the new four position receptacle ground lug.
No, it is not safe to use a 3-prong plug without a ground connection as it can increase the risk of electrical shock or fire hazards.