I have a 20 year old washer in the garage next to the dryer. In between them there is a three prong outlet that the washer is plugged into (the dryer, of course, has it's own).
The plug on the washer is two prong. I always just assumed if it came that way, it didn't need to be grounded. It wasn't until recently I began to realize this was a little strange. I can't move heavy things so I never really have seen the back of the washer until recently when it was moved. Well, on the back is a wire wrapped up with a little flat connector thingy that I assume is the ground wire!
My guess is that this was done so if you had a two prong outlet that was groundable by the plate screw, you would be able to use the washer by screwing that end of the wire to the screw on the plate. Is that correct? Is that a common thing (at least back then)?
This is an early '60s house with some grounded outlets, but most not. Funny enough, the one there is a 3 prong one. So if I connect that wire to the screw on the 3 prong outlet, will it be grouned?
I'm not very knowledgeable in electrical , so responses in non-techno babble would be appreciated :)
Also, how dangerous is having a washer ungrounded?
-- John