...Grounded or Ungrounded Power Cords...

Once again revealing the single greatest shortcoming of this website: no popcorn gif.

The middle prong is an AC safety ground.  It has exactly one purpose and that is to prevent electrocution. 

Whether or not a manufacturer chooses to have their equipment grounded is based on safety regulations and construction.  It is most definitely not meant to be up to a cable maker.  If your equipment requires a ground it should be used.

Now, among grounded cables there is an additional features of a shielded or not, which provides protection from EMI/RFI noise to/from the power cable.  I'm with the shielded camp. With so many digital and radio sources in the modern home I always pick shielded when possible.

insearchofprat said:

I’ve noticed that there are choices by different manufacturers for grounded or ungrounded power cords:

Save everyone a lot time and post some website examples what you are referring to.

For audio equipment that requires an EGC (Equipment Grounding Conductor) The power cord shall be a 3 wire grounding type.

For audio equipment that is rated Class II the AC power wiring inside the equipment is double insulated.  The IEC power inlet does not have an EGC prong. The IEC, power cord, and male plug are two wire only. Ungrounded.


Class II

Class II symbol

A Class II or double insulated electrical appliance is one which has been designed in such a way that it does not require a safety connection to electrical earth (ground).

The basic requirement is that no single failure can result in dangerous voltage becoming exposed so that it might cause an electric shock and that this is achieved without relying on an earthed metal casing. This is usually achieved at least in part by having at least two layers of insulating material between live parts and the user, or by using reinforced insulation.

In Europe, a double insulated appliance must be labelled Class II or double insulated or bear the double insulation symbol (a square inside another square).
Appliance classes - Wikipedia


Now if some fly by night cable manufacturer is building a 3 wire grounding type power cord with the EGC lifted at the female IEC connector he is leaving himself wide open for a lawsuit, or worse, in the event someone gets electrocuted and it is proven his or her death was the cause of the EGC ground defeated power cord.

Reputable cable manufacturers would never conceal a lifted EGC.
.

The middle prong is an AC safety ground. It has exactly one purpose and that is to prevent electrocution.

So remember- use a ground. Or else end up exactly like this:

https://youtu.be/2OB7BSXhReA?t=164