croiser les polarités

English translation: Inverting polarities

11:13 Nov 30, 2023
French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Electronics / Elect Eng / wiring
French term or phrase: croiser les polarités
I am proofreading a catalogue written in English that has been written by a French team and retains clear hallmarks of French vocabulary and expressions in places.

In a section explaining how the accessories are connected to the control unit of a circuit breaker, the future user is informed that 'the connection of the +/- of the power supply either on terminals F1/F2 of [the control unit] or on the +/- terminals of the [accessory] port must be strictly respected'. They are then warned that 'Crossing the polarities may damage the device'.

Would the most appropriate translation of 'croiser les polarités', which clearly underlies this wording, be 'Inverting polarities' or simply 'Mixing polarities'?

Thank you.
Thomas Miles
France
Local time: 05:02
English translation:Inverting polarities
Explanation:
As you suggested.
Selected response from:

Bashiqa
France
Local time: 05:02
Grading comment
Contributors to this question are fairly evenly divided between favouring 'invert' and favouring 'reverse'. I believe that 'invert' more readily evokes the idea of swapping negative and positive.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1reversing polarities
Kartik Isaac
4 +1Inverting polarities
Bashiqa
4crossing polarities
MassimoA
3 -1reversible polarities
Lisa Rosengard


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
reversing polarities


Explanation:
Hope this helps :)
Reverse polarity: https://prochecks.co.uk/what-is-reverse-polarity/

Kartik Isaac
Switzerland
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, I hadn't thought of that.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Jennifer Levey: 'inverting' is the more-usual term in this context (polarity 'reversing' has other connotations which might mislead the reader).
48 mins
  -> Inverting polarities is used by audio engineers for inverting a signal to create a precise opposite of the original. Very different context! https://www.firgelliauto.com/en-in/blogs/news/understanding-...

neutral  Anastasia Kalantzi: https://www.production-expert.com/production-expert-1/5-ways... -I also agree with Jennifer.
10 hrs
  -> Inverting polarities is used by audio engineers for inverting a signal to create a precise opposite of the original. Very different context! https://www.firgelliauto.com/en-in/blogs/news/understanding-...

agree  Daryo: Never mind if it's used in other contexts also, that's still the right term. Plenty results if searching "preventing reverse polarity"// a.k.a. "connecting (the battery) backwards".
6 days
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1 day 3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Inverting polarities


Explanation:
As you suggested.

Bashiqa
France
Local time: 05:02
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 49
Grading comment
Contributors to this question are fairly evenly divided between favouring 'invert' and favouring 'reverse'. I believe that 'invert' more readily evokes the idea of swapping negative and positive.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jennifer Levey
9 hrs

disagree  Kartik Isaac: Inverting polarities is used by audio engineers for inverting a signal to create a precise opposite of the original. Very different context! https://www.firgelliauto.com/en-in/blogs/news/understanding-...
14 hrs

agree  Daryo: Works also.
52 days
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1 day 10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
crossing polarities


Explanation:
For me, crossing polarities is the right translation.
The + terminals must be connected to the +, the - ones to the corresponding -, as happens with cells or batteries.

MassimoA
Italy
Local time: 05:02
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
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3 days 8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
reversible polarities


Explanation:
The reference explains:
It's important to follow the respective wiring diagram (see figure B of the reference below) which shows the power source and how its polarity is connected to the circuit breakers. Whichever end of the circuit breaker the power source is connected to, the positive and negative outputs of its source shall be connected to the respective positive and negative terminals of the circuit breaker.
https://www.altechcorp.com/PDFS/DC wiring_white paper_Altech...

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Note added at 6 days (2023-12-06 20:58:34 GMT)
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https://www.quisure-circuit-breaker.com/faqs-why-can-t-the-c...

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Note added at 6 days (2023-12-06 21:03:51 GMT)
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The reference explains that the polarities are labelled clearly to show which ways the connections must be inserted and installed (polarized direct current circuits).



























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Note added at 7 days (2023-12-07 20:22:20 GMT)
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"The reason for this is that they are UL listed as
line/load reversible (see Figure A) and the breaker polarity is marked only for power source input
(output marking should be disregarded at this point)"
https://altechcorp.com/PDFS/DC wiring_white paper_Altech DC ...


    Reference: http://https://www.proz.com/kudoz/7164602?bs=1#marker_submit
Lisa Rosengard
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:02
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Daryo: There is a HUGE difference between a connection with "reversible polarities" and a connection with "reversed polarities" // The practical consequences of confusing the two can be pretty spectacular! (flashy / explosive ...)
2 days 19 hrs
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