this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2024
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Mildly Interesting
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Older receptacles had a design that would hug the holes to hold the plug in place. It’s a holdover for people with older houses.
I think this fact is actually a myth, the holes are for manufacturing as stated previously.
Not exactly a myth, but likely never used for retention purposes as was originally intended. See more here: https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/11495/nema-5-15p-blade-holes
Older receptacles and even modern receptacles and cords do still make use of their holes.
It’s why if the holes are included there is specs they must follow.
This plug makes use of the holes for a solid mechanical connection that will only be removed when you pull on the collar to remove the pin that goes through the holes.
If it’s for manufacturing why are some made without them?
Theres patents out there, I don’t know why technology connection did his own experiments on modern plugs instead of a modicum of research about receptacles.
Not exactly sure, I think it's just one of those things were we "people" have gotten so used to the design and how it's supposed to look, that even if it's not needed we keep doing it.
Since multiple companies manufacturer plugs and connections, some manufacturers may not need the holes as a part of the assembly process. Other may opt not to add them as they do not have a purpose (other then how we perceive a north america plug is supposed to look like).
Funny story, almost all standard north america three prong plug are installed upside down. The third "center prong" or "ground" is actually on the top per the original design.
Most new builds and electricians are opting to install this way now. The orientation has no impact on performance.
Except that if a plug falls out, you want it to stay grounded... meaning the ground should absolutely be on the bottom because gravity.
Not necessarily. You typically want the ground longer so it's the first in and last out. Type G has the ground on top. I vaguely remember hearing that's because if it comes slightly out and something sharp or metal falls on the plug, you want it to hit the ground and not the live part...but I don't know how reliable that story is.
Some electricians started doing it since it became a viral Internet trend to intentionally drop quarters onto the prongs of a slightly pulled out plug.
In history there’s only been a few cases of a fires being started because of an accidental thing falling on the plugs. The breaker trips before a fire would start in almost all cases. Provided the breaker isn’t faulty or something. Which you should be testing regularly as a home owner.
This is the reason, yeah, at least according to what I’d read on Wikipedia (I’d just learned this “funny story” myself a few minutes before reading the comment above). I wanted to see if there was anything that could confirm it, but I’m not paying $70 to purchase the standard (NECA 130-2010) where it may be written.
Funny thing about that, TC recently released a video on this as well.
https://youtu.be/vNj75gJVxcE?feature=shared
TL;DW: Ground on top probably causes more problems than it would solve.
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There’s patents with these features specified for locking and even modern patents reference these old patents.
Technology connections got it wrong, it happens.
Here a plug that utilizes the holes to make a secure connection that can only be removed by pulling on the collar to remove the pins that go through the holes.
Yeah it’s a thing and if you have the holes in the plug, they must meet NEMA spec since it actually is used for locking in lots of cases. Despite technology connections missing the patent and specs from their videos.
What sources did tech connections have other than their wrong and biased experiment on modern receptacles that wouldn’t have this feature?
I’ve watched that video, what research and sources? He doesn’t talk about any specs or provide them, doesn’t talk about patents or provide them. Can you link to his sources if you know where they are?
It’s strange how he’s being treated as the end source, while not having any sources at all.
Look up NEMA specs and patents, it’s not my job to educate people who are taking someone’s word without sources or anything. His experiments are flawed his receptacles are all from the last 2 decades.
“Go try it yourself and you’ll see”… sure I’ll use a plug from the era that these are from, that’s who these are for, not for people with modern plugs who would be ones watching a video and trying this.
"I like a snug plug" - Dusty Slay
Like the european ones still have?