4 ms·
Many US plugs are now designed with a guard, such that both main prongs must be present before the socket will open and allow either prong to enter (sticking a
by sathackr 11y ago
Many US plugs are now designed with a guard, such that both main prongs must be present before the socket will open and allow either prong to enter (sticking a fork in one side won't open it). Voltages present at outlets in the US is also half of UK (and most of the world, I believe). Under most circumstances, it is not hazardous. It doesn't feel good to be hit with it, but it generally will not kill you or cause permanent damage. Notice I said most circumstances. There are a few things that can make even lower voltages lethal, such as the presence of water, a person with existing cardiac issues, or a small child, for example.
It appears also that the half-insulated conductors would present less surface area for contact with the mating outlet, possibly increasing resistance, which could be a problem with a high current load. Or is the mating outlet somehow designed to mitigate this?
My main complaint with the outlets in the USA is the contacts in the receptacle lose their grip over time, sometimes to the point of not even making connection with the inserted plug. Under a high-amperage load, this causes the outlet to heat up(due to increased resistance), even when the load is below the outlet's rating.
- mindslight 11y agoI believe these "tamper resistant" receptacles are actually required by electrical code, because apparently the NFPA has solved all the real problems [0]. A socket that sometimes decides to not "open" and bends up the plug's prongs is a terrible idea. And being able to stick in bare wires or test probes is a feature. Contact mating happens at a few individual points, so the total area probably doesn't matter as much for conductivity. [0] See also AFCIs, which greatly increase the cost of a circuit, leading to fewer circuits with more load on each one. Furthermore, each breaker is now running who-knows-what closed software. Somehow, an upgradability requirement was left out of the mandate.
- sathackr 11y agoI believe you are correct, for new construction. Yes, thankfully we have the NFPA. Interestingly, I just attended a high-angle rescue course last week, taught by a highly trained firefighter with more than a few actual rescues under his belt. He explained that for he and his collegues, NFPA was generally agreed to be an acronym for No F*cking Practical Application. Whenever practical, I avoid the tamper-resistant outlets. Many times just getting them to accept a plug is a challenge.
- bsimpson 11y agoFor those of you who didn't grow up in the US, touching the live ends of a partially plugged-in cord (and the corresponding sensation of having medium-voltage electricity rolling through your fingers) is an experience most people have had.
- mastax 11y agoJust to add another anecdote to the mix: I've lived in the US all my life and I've never even heard of this happening.