TurnItOff_OnAgainthis plug doesn't have the little holes
Fun watch related to your pic
youtu.be/udNXMAflbU8
GhostalmediaFuck yeah, technology connections.
NickwithaCI knew it would be before I clicked. Alec is great!
PCChipsM922UIn the cheap one, we have two perfectly flat brass pieces pressing against each other.
I’ll bet you any ammount you want, that’s not brass. It’s iron with brass coating.
agamemnonymousIs a brass coating not, technically, a flat brass piece pressed against another?
LOGIC’D
I knew exactly what video you linked before I clicked it.
0x4E4FThere is no finite life span on any connector.
You obviously haven’t used a Cannon or a Neutrik made XLR connector.
Also, take a look at some of the Type F power plugs. If that’s not robust, IDK what is.
I am very familiar with Alec. Love that channel.
summary: the holes are almost never (purposely) used to secure the plug in the socket. it is often just for manufacturing reasons (but not always, as in this case). it is included in the specifications as an optional feature, so that the holes are not made too big, or in the wrong place.
I’m curious why he doesn’t talk about all the patents that specify locking as a feature.
He used all modern plugs you would find on houses in 2000+, of course none of them lock the old way. Go grab some from the 20s and 30s.
czardestructoThis is a plug for China. It will work fine in US outlets but it’s intended for that Chinese market hence the lack of holes.
While potentially true - that is not why the holes are missing.
They aren’t part of any spec.
It’s a holdover from older designs, modern receptacles hold the plug differently, older ones were designed to hug the holes to hold the plug in places.
Dharma CuriousDoes China use a compatible electrical system to us?
Darkassassin07No. 220v/50hz in china, 120v/60hz in North America.
The plugs are similar though, with china using the non-polarized version of the plug used in North America. (two flat blades, same width as Americas live pin) If you didn’t know better, you could plug in the wrong things in either country.
MxM111Thus what is shown can not be for China, because there is ground?
Yup, that’s a North American plug.
The grounded outlets that they do use have slanted live/neutral pins like Australia:
Taiwan actually uses the North American plug design too, but at 110v/50hz.
Some electronics may tolerate that, but many won’t function or may even be damaged by the change in frequency.
Type B looks like an ape that just got some bad news
Bad news, you have termites
I lost my manufactured-for-the-US Surface Pro charger while living in Taiwan, got a replacement Taiwan 110V/50hz adapter that I’ve used for years with no issues. Is that the norm? No idea.
(And, never fear, the Surface Pro runs Linux now so no Microsoft hate needed at this particular moment.)
Dark ArcAFAIK most “chargers” can deal with a wide range of voltage and frequency. They’re basically transformers that are transforming AC to the desired DC voltage and the mechanism at least my Ankor chargers use seems to work at pretty much any reasonable range (read any country’s implementation) of AC voltage and frequency.
I see thanks for the explanation.
Most (no all) first party chargers will run on 240v or 120v. Read the fine print on the plug or power brick to see what range it’s in.
This is also why laptop charger for example will work as long as you have the adapter for your plug or the OEM cable with the correct plug for your power brick.
Good to know thank you.
The holes are only for manufacturability.
Older plugs 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There’s patents with these features specified for locking and even modern patents reference these old patents.
Technology connections got it wrong, it happens.
If you provide no sources, i am going to assume that technology connections is right. He actually showed his sources and research.
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.
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 parents 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?
Funny thing about that, TC recently released a video on this as well.
youtu.be/vNj75gJVxcE?feature=shared
TL;DW: Ground on top probably causes more problems than it would solve.
Power outlets are topsy turvy - but does it matter?
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.
“I like a snug plug” - Dusty Slay
Herbal GamerLike the european ones still have?
I’m not American, but I’ve lived a few years in the US. I find it very interesting that the US invented the electric infrastructure that we use today, but they really screwed up a few things. Firstly, the connectors are far too unsafe. They are flimsy and have no protection from electrocution. Secondly, by using 120V as the main voltage, you need more current to do the same amount of work as a 240V system. Thay means thicker wires, more stress on the plugs, and greater fire hazards.
Shuko plugs FTW
whyNotSquirrelyeah but it looks like a funny face!
I didn’t know that schuko plugs are the norm for most Europe countries, I thought it was a German thing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko
Also the french system is compatible with Shuko, so that makes it even more universal.
Yeah I don’t know why we don’t make the switch in France as it wouldn’t be that much of a change
It would be from a financial standpoint. Changing a standard this widely implemented is very costly.
Why change it if they’re compatible anyways? Most devices in the eu are designed to accomodate both, its just a question of the earth pin being different.
I’ve travelled all across europe, coming from a country with the french style outlets. I never had any problems connecting anything except for Switzerland and Italy, because they stuck to their own (inferior) standard thats not compatible with anything else.
The smaller devices like chargers and small lamps have a euro plug that can plug in schucko, danish, italian, swiss, french (but not brithish)
You’re right, I forgot about that. But good luck plugging your laptop or hair dryer in without some janky adapter.
A laptop you can plug in all of Europe. But a hairdryer you cant because (at least mine) uses a schucko plug (but without ground so wtf)
moitoiType J > Shuko
Type J is safe and a better implementation. I don’t know why the EU didn’t choose type J as a standard.
It cant plug both ways
Everyone from other countries frets about the unsafe plugs in the US. They of course do not have the same level of safety, but it also doesn’t appear to matter. I have never been shocked inserting or removing a US plug. I don’t know and haven’t heard of anyone who has. People do get shocked, but for other reasons.
I have, but I was a child and very much not plugging it in the right way. It was in a very cramped space I couldn’t see, and dumbass me thought holding the metal would give me better control. It did, I made it into the plug.
Ok, so there are people out there doing it.
Did you die? I wonder about the truth behind the idea that getting shocked with 12v is less likely/hazardous than double that
As a kid I used a metal tool to cut a live wire 220v-240v wire and besides getting scared by the jolt I was fine. Probably because the protection circuits kicked in
As an idiot, I’ve gotten shocked by 120v multiple times and 240v once. That hurt a lot more. Hopefully I have survived long enough so far to be less of an idiot
I did, in fact die. God is real, but it’s complicated. Eat your vegetables. Your mom was always proud.