Why are there holes in the prongs on electrical cords?
Has anyone ever had an answer to this mystery? Or is is just tradition that goes back to the first electrical plugs, and has no purpose?
Why are there holes in the prongs on electrical cords?
Jul 24, 2018
10 Replies
On Tue 24 Jul 2018 12:51:10a, told us...
I have seen people use tiny padlocks with the shackle inserted thru the hole to prevent anyone from plugging them in. Can't think of another reason.
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Although I've seen many without hole.
I have one extension cord where the female end can use the holes to hold a male in place.
There is usually a hardened steel pin in a lock out kit with a ring on the end. You push the pin through the holes in the plug, the lock goes through the ring and between the prongs on the plug.
Many of the female sockets have a bump-out as part of the material the bade pushes against, and that helps hold the plug into the socket. It is much easier for a manufacturer to make a complete through-hole in the plug eleme nts than to just try to make a partial indent that will engage the bump-out of the socket. For sockets that do not have an integral bump-out, the hol es have no appreciable effect..
On Tue, 24 Jul 2018 08:07:00 -0400, "\"Retired"@Home.com wrote in
Thanks.
The "divots" are to allow the contacts in the outlet to "grab" the blades of the plug
Many years ago they had a purpose. To help hold them in and make good contact. ' That is not the case now and it is just tradition. Some are now not putting the holes in them.
Still helps clean connections.
Greg
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