Electrical Appliance Plugs?
#1
05-31-03, 07:27 PM
Electrical Appliance Plugs?
I have been wondering for some time now about the orientation of the plugs on the ends of power cords of electrical appliances. I know that for safety reasons that are not well understood by me one of the two brass prongs is larger than the other. When plugging in an appliance you must insert the plug the right way or it will not enter the outlet.
What I want to know is, why is it that each and every time I go to insert a plug into an outlet it is by default oriented the wrong way and I have to succeed only when I make a second attempt?
Why wouldn't the plug be attached to the power cord in such a way that successful insertion into an outlet can happen on the first attempt, or at least half the time?
Thanks.
John
What I want to know is, why is it that each and every time I go to insert a plug into an outlet it is by default oriented the wrong way and I have to succeed only when I make a second attempt?
Why wouldn't the plug be attached to the power cord in such a way that successful insertion into an outlet can happen on the first attempt, or at least half the time?
Thanks.
John
#2
05-31-03, 08:05 PM
Member
It's the well known "receptacle conspiracy." The receptacle sees you coming, and can flip over in a fraction of a second once it recognizes the orientation of the plug. That's why they call it "alternating current." If you give your receptacles some sincere praise every once in a while, they won't be so bitter.
#3
05-31-03, 08:15 PM
I asked this same question a few years ago and at that time I got that sort of an answer. This time I would prefer the real answer, thank you. It seems like the plugs have been molded to the pwer cord with a certain twist that makes it much more likely than not that you will fail to insert on the first try.
#4
05-31-03, 08:28 PM
No offence but I think its just you. Most plugs are symmetrical in respect to their caps construction with the only differences being that the grounded (neutral) blade is larger so as to ensure polarization. Some plugs have the clamp on their back that allows it to fasten to the wrapped up cord (a vacuum comes to mind), it would seem to me that gravity may have an effect on these as to how it would land on the floor and how you would pick it up. Other than that I can think of no reason for your condition.
If your picking them up that way and your first time insertion percentage is say 25% then flipping the receptacle around could improve your odds to a 75% first time insertion.
Have you actually kept a detailed record of the cord type, plug type and equipment that this has occured with?
If your picking them up that way and your first time insertion percentage is say 25% then flipping the receptacle around could improve your odds to a 75% first time insertion.
Have you actually kept a detailed record of the cord type, plug type and equipment that this has occured with?
#5
05-31-03, 08:52 PM
Member
Oh sorry. I thought you were joking.
My guess is that you have a mixture of ground-up and ground-down receptacles in your house. When plugged into a ground-up receptacle, the cord develops a little bend. If you then move it to a ground-down receptacle, your instinct will have you try it wrong first.
Or perhaps you have all ground-up receptacles. In that case, since most molded plugs assume ground-down receptacles, the "natural" way to insert the plug will be wrong most of the time.
You can flip the receptacles over if you want.
My guess is that you have a mixture of ground-up and ground-down receptacles in your house. When plugged into a ground-up receptacle, the cord develops a little bend. If you then move it to a ground-down receptacle, your instinct will have you try it wrong first.
Or perhaps you have all ground-up receptacles. In that case, since most molded plugs assume ground-down receptacles, the "natural" way to insert the plug will be wrong most of the time.
You can flip the receptacles over if you want.
