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4hv.org :: Forums :: General Science and Electronics
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Just out of curiosity... what are the two holes in American 120 Vac plugs for?

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Patrick
Sat Oct 22 2011, 09:09PM Print
Patrick Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639
heres a pic of the kindle usb charger, many of my household items have the two holes, one in each prong.
What purpose do the holes serve?
1319317752 2431 FT0 Plug
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radiotech
Sat Oct 22 2011, 09:25PM
radiotech Registered Member #2463 Joined: Wed Nov 11 2009, 03:49AM
Location:
Posts: 1546
That allows the electricity in excess of what the appliance requires to drain back into the grid. cheesey
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Turkey9
Sat Oct 22 2011, 11:09PM
Turkey9 Registered Member #1451 Joined: Wed Apr 23 2008, 03:48AM
Location: Boulder, Co
Posts: 661
I'd bet it's to save metal.
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Fraggle
Sat Oct 22 2011, 11:24PM
Fraggle Registered Member #1526 Joined: Mon Jun 09 2008, 12:56AM
Location: UK
Posts: 216
Maybe to support locking the plug in specially designed sockets?
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Thomas W
Sat Oct 22 2011, 11:29PM
Thomas W Registered Member #3324 Joined: Sun Oct 17 2010, 06:57PM
Location:
Posts: 1276
to make people ask these questions XD
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Tetris
Sun Oct 23 2011, 12:49AM
Tetris Registered Member #4016 Joined: Thu Jul 21 2011, 01:52AM
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 660
Maybe its for HV geeks like us that actually take the time to notice that, and we might want to extend the plug. :P

naw I;m guessing its to save metal.
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Mads Barnkob
Sun Oct 23 2011, 02:05PM
Mads Barnkob Registered Member #1403 Joined: Tue Mar 18 2008, 06:05PM
Location: Denmark, Odense C
Posts: 1968
Patrick wrote ...

heres a pic of the kindle usb charger, many of my household items have the two holes, one in each prong.
What purpose do the holes serve?
1319317752 2431 FT0 Plug


Type A and B plugs have two flat prongs with a hole near the tip. These holes aren't there without a reason. If you were to take apart a type A or B socket and look at the contact wipers that the prongs slide into, you would find that in some cases they have have bumps on them. These bumps fit into the holes so that the outlet can grip the plug’s prongs more firmly. This prevents the plug from slipping out of the socket due to the weight of the plug and cord. It also improves the contact between the plug and the outlet. Some sockets, however, don't have those bumps but just two spring-action blades that grip the sides of the plug pin, in which case the holes aren't necessary.

Link2
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Patrick
Sun Oct 23 2011, 07:35PM
Patrick Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639
Mads Barnkob wrote ...


Type A and B plugs have two flat prongs with a hole near the tip. These holes aren't there without a reason. If you were to take apart a type A or B socket and look at the contact wipers that the prongs slide into, you would find that in some cases they have have bumps on them. These bumps fit into the holes so that the outlet can grip the plug’s prongs more firmly. This prevents the plug from slipping out of the socket due to the weight of the plug and cord. It also improves the contact between the plug and the outlet. Some sockets, however, don't have those bumps but just two spring-action blades that grip the sides of the plug pin, in which case the holes aren't necessary.

Link2
i think this is the best answer... though the others were funny.
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Matt Edwards
Mon Oct 24 2011, 04:23PM
Matt Edwards Registered Member #2838 Joined: Fri Apr 30 2010, 07:55PM
Location: tehachapi, CA
Posts: 333
I believe there are a few lockout/tagout devices that utilize these holes as well. Although I'm sure that is not their intended purpose.
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Xray
Mon Oct 24 2011, 07:07PM
Xray Registered Member #3429 Joined: Sun Nov 21 2010, 02:04AM
Location: Minnesota, USA
Posts: 288
The holes are there so that parents can lock-out their kid's video games when they are supposed to be doing homework! wink
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