Hi Jeff; One note worth making is those holes can also be used for Lock-out /Tag Out as done in a mil spec...
@fredjones7705
Жыл бұрын
That's what we used them for
@tomsherwood4650
Жыл бұрын
so got some teensy weensie padlocks?
@fredjones7705
Жыл бұрын
@@tomsherwood4650 We used small zip ties...orange ones
@josephgregorowicz5135
Жыл бұрын
This was 100% my answer. A small luggage lock, or zip tie, would prevent the plug from being inserted into the outlet, preventing you from supplying power to a potentially dangerous device due to an electrical malfunction.
@AToneForOurSins
Жыл бұрын
@@tomsherwood4650 If you have an entire LOTO set, it has locks for small applications like this. Cable locks, zip ties, etc.
@powerman1955
Жыл бұрын
Jason's lab below already made the comment, I worked in the Electric Utility industry for many years, and we were instructed to use the holes to isolate electric appliances, for instance a drill press prior to service. We would run a zip tie through the holes with an isolation tag attached so nobody would plug in that item while it was being serviced.
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
yes a lot of people say it's for lockout/tagout
@davidbeckenbaugh9598
Жыл бұрын
A zip tie is not a lock out device. That would fail OSHA standards. It HAS to be a locking device.
@powerman1955
Жыл бұрын
@davidbeckenbaugh9598 Did you not read my response? We used zip ties to hang lock-out tags in the power plants, they also acted as locking device's, they had to withstand a certain pull strength, but according to OSHA standards, they were acceptable locking devices.
@casualriley
Жыл бұрын
They definitely did not have lockout purposes in mind when they invented the standard in the 1920s.
@PH_INFO_101
Жыл бұрын
@@powerman1955 WRONG... a zip tie with a tag is in no way acceptable to OSHA standards. There must be a lock with a removable key including a tag with the info of the person locking out the device. OSHA doesn't give a rats ass about the pull strength of a zip tie. I have worked in power plants across the US since 1987 and can tell you that you are 100% wrong. That said, I do believe you when you say "we were instructed to use the holes to isolate electrical appliances" however, Forrest Gump says it best, "Stupid is as Stupid Does". The sole purpose of the OSHA standard that requires a locking device with a removable key is so the only person that can remove the Lock-out Tag-out device is the person who installed it. I can say with 100% certainty, if you took the time to read the "Polices & Procedures manual" for any of the facilities you worked for, zip ties are only used for attaching the lockout tag to the lock.
@opcn18
Жыл бұрын
Technology connections did a good video on this. The "manufacturing" purposes are that the fixture that holds the blades while the plastic portion is overmolded often use a pin to keep them from shifting out of place.
@SwapPartLLC
Жыл бұрын
I don't think a machine would have any issues holding the blade in the correct position during overmolding if the hole wasn't there. It makes more sense to me that the hole would be to ensure the blade was in the correct position in the first place, rather than keeping it there. I.e., if the pin doesn't go through, the blade isn't inserted correctly so don't cycle the machine. It may not even be a pin. It could be an optical or hall effect sensor.
@fredashay
Жыл бұрын
Technology Connections was correct, and Jeff revealed at the end of this video that the hole is the result of the manufacturing process. Probably for alignment as the rubber molding is formed around the pins and the wires to make the plug.
@opcn18
Жыл бұрын
@@fredashay I watched to the very end before I commented. @9:20 he was broadly dismissive suggesting that its just blind adherence to standards, instead of actual manufacturing purposes.
@fredashay
Жыл бұрын
@@opcn18 Okay, but why an egg?
@opcn18
Жыл бұрын
@@fredashay I don't know what that egg is in respect to. I don't remember an egg in this video, I don't see an egg in my comments. It is entirely possible that I'm missing something obvious but I honestly have no idea what that is in reference to.
@rederickrederick1513
Жыл бұрын
My dad had a "LOCK" that fit into the holes to stop us from watching to much TV, we kids couldn't plug it in, and he used it LOL !
@PetesGuide
Жыл бұрын
There are several lock-out tag-out locks that require the holes to be present in order to work. I also have a short list of extension cords that use them for locking together.
@mutatedgenome
Жыл бұрын
Ok, so to complete the story, now let's see how the holes are used during the manufacturing process. There has to be a video somewhere.
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
I don't even think they use it during their manufacturing process
@Av-vd3wk
Жыл бұрын
@@jeffostroff of course they do!!! The holes you see in plugs are used for gripping the plugs inside sockets. Historically, sockets had bumps inside of them. These bumps were intended to fit into the holes. Without these bumps and holes, it would have been very easy to simply pull the plug out of the socket. Now days, the holes still serve their purpose, even though inside the socket may not have bumps, the hole still allows for a snug fit when inserted. It allows for ‘just enough’ friction to still provide something similar to its original purpose.
@twin2482
Жыл бұрын
I saw a video a few yeas ago and the holes are used to hold the metal pieces in place during the plug manufacturing ie injection molding. Once the plug us produced they are no longer needed.
@johnbergstrom2931
Жыл бұрын
@@twin2482 I have also heard theories that the holes are for "alignment" during the manufacturing process, to ensure the blades don't wind up too short or too long. But since they make perfectly good hole-less blades, too, they obviously don't need that technology...
@twin2482
Жыл бұрын
@@johnbergstrom2931 I'm sure there are different manufacturing processes to make plugs. The video that I saw explained the purpose of the holes was to "align" the blades. As you know with manufacturing, if it isn't broke (use holes) it takes a lot to change the process.
@2Truth4Liberty
Жыл бұрын
I have some extension cord that use the holes to lock plugs into the outlet end. You have to press a button to unlock and remove the plug. If you connected a bunch of those cords together you would essentially have a longer extension cord that will not pull apart.
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Would love to see this outlet
@2Truth4Liberty
Жыл бұрын
@@jeffostroff I have another one with the button lock mechanism, this other one uses a lever (have several of them).
@Mk101T
Жыл бұрын
@@2Truth4Liberty Sounds like a lock device waiting for a problem to happen. Why would you not just use twist locks ... how many feet are you trying to put together ?
@2Truth4Liberty
Жыл бұрын
@@Mk101T "how many feet are you trying to put together ?" Did you see my use of "if" ? I am not trying to put any of them together. I'm just trying to explain how they work. PS I would use these before ever using any twist locks to connect something to an extentsion cord. That sounds dangerous.
@btfofffice
Жыл бұрын
It also serves as a safety feature Intended or not. The dimensions from the hole to the outer edge act like a beak out/fuse. If there is a short the plug can weld tointo the socket. The hole allows for a plug break out to allow the plug to be removed so that the length that is left behind is still protected
@StefanSteinerWA
Жыл бұрын
Yes! I’ve seen this happen and it probably prevented further damage.
@Telephonebill51
Жыл бұрын
THAT would take a shitload of current :(
@anthonywilliams7052
Жыл бұрын
I've seen a few plugs without holes, it made the ends stronger.
@RobertMehrer
Жыл бұрын
Its for the injection molder, it aligns the blades in the mold properly.
@xtofury
Жыл бұрын
I've run into an outlet on an extension cord that used the holes as a retention mechanism, no unplugging it without hitting a button
@robertmeyer4744
Жыл бұрын
Being a electrician 35+ years so many don't know this. there is a number now that dont have the holes now. but in making them some companies' use a pin to hold them in place when making a molded plug. used for alignment. nice chart you have showing the different nema plugs/ sockets. missing the 40 amp one used on some welders. north america 60Hz system.
@raysoucie489
Жыл бұрын
Another Note-- When I was a Radar Engineer at K-40 Electronics(started around 1988 through 1991),I had the Motorola guys manufacture "Custom" Components... My Boss was Sandy Wilson and you might remember her.... K-40 is STILL going strong and they pipe in KFUY Global Radio... It's fun when I take song requests and play whatever they want to hear !!!!!
@toomasrett3931
Жыл бұрын
It has been used for lock out / tag out devices, for safety so the cord cannot be be pluged in.
@TargaWheels
Жыл бұрын
Depending on how its manufactured, I could see them using the holes for placement to keep the blades from moving during molding/assembly.
@okaro6595
Жыл бұрын
Yes, that is how they are used: kzitem.info/news/bejne/tKiYnGuBsoaAnmU
@grandn8646
Жыл бұрын
The hole is used for a locating pin for locating the steel strip in a progressive die in the stamping process that is forming the part off a coil of steel.
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
What about the plugs that are made without this hole?
@felsinferguson1125
Жыл бұрын
@@jeffostroff Different method/tooling that doesn't use/need the holes.
@BiggMo
Жыл бұрын
The holes are there during manufacturing for the machinery to clamp/hold the blades in position during the plastic overmolding process
@OldSloGuy
4 ай бұрын
Manufacturers like indexing holes. If you mold a body around the prongs, an indexing hole allows locating pins when clamping. This guarantees the clamp doesn't slip during processing.
@MassEffectGER
Жыл бұрын
A different question: Why are American power plugs less safe in comparison to the Euro plugs? The lower half of the metal prongs isn't isolated. That bears the risk for touching the metal while un-/pluging.
@Drimirin
Жыл бұрын
Our entire power grid is more likely to kill you at it's 60 hertz instead of the less likely to stop your heart 50 hertz system you guys have.
@wryanddry2266
Жыл бұрын
Europe runs at 230V, so avoiding shock is more important. Been shocked numerous times with 115V. It gets your attention and it isn't pleasant, but it doesn't burn a hole in you.
@jontnoneya3404
Жыл бұрын
That's really cool! I'm just now really trying to learn about proper electricity for the home, like wiring standards and all that. I've had some entry level physics classes in HS and have a general level of handyman knowledge but I find it fascinating how much I didn't know about and how much of this stuff has been standardized all my life, and I'm in my 50s! Very interesting and thanks for all the detailed information!!
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Glad to help!
@jwalters6831
Жыл бұрын
Jeff, some. Extension cord have a locking systems that use the blade holes, to keep cords from coming loose or apart. Strait blade locking extension cords, not twist lock plugs.
@amzarnacht6710
Жыл бұрын
Before watching the entire video I would assume it's for heat expansion so they don't get caught in the outlet when they get hot. And... I learn otherwise by the end of the video. Good information. Though with modern high precision manufacturing the holes aren't as necessary. I guess it's so that the machine can be made more simple with locking pins to fix the prongs in place during assembly rather than a more complex clamping apparatus. And, of course, weight reduction comes into play. It's not much on a per-unit scale, but over several million it would add up. And the 'slot' idea wouldn't work because it would make the plug too flimsy to withstand the stress of being pushed into modern polarity limited outlets (with one side fatter than the other).
@Telephonebill51
Жыл бұрын
Plugs do NOT normally "get hot" in service. That indicates that you're pulling too many amps, and the fuse/breaker SHOULD blow. Things don't "get hot" just because there's "electricals" in them,. kid.
@michaelogden5958
Жыл бұрын
A little off topic, but when I was in the surgical operating room biz we used Hubbell twist-lock plugs and receptacles. They were supposed to have been "explosion proof".
@singamajigy
Жыл бұрын
I could have sworn that I saw some gadget in my house without the holes. Now I’m running around like a crazy person unplugging everything and checking.
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Many people report having some without the hole as it is optional
@singamajigy
Жыл бұрын
@@jeffostroff I haven’t found any so far, but I’m going to keep looking because I’m going crazy. 😂
@grandn8646
Жыл бұрын
@@singamajigy keep looking lol
@petersage5157
Жыл бұрын
"...for manufacturing purposes only..." So that would mean that, and I'm just speculating here, the jig for the plug assembly might have nubs that locate the blades consistently for attaching the wires and molding the plug body. ...and yes, the fact that they're there makes them convenient for LOTO. Not their intended use, just a happy coincidence that became a de facto use. Without the holes, LOTO would require either a clamshell that locks over the entire plug (and there are many such clamshells made and labeled for this purpose) or some means of affixing the plug to the appliance such that it could not by placed into a receptacle. Just shoving something through the holes is more simpler.
@edancummings7738
11 ай бұрын
Fairly rare, but I have come across a 5-15 receptacle on extension cord that had a locking lever that must have pushed a pin through the metal holes. Once the lever was flipped, it was impossible to unplug the cord inadvertently. I wish more cord manufacturer's would use this "bonus" feature of the holes. It was nice to not have to worry about the cord coming undone when dragging through the yard and so on.
@jd-zr3vk
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for the holistic examination of plugs.
@Kat-on3nm
Ай бұрын
Older recpticals maybe not all have bumbs in the recpticals metal slots to help better hold the plug prongs in from coming out so easly when the plug is fully inserted into them. I have taken older recpticals apart and saw they have bubs on the metal in the plug that grabs the the prongs of the plug. M
@CharlesVanNoland
Жыл бұрын
@8:38 I wouldn't call going from a hole that's .125in in diameter to .156in "twice the size". I thought you said you were an engineer :(
@rauljr9869
Жыл бұрын
Thanks, very informative and educational. I can say I learned something new today, thanks again.
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it Raul!
@vargonian
Жыл бұрын
I’m confused because the ANSI standard clearly specifies that it is (optionally) used in the manufacturing process, and yet he dismissed this conclusion early in the video.
@alexatkin
Жыл бұрын
It could indeed easily have been boiled down to "its there because some company in the early days used it during manufacturing so the standard included it to ensure all outlets are designed to make proper contact away from this weak point". But that would have been a short video.
@vargonian
Жыл бұрын
@@alexatkin I know it’s the KZitem way and I don’t hate the player, just the game, but I would have preferred that video.
@PeterLawton
Жыл бұрын
The great thing about standards is there are so many to choose from. (@7:00)
@bigredc222
Жыл бұрын
I have a set of male female cord ends that use the holes to lock together. The female side has buttons that have to be pushed in to disengage pins that go into those holes. I bought them at a supply house I think in the 90s. The set I have are the only one's I've ever seen. I think they are Leviton.
@jobellecollie7139
3 ай бұрын
My best 100 foot extension cord got damaged 3 feet from the plug end. Is it possible to cut the cord clean and add a brand new plug? I just don’t want to throw away a pricey extension cord. My mind tells me it CAN be done, but the clerk at Home Depot said it would be cheaper to buy a new extension cord. Thoughts?
@PatrickJMele
Жыл бұрын
As a life long tool & die machinist I guess we always called a construction hole mainly for location during progressive punch and dies matching sets to hold tight tolerances during set up and manufacturing. Electrical Engineers once completed often handed off to Heads of tool set-up shop
@mikessurface2154
Жыл бұрын
It’s funny cause I burnt up a lot extension cords and that’s always right where those holes are if it was solid it wouldn’t be such a weak point
@alexatkin
Жыл бұрын
I'd assume the point of having it mandated in the standard is to avoid this by ensuring the outlet makes enough contact AFTER the hole. So I'd question if it was plugged in fully or the outlet was faulty, or someone ignored the standard and put the hole further up than they should have.
@johnbergstrom2931
Жыл бұрын
Why are you burning up "a lot" of extension cords? What are you doing?? Maybe you need to reevaluate your life...
@BG-vq9fd
Жыл бұрын
Holes are sometimes used in progressive and particularly transfer dies for locating. I have a few patents and understand the process. Last week I grabbed something without holes and was wondering about the difference.
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Yes some of the Chinese manufacturers that make electrical plugs don't always conform to every piece of the American spec and whether they even noticed that the whole could be there, but it certainly makes less work for them to not have to make that chamfered hole
@r.a.monigold9789
Жыл бұрын
Standardizing standards is standard procedures for most standardized industries. BTW this is my standard answer. Thank you
@rcpmac
Жыл бұрын
The holes allow you to lengthen an extension cord using romex cable the other end of which can be stripped and plugged in directly to an outlet.
@bigredc222
Жыл бұрын
I did that once as an apprentice with a hot wire, I melted one of the prongs when the wires touched, bad idea.
@jeffreystroman2811
Жыл бұрын
Super smart guy here, its probably just to encourage a better contact profile avoiding thermal runaway of high spots and such. Imo
@BackWoodsMensan
Жыл бұрын
I suspect the other end of each tab has the same hole, used to solder the conductor. Either end works in the fabrication machinery before encapsulation.
@kb1cqx
Жыл бұрын
I have a question kinda off topic... Is there a shelf life for surge protectors? Just wanted to know if you know and what you think.
@johnbergstrom2931
Жыл бұрын
You should replace your surge protector every 2 weeks. (this has nothing to do with the fact I work for the Surge Protector Association of America) No, seriously, if you get a surge and your surge protector stops working, it's done it's job. Replace it. But if it's working fine, don't worry about it.
@kb1cqx
Жыл бұрын
@@johnbergstrom2931 That is cool. I like people in the electrical field. I am a HAM operator and shocked myself moving equipment this last month to do deep cleaning. I might have to ground the stuff with an 8 foot rod in the ground but I am NOT sure. Someone told me it might be old surge protectors. I was shocked on casing for my regulated power supply and the metal case on my scanner. Not sure what the issue is...
@stephenw2992
Жыл бұрын
@@kb1cqx Surge protectors use MOVs that short out when the voltage goes high, leading to a fuse or circuit breaker tripping. If one of them is causing shocks its because its shorted to earth but your earth isnt earthed because it has a break in it. Either way it sounds like your earth is broken or wired up to the live voltage somewhere. Start at the stake and work back looking for a break in the wire.
@RetiredEE
Жыл бұрын
Nice video, but @1:15 please don't pull a plug out by grabbing the cable. The grippable features on the plug & strain relief are there for a reason!
@frednewman2162
Жыл бұрын
So is the hole used in the manufacturing process? Maybe it's stamped in the blade process for advancing the blade into the cutting process? Or maybe the dies that are made to stamp and cut blades just have it as a left over from times gone by?
@allanbrogdon3078
Жыл бұрын
In commercial aircraft we lock out tag out breakers for a system in work.
@desertdan100
Жыл бұрын
I was told years ago that the holes helped to make the connection self cleaning. Foreign matter would be picked up in the holes and could be cleaned or knocked out of them.
@Kat-on3nm
Ай бұрын
It's mainly for plug retention in recpticals that have bumbs in them to hold plugin from sliping out so easily when plug is fully inserted in such recptical.
@rodsprague369
Жыл бұрын
I thought the hole lined up with a stamped hemispherical bump inside the receptacle to increase the metal to metal contact.
@libertyprime7911
Жыл бұрын
A long time ago. He implies this, but doesn't make the connection (pun intended).
@Kat-on3nm
Ай бұрын
I believe the bumb was and is to help the plug stay in better from slipping out of the recptical when fully inserted .
@rodsprague369
Ай бұрын
I was thinking in terms of electrical contact as well as physical security.
@phillipbireta9308
Жыл бұрын
Those holes have a purpose. When the kids don’t do their chores, you can put a small lock on the plug of their gaming consoles so they can’t use them.
@wryanddry2266
Жыл бұрын
And if they try to use jumpers as a countermeasure, they may suffer extra punishment in the form of electrocution.
@eXtremeFX2010
Жыл бұрын
Wow! And that friends is your Double Jeopardy answer question of the day. 😂 [cue the exit music]
@adamjudis
Жыл бұрын
Very informative, video... I would have never known this. I actually purchased a cheap rechargeable flashlight once that actually did not have the holes in the plug and I have been wondering how come. You answered my question. Of course the flashlight was made in China, so I guess they probably don't care about the standards, I as doubt they actually saw the note that you pointed out about it not being required. You have a great voice, you could be in broadcasting.
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much!
@common_c3nts
Жыл бұрын
Usually, the hole is in injection molded plugs to hold the prongs in the mold for manufacturing. The plugs without the holes are in transformers that are assembled and not molded like 9V transformer plug. If not injection molded then they dont need the holes to hold them. Also scrap metal reclaim is money, so I imagine some manufactures must do it to save money. All those punches can be reclaimed or bought from them.
@anullhandle
Жыл бұрын
Industry standards tend to be designed by committee with all paying members getting their 2 cents in. Standards are like sausages, it's better not to see them being made :) I wonder if this is a manufacturing fiducial for somebody's stamping, assembly or over molding equipment? I could see a member insisting the locating or orientation feature be added to a standard to avoid issues with UL CSA inspectors and everyone just rolling with it. Or, maybe a planned revision for an actual retention feature option that never got implemented. That would make sense since the datum is the plug/socket mating plane. It's probably buried in committee meeting minutes or draft standard comments.
@mikepupillo2648
Жыл бұрын
Tell use why people used bulb sockets. For lack of receptacles. I remember old movies plugging irons into light sockets.
@Pyridox
Жыл бұрын
Good information. Motorola, I went to Motorola in Ft. Lauderdale FL back in the mid 80's for training on the Spirit & Minitor type pagers & also 2-way radios with encryption.
@bunnykiller
Жыл бұрын
there is a little lock that the shaft fits thru the holes, once the lock is in place it keeps you from plugging it into the wall socket or extension cord...
@jeffomalley6015
Жыл бұрын
In other countries where they use a different style plug do they put the holes in theres?
@RocknRollkat
Жыл бұрын
Interesting presentation , thank you ! But it begs the question, why would the ANSI spec. for the hole be there in the first place ? Bill P.
@alpagano50
11 ай бұрын
How about during manufacturing is it so machinery can hold plug while it is being molded.....????
@ianbelletti6241
Жыл бұрын
I suspected that the hole was for a security nub despite the fact that most straight blade plugs are held in the receptacle by friction from the spring pressure on the blade. I'm sure it was more necessary when it was harder to ensure that the tolerances would ensure strong enough spring forces to hold the plug in place. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see this feature much in receptacles because twist locking plugs are more reliable when you need locking devices.
@scottconnell8167
Жыл бұрын
Now that's strange when I got my electrical license many years ago they told me it was for lockout tagout
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
A common answer given yes, but lockout/tagout industry popped up later to take advantage of the holes that were already there
@ocsrc
Жыл бұрын
I have seen houses with plugs with 2 blades, same length No ground Both blades were small Standard plugs would not plug in because of the long neutral blade I found a video that said if you put a GFCI outlet in these old homes the outlet somehow becomes grounded but it doesn't have the GFCI protection Not sure how that works, but it did test that it had a ground I replaced 1 outlet in each room with a GFCI The insulation was CLOTH I had never seen that except for in pictures Really amazing
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
If the old house had conduit between the outlets and it was grounded at the box it would be grounded.
@wryanddry2266
Жыл бұрын
Cloth- and paper-insulated cords were common in the 1950's. I'm still using a 1953 toaster with a cloth cord. Such toasters still commonly sell on ebay for $50 to $100. Wiring in many 1950's cars had cloth insulation.
@okaro6595
Жыл бұрын
I think a major fact is that the customers expect the hole. A plug without a hole may look weird or foreign and they might skip the product. Here is how the holes are used: kzitem.info/news/bejne/tKiYnGuBsoaAnmU Things are so different in Europe We have essentially two types of sockets, grounded and the obsolete ungrounded, everything else like ranges are hard wired. In garages there can be three phase sockets that are massive. On the other hand within those there is much more variation on what the sockets look. Basically only the connection to the plug is standard, anything else can vary: the shape, how it is wired. Also surface mounting is far more common. Sometime ago it was fashionable to have the the receptacles diagonally In Germany they do not use doubles but wire two singles side by side (which means the cords do not interfere)
@vincentstouter449
Жыл бұрын
While a “holistic” approach to electrical manufacturing standards is interesting, the basis for the hole to aid in the manufacturing was not discussed. 😎
@charlesspringer4709
11 ай бұрын
I suspect that all the tooling for making the blades uses the holes and injection molding the plug uses the holes for registration and a design without the hole requires new tooling or fixturing.
@BariumCobaltNitrog3n
Жыл бұрын
Try plugging something into the new Tamper Proof outlets.
@alishatruman
Жыл бұрын
I thought it was for a certain manufacturing process that held on to the metal when the plastic part was melted on there. I wonder higher quality cords don't have that.
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
I don't even think they use it for that either because they don't really need to Pierce the blade in order to insert it into the mold but just needs to have a pick and place machine stick it in there
@alexatkin
Жыл бұрын
@@jeffostroff Today sure, but presumably at least one company used it for something like that and thus why it ended up in the standard to allow it. My guess would be today they do it simply because it DOES save a little metal, why use more than you need to meet the standard. The same way a cheap outlet will use the minimum they can get away with on the blades, so it will work loose faster, whereas a high quality one might make it a tighter fit and last longer. Even with our overkill outlets in the UK we have this issue with cheap outlets working loose or barely making a good contact to begin with as they do the bare minimum to meet the standard and the lack of leeway for manufacturing tolerances leads to bad batches, or dodgy stuff that comes in from China not meeting the standard to begin with.
@johnbergstrom2931
Жыл бұрын
I've seen a video where they made use of those holes to facilitate manufacturing, but it was from decades ago. Modern machines DON'T NEED NO STINKING HOLES!
@JasonsLabVideos
Жыл бұрын
I was told they are to put locks on them so people can't plug them in when you are doing work on the other end.!
@MichaelRei99
Жыл бұрын
So you are worried that someone is going to plug a lamp in while your changing the bulb??
@JasonsLabVideos
Жыл бұрын
@@MichaelRei99 LOL! nope, but what if you were working on a large table saw or something bigger ? Maybe your changing the blade on a saw and your at a construction site with tons of power cords. eh ?
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Well they weren't made for that reason but the cottage industry popped up To take advantage of the hole in the blade and make those tiny padlocks. But that is not the reason why the holes are in the blades.
@JasonsLabVideos
Жыл бұрын
@@jeffostroff oh well, the holes give options to provide a lock out. Shrugs .
@MichaelRei99
Жыл бұрын
@@JasonsLabVideos so why do they put them on table lamps Eh???
@threepe0
Жыл бұрын
let's debunk this idea by plugging into a particular manufacturer's outlet, and pull the plug out, completely ignoring that the idea is just increased tension by the outlet pinching at the notches/holes... then tell ourselves smugly that "that's been debunked" of course you can pull the thing out. Even if there were bumps on the outlet to pinch around the holes, you'd be able to pull the plug out. I'm flabbergasted that someone who calls themselves an engineer would chalk that up as a debunking. Then, let's completely misrepresent and misunderstand the argument that the holes are to facilitate manufacturing (spoiler alert, it IS partly to facilitate manufacture, not directly to save money, though some small savings are seen as a byproduct.) Then let's say every manufacturer making plugs that fit HAVE TO do this, in spite of many of the plugs just not having holes. Then speculate that other engineers are just confused and maybe assume they have to? Then you go back to saying "this is the standard everyone has to do it..." So, is it "the standard," or is the standard being misinterpreted by people who are confused? Oh boy, I think someone's confused indeed... Anyways, Techmoan covered this topic pretty well, and doesn't depend on speculating about people's intelligence.
@russlehman2070
Жыл бұрын
I know I've seen plugs without the holes. I don't think anything I currently own has a plug without holes though. They're not common, but the do exist.
@jyesucevitz
Жыл бұрын
01:58 Harvey Hubble. I'm familiar with his work in outerspace photography.
@cheryllundholm8779
Жыл бұрын
Very interesting! I have bought items where the plug doesn't have the hole. It looks weird and I wondered, "Will the plug work okay, without that hole?"
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
It will work now we know
@johnbergstrom2931
Жыл бұрын
It will work better. More contact area with the receptacle blades, less resistance, less chance of overheating, less chance of arcing.
@stephenw2992
Жыл бұрын
Pretty sure the Japanese made US plugs dont usually have holes and work perfectly fine
@Mk101T
Жыл бұрын
Those holes are so you can easily tie to a loose wire pig tail when you don't want to be bothered with wiring in a plug , or destroy the molded end of your extension cord . Nails work great for the female end in doing the same.
@edpoe1108
Жыл бұрын
That's ridiculous, nails can be used at any point along the wire. You simply hammer them into the insulation until they contact the conductors, then wrap the nail heads with your jumpers. This method is superior because you can tap in anywhere.
@Mk101T
Жыл бұрын
@@edpoe1108 I see where you are going with that ... But you forget extension cords are temporary stretches of power from A to B . And you pretty much always want the weather proof coating on the in between section. Now if you are talking romex that is meant to be a permanent A to B installation. Sure ... quick clip ons / nails that pierce the wire anywhere along the way would be a great idea for phasing out useless junction boxes and wire nuts.
@edpoe1108
Жыл бұрын
@@Mk101T You make some valid points, but remember that you can always encase any old penetrations or new junctions with several wraps of duct tape-it'll be right as rain.
@edpoe1108
Жыл бұрын
@@Mk101T ;)
@ultrametric9317
Жыл бұрын
I seem to remember the holes allow a lot of plugs to be formed at once by injection molding - a machine lines up all the tangs on a long rod thru the holes - these are then robotically soldered to the wire that goes with them and then the plug formed around the whole works by injection molding.
@subitopoco
Жыл бұрын
Many plug tangs appear to be nickel-plated brass. I wonder if the holes were used to suspend the tangs during electro-plating?
@PWingert1966
Жыл бұрын
Its also interesting that in the drawing the smaller blade the hole is beveled while the larger blade is flush and un-beveled!
@Weather76
Жыл бұрын
This little note about holes allows manufacturers to save money. The complexity of manufacturing stamping does not change. But less metal is needed and the mass of the product is less. Cheaper transport costs.
@johnbergstrom2931
Жыл бұрын
Well, the volume of both of those holes in plug blades is 0.02 cm^3, and assuming common nickel-plated brass (8.73 g/cm^3) a total mass of 0.1746 grams. If you had 10,000 devices with plugs (in a shipping container, say) that would be a 'savings' of 1.746 kg, or 3.85 pounds. 3.85 pounds off a shipping container weighing 30,000+ pounds is NOTHING. Wouldn't change the economics one effing bit... The way to save money is to NOT waste time drilling the holes.
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Also they have to chamfer those holes which takes more steps
@grandn8646
Жыл бұрын
@@jeffostroff the chamfer of the hole is done by the design of the punch which pierces the hole.
@StefanSteinerWA
Жыл бұрын
@@johnbergstrom2931why do people keep saying those holes are drilled? They are mostly just stamped out at the same time as the rest of the blade. Zero additional work involved except for collecting the scraps.
@polodelmar9852
Жыл бұрын
Lock-out tagged Safety requirements.
@flurng
Жыл бұрын
I had always heard that the holes were indeed used during manufacturing, specifically to ensure that the blades are properly located when injection molding the one-piece plastic plug housing.
@raysoucie489
Жыл бұрын
I can see the "POWER" of having standards --- KOOL pun !!!!
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Thanks, ray
@jonspitzley2801
Жыл бұрын
I see cut and paste has been used for a long time 😂👍👊✌️
@kwgm8578
Жыл бұрын
@jeffostroff -- thank you. It's nice to meet one of the in-house engineers who performed this kind of defensive patent research. I'm a retired engineer now, but during the last 10 years of my career I consulted with a few large law firms defending their client's IP against both pirates and trolls. Some were so obvious with their infringement, I'd wonder if the big firms were smart enough to do the research to stay out of trouble in patent court, usually the US 5th (Texas) or 9th District (West Coast) courts. Nice to hear that Motorola did, and I'm aware of a few others, but the startups that did not would lose huge amounts of money to these bandits, learning just how ruthless life can be in the world of high-tech fortunes. Nice channel.
@jeffadams5510
Жыл бұрын
I've used commercial extension cords where on the female end it has a locking mechanism that uses these holes. Have to slide a collar back on it to release the male plug end. It was new and didn't last long. Probably less than 50 cycles......smh....
@chapulineroenohio5406
Жыл бұрын
Everybody knows that the holes in the plug blades are there for cooling purposes !
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Great idea!
@johnbergstrom2931
Жыл бұрын
No, the holes create little 'lounge areas' where the electrons can hang out, take a load off and relax for a little while.
@markknister6272
Жыл бұрын
HAD to start in California - done for no good reason ….😮
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
I think that's where the UPC Plumbing codes started
@davestambaugh7282
Жыл бұрын
May be it costs more to make with out the hole in it. Tooling holes help to keep parts properly located in tool or fixture without moving around during operations.
@unique2dou964
Жыл бұрын
Maybe in manufacturing they use the holes during the assembly?
@MichaelRei99
Жыл бұрын
I’m surprised as an engineer you don’t know that a round hole is much stronger than a rectangular hole. If you don’t think that manufacturers aren’t considering the scrap value of those metal shavings you are kidding yourself. The holes otherwise have no purpose. NEMA just wants to make sure they are uniform and make sure they are safely done.
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Round holes are stronger but I'm Surprise that you didn't realize that I need them an intro whether it be square or circle in the middle of that blade doesn't really matter either way due to the thickness of that blade.
@MichaelRei99
Жыл бұрын
@@jeffostroff if you make as long of a hole as you referred to it absolutely would compromise the strength of the blade. And it would lesson the contact point considerably.
@glenparker234
5 ай бұрын
I was working in silicon Valley in the 70’s making IC’s one of the computer chips was stolen I don’t remember by who it was china or Russia they are made of around 5 to 7 layers they will evaporate and coat the chip with a layer of aluminum or sometimes other elements then they will apply a layer of photosensitive materials like the black light epoxy they sell these days then they will put a mask with a pitcher of the IC over the silicon wafer and exposing it to a bright black light the areas that weren’t covered will harden and the covered areas won’t and can be washed off now so that each layer will be lined up they will put a group of little dots you line up on each side of the wafer. Now the finished chip will be cut out of the wafer they will make lots of them in rows and columns on the wafer they will have a bunch of pens that will be spot welded to pads on the IC it will then be coated in epoxy and the pins trimmed so it will plug into a socket or soldered onto a circuit board. Here’s the funny thing we thought at the time to copy the IC they etched the IC down layer by layer and copied it exactly everything on it including the company logo on the chip. We all thought that was funny at the time because they were afraid of getting something wrong they copied everything exactly. Just like the holes in the plug someone put them there and everyone else copied it because everyone else did. Another interesting story I heard a while back a young girl was watching her mother cook a leg of lamb and she cut off the bone very short she ask her mother why she said she didn’t know but her mother always did it so she did it also. A few years later the young girl was visiting her grand mother and ask her why she always cut the leg of lamb off and her grand mother said because my pan wasn’t big enough to put the lid on with the bone that long. Fortunately the young girl was smart enough to ask and not have to spend years drilling holes just to do the things that everyone else was doing because that’s how we do it 😂😂😂😂😂
@Weird_guy79
Жыл бұрын
this basically could have been a 30 second vid.
@barba928
Жыл бұрын
I can imagine the process for an engineer about to make some plugs. Stamping dies would have to be made, their dimensions would be written in stone once made at high cost/time. You would need to establish the dimensions and tolerances of the finished plug. You would search out relevant specs. Once you found those specs it would seem like salvation, now you could proceed. If there were specs for holes, even if you didn't understand their purpose or doubted their relevance, it would be better to just incorporate them. Besides, it's easier to eliminate a hole punch from a complex stamping die than to add one.
@mos8541
Жыл бұрын
look its old timey tradition at this point,... EXCEPT... any of the locking female extension cord ends...
@ocsrc
Жыл бұрын
The RV L14-50 plug is missing. This is the standard now and has been for the past 30 years on all Class A motorhomes The cord connects to the RV and they have an adapter plug that goes from locking to standard 4 wire 50 amp 4 plug receptacle. Also the RV comes with a 1 foot adapter cable that goes from 50 amp to 30 amp and an adapter plug to go from 240 30 amp to standard 120 volt 15 amp receptacle I had to deal with a lot of RV parks and the wiring at these places is scary at best How they don't have fires all the time is anyone's guess I used to see the bottom row type plugs a long time ago. I have not seen them in a long time. The old 10-50 240 volt I saw on old RVs and a LOT of house dryers They all used to use this as the standard. There is also another connector I don't see here. It was 2 blades at 45 degree angles with the L at the bottom. I don't remember if it was a dryer plug or an RV but it was 240 volts 30 amps Pretty sure it was 2 hots and ground.
@ocsrc
Жыл бұрын
Never mind, 10-30, it was a dryer. The dryers have had all 4 type of 30 amp plugs.
@jeg5gom
Жыл бұрын
Sooooo... just because. Got it!
@CharlesVanNoland
Жыл бұрын
@7:00 I think we need more plug/receptacle designs and variants :|
@iggymac3473
Жыл бұрын
great info Jeff
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Iggy!
@olliebyrd
Жыл бұрын
i think i've seen christmas light plugs without those holes.
@bigstroke2069
Жыл бұрын
Over 11 minutes for this?
@snoglydox
Жыл бұрын
. *Less copper used making it equals less money spent making it.* The required location has to do with making sure proper contact is made.
@gwarlow
Жыл бұрын
8:12 Answer starts here.
@getx1265
Жыл бұрын
Interesting info, Jeff! Thanks.
@jeffostroff
Жыл бұрын
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!
@proto57
Жыл бұрын
Why? Why? Well finally at 9:24... Ta DUM.... "My guess...". What? Your GUESS? Well we coulda guessed too, and saved 9 minutes and 24 seconds of our lives.
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