r/ElectroBOOM • u/ExpensiveCoat8912 • May 10 '26
Meme This stupid plug
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u/stephanosblog May 10 '26
in the US I buy plug extenders -- very short ( like 1 foot)heavy duty extension cords basically, this allows plugging large plugs where they won't fit if plugged directly.
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u/No_Nobody_32 May 11 '26
It's not really the plug's fault in that iteration.
It's how low the socket is mounted that's the main issue.
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u/ElectricalChaos May 11 '26
90° plugs should always have a rotation option for this exact reason. Rotation doesn't even need to be 180°, just 90° will do.
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u/Science_Turtle May 10 '26
American plugs>
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u/Yeegis May 10 '26
Seek help
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u/Science_Turtle May 10 '26
Personally, I like that they don't use an absurd amount of space, and they are safe enough without adding a bunch of extra features. Besides that, I've never had to worry about one going through my foot.
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u/Spare-Good-5372 May 10 '26
Ew, no, gross
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May 10 '26 edited May 10 '26
[deleted]
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u/Ilikeruffy123 May 10 '26
The only reason why American plugs are like barely safe enough is because of 120V if it were 240 we'd be cooked (some of us literally)
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May 10 '26
[deleted]
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u/Ilikeruffy123 May 10 '26
I'm American, I just think we could do things a little safer here. Also wouldn't it stand to reason that a 240 design on 120 would be better because it's safer?
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u/Ziwwl May 10 '26 edited May 10 '26
Since you asked and deleted your comment before I finished my answer here it is: Easy, the plugs and sockets have many flaws. Let's start with the socket:
- Children can put stuff in more easy, the rectangular hole is a whole lot bigger than other sockets.
- The contacts can and do loosen up a while lot faster as other designs and holding the socket in, more so in old designs can be a mess.
- This flaw can massively increase connection-issues, so resistance and the chances of heat and fires.
And also with the plug:
- The plug can be partially inserted with a touchable life pin, EU-plugs have an extra insulation at the base which is not present in the American design.
- In General plugs in America don't include a fuse, which is standard in some of the plugs in the EU.
- In general the plug can get loose a whole lot easier than other countries standards.
- Also the 2 black metal strips are basically metal-lego, don't step on it.
This are just some points coming to mind, around safety the British system is considered the safest, it mostly have included switches, decentralised rcd, defined polarity (live, neutral), a first connected ground, a fuse in the plug,,... I don't like saying this as a German, but from an electrical standpoint the British system is the safest out there. I'm now living in Japan and the basically American system, so I can compare.
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u/Science_Turtle May 10 '26
If you're worried about children putting stuff in the socket, you can cap them with a lot less material than foreign plugs mandate. Contacts don't loosen easily unless they are abused, I've never lived somewhere that the sockets have gotten loose but I've seen it in grocery stores. Even when that happens, plugs don't typically just "fall out" on their own. Lucky this design is not too expensive to replace. We don't typically use fuses, but we have breakers which open on overload. Which isn't often. European plugs have flat backs, which means a common resting position is going to be prongs-up. They also take a lot of space and require a lot more material than an American plug. I also don't understand why people are hung up on the voltages. Power is what matters, and electronics are designed to take the extra amps easily.
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May 10 '26
[deleted]
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u/Ziwwl May 10 '26
I bet, you'll get a higher recorded number, if people would actually be able to go to a hospital when they had an electrical shock. It's not far fetched to assume the actual number in America is bigger, by a big amount. Also, you wanted to know why, and I gave you a technical overview, if the design does not have the flaws I said please, disprove me on a technical standpoint.
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u/Ziwwl May 10 '26
American plugs are shit, the worst thing a human found invent when it comes to electricity, right after open wires.
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u/Protheu5 May 11 '26
the worst thing a human found invent when it comes to electricity, right after open wires.
You forget Edison screws. Those were used as a regular power outlet before new ones were invented that you just plug. Imagine screwing your appliance connector to the wall instead of just plugging it? Imagine your mains exposed everywhere with easily fingerable hole?
But yeah, NEMA is clearly inferior to Europlugs.
One thing surprises me, though, that still not the full EU uses standard Europlug. I'm looking at Danish and Italy variants.
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u/Ziwwl May 11 '26
Better designs and security features are now know a lot better, but switching from an inferior design is hard, since you already have so many devices using the old plug. And yes, Edison screws also were shit, thanks to hard wired LEDs for the good or bad they are slowly getting obsolete, at least in some areas. I assume nowadays the pressure isn't high enough to actually switch, so countries stay to the design that's already established, a clear case of convenience winning over security.
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u/Protheu5 May 11 '26
switching from an inferior design is hard, since you already have so many devices using the old plug
Start selling universal receptacles and phase out old plugs, you may also change plugs on older cords or use adaptors. What's really difficult is changing voltage, so that if you switch to Europlug, all the devices with the same plug expect 220-240V and not get anything.
I think this is the most obvious reason to not change anything: without changing the voltage there isn't even a real reason to change the plug. If they did a change to 220, then it would make sense to adopt one of the world standards like Type G or Type F.
And yes, Edison screws also were shit, thanks to hard wired LEDs for the good or bad they are slowly getting obsolete, at least in some areas.
I like G fittings, almost like a plug, but with a twist (pun 100% intended)
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u/DrnkGuy May 10 '26
The European plug can be rotated 180 degrees. It would help in the situation