HOYTUSA

Does anyone know the true reason that the prongs on most receptacle prongs (neutral and hot)have a hole in them. Sounds like a goofy question but heck I've got ideas but no true fact reason.

MDShunk

This question has been asked enough times over the years, that I'm going to make it a point to ask a product engineer sometime this year. I did work for a company for a lot of years that made these prongs. I know how they were utilized in during the manufacturing process, but if they have another useful purpose outside of manufacturing, I'm not aware of it. Some receptacle contact wipers have a little bump that engages the hole for better plug retention. There have been some plug lockout devices on the market over the years that take advantage of the holes. There are some prongs that don't feature these holes. I've even heard speculation about heat dissipation and arc quenching, but I think that's a load of bunk.

If you ever find out from someone "official", post back, will ya?

HOYTUSA

Yes When Facts Are Revealed I'll Try To Get Back. Seems Like A Nutsy Question But Its Actually A Electricians Class Assignment (journeyman) And I Actually Have Another Question. I Have To Come Up With A Question That Will Stump My Instructor. Any Ideas?

jproffer

Yes. Ask him what MY middle name is.

HOYTUSA

Ha Ha But I'm Serious The Guy Is A Master Elctrican Mid Thirties And Is Very Swift With The Code Book. He Instructs And Teaches From It Not A Class Manual

HOYTUSA

To MDShunk I THINK I FOUND IT. REFER TO THIS WEB SITE. http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/69...scription.html

HOYTUSA

ALSO TRY http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm

MDShunk

Yes, those are some reasons. You linked to a patent from just a couple of years ago for a plug locking device, and linked to a reference to the bumps on some receptacle contact wipers (called "latch tabs" on the print for these wipers, even though they don't "latch" per se).

HOYTUSA

ON THE SECOND LINK I POSTED LOOK AT TYPE A PLUGS IT SAYS WHAT MDShunk said earlier in the forum

HOYTUSA

Well I'm Printing Both For Class This Will Have To Do. Ha I've Exhausted All Searching ..ha --goodnight All Work Tommorrow... Semper Fi'

Louieb

Heres a good code question do all devices in a bedroom need to be arc, faulted ?answer ..no ..read 760.21 line voltage fire alarm systems.They can't be.

HOYTUSA

Thanks That May Get Him. Hopefully

brian john

Ask him with a 12 wire lead generator what are the connections for 480/277, 208/120 and single phase 240/120?

480/277 - A Ø is 1, B Ø is 2, C Ø is 3, 4 to 7, 5 to 8, 6 to 9, Neutral is 10, 11, 12.

208/120 - A Ø is 1 to 7, B Ø is 2 to 8, C Ø is 3 to9, Neutral is 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12

240/120 – L1 is 10 to 8, L2 is 1 to 6, Neutral is 2,4,7,12 then connect 3 to 5 and connect 9 to 11

As a note to this, after reconnecting you must adjust the voltage to match your needs (minimally adjustments are possible after reconnecting)


But there is no free lunch here, you better study this till you know it by heart. Because when he asked you to draw it on the board you better have your "A" game on.

The easy way to remember this is draw the HV 480/277 Y with extra legs (splits between 4-7, 5-8, 6-9) start with 1 going clockwise number the ends of the Y next go round the bottom of the 1st leg second go round top of Y third go round the center of the Wye this is 480, parallel the legs for 208/120 and delta dealt for 240/120.

brian john

In a 480/277 VAC switchboard rated 1000 amps and above with a single main what is the most common GFP (Ground Fault Protection) in use today.

Residual, ground return or Zero Sequence?

In modern switchboards the Zero Sequence system is the most prevalent system used. With the advent of inexpensive large current sensor's (commonly called Window CTs) it is economical over 4 CTs of a residual system and avoids some of the problems of the ground return system.


BUT once again you better be careful stumping an instructor (unless you do some follow up reading) can get you into a bucket of well MUD.

brian john

How many amps can a 20 amp circuit breaker carry before tripping open and for how long can it carry this current?


Molded case circuit breakers are inverse time current devices, the higher the current the faster they trip.

20 amp CB at 150% (25 amps) of rating depending on ambient, a durn long time.
20 amp CB at 200% of rating (40 amps) depending on ambient 10 minutes or longer.
20 amp CB at 300% of rating (60 amps) depending on ambient 35-60 seconds.
20 amp CB at 400% of rating (80 amps) depending on ambient 10-15 seconds.
20 amp CB at 1000% of rating (200 amps) instantaneous (7-12 milliseconds including opening time of CB).

Actual operating times vary from manufacture to manufacture and the above times are estimates based upon experience.