Receptacle Prongs

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?

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?

Yes. Ask him what MY middle name is. :jester:

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

To MDShunk I THINK I FOUND IT. REFER TO THIS WEB SITE. http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6979220-description.html

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

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).

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

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'

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.

code question

Thanks That May Get Him. Hopefully

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.

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.