enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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They must have a NEMA number to be approved either by UL or CSA.
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ktmrfs
Portland, Oregon
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salem wrote:fj12ryder: My extension cords are probably several years old. I didn't realize some of the blades had changed sizes. Maybe that's my problem, I need newer cords.
blade and plug sizes haven't change in over 50+ years. Sometime in the 1950's or maybe earlier they went from two prongs of equal width to "polarized" plugs, one prong wider than the other. With the non polarized plugs it was and still is possible for the hot and neutral to be reversed on the device plugged in. you could plug it in either way.
AFAIK all the 3 prong "adapters" or extensions are polarized as well so that the common polarized non grounded plug will work with them.
I have and have run across a few two prong non polarized 1 to 3 adapters
There are still a very few non polarized cords around, christmas tree light cords are one such application. the vast majority are non polarized.
If your talking about wall outlets, the newer "childproof" outlets are a royal PITA, it requires the blades to be plugged in uniformally so that the neutral blade opens the cover on to the hot side.
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stickdog
Somewhere, USA
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Quote: If your talking about wall outlets, the newer "childproof" outlets are a royal PITA, it requires the blades to be plugged in uniformally so that the neutral blade opens the cover on to the hot side.
Could this be a reason for the falling birth rate?
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wa8yxm
Davison Michigan (East of Flint)
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Is this what you are talking about
https://www.amazon.com/EATON-419GY-125-Volt-Grounding-Adapter/dp/B000H5QZ9S/ref=asc_df_B000H5QZ9S/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193994910693&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7822169822213890949&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9017024&hvtargid=pla-309396144231&psc=1
Old ones Like 1960 old the two prongs were the same size.. Old 2 slot outlets often the same.. Modern ones the "neutral" side is wider and won't go into a non-polarized outlet This is a safety thing.
Dremel will "Modify" the neutral blade if you need to do it.
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
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larry cad
ohio
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wa8yxm wrote:Dremel will "Modify" the neutral blade if you need to do it.
Seriously??
![[emoticon]](https://forums.motorhome.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/doh.gif "doh")
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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Grit dog wrote:Cummins12V98 wrote:What is a "three prong plug"?
This is just another goofy/typical thread.
THAT explains it!!! Thanks ![[emoticon]](https://forums.motorhome.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
Merry Christmas
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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A pic would be nice!
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wa8yxm
Davison Michigan (East of Flint)
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Cummins12V98 wrote:Grit dog wrote:Cummins12V98 wrote:What is a "three prong plug"?
This is just another goofy/typical thread.
THAT explains it!!! Thanks
Merry Christmas
Well "A Dremel"
I have some double insulated stuff. All plastic case. NO exposed electrical conductive surfaces NONE ZIP NADA and what is more they operarte on 12 volts ac via a transformer.
And have 3 prong grounding plugs I need to plug into a non-polarized outlet.. So I used a Dremel on the adapter to make it fit.
How to do it is obvious. I have 3 hand grinders
one is. I believe a genuine Dremel (Or Craftsmen but made to Dremel specs) one Roby (Or is it Robi) and one battery operated. They work rather well. Very handy tools. I also have some heavy duty versions of the same (Angle grinder. Air Grinder and the like)
If you ever listen to the song "If I Were A Carpenter" (Among other artists Mr and Mrs Cash) I've done basically every job in the song (only instead of "Tinker" Which I've done on the hobby level it was Machinist for a couple months)
In addition: Mechanic (Small engine though I've worked on larger ones) Certified electronics electrician.. and novice 3-D printer.
And with all that I get paid.> Because for over 25 years I told cops where to go (Retired dispatcher)..
Most of those jobs were in my youth (Small engine and Machinist was mid 20s) and I grew up on a combined Dairy/Swine farm.. where my mother taught me to cook..
ON a small "Family" farm .. You learn a lot of jobs.
And on a Dairy/Swine farm you shovel a lot of political promises
(Both Parties) (No I won't say which is Swine (Stinks more))
(and yes.. that's a joke).
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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Ask again, what kind of three prong plug are you talking about?
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ktmrfs
Portland, Oregon
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On the non polarized plugs. Until the 50's or so they were common. Now the issue is that many many of the things plugged into them (e.g. old radios, appliances etc.) had the metal chassis directly tied to one side and either no transformer or transformer input side tied to the chassis. So, the chassis could easily be hot..... Now all these appliances had plastic cases and plastic knobs etc. so in normal use no issue. Now, suppose a plastic knob broke and the metal shaft for the volume control etc was tied to the chassis? Or if a tube went bad and you were going to see which one took off the back, grabbed the chassis, or decided to turn the volume up after the knob fell off. If the chassis was tied to hot side (50/50 chance) you could be in for a big suprise!!!
Even worse, if the first time you tried this the chassis was indeed on the neutral side, no issue, then plug gets reverse, grab the chassis or knob again, no problem right? and then the big suprise
The advent of the polarized plug fixed the problem, the chassis if connected to a line lead was tied to the neutral, so as long as the outlet wasn't miswired usually no problem.
Then came grounded plugs with a requirement that the chassis, exposed metal be tied to the ground lead with a lead longer than either hot or neutral and neutral couldn't be tied to metal chassis or exposed metal.
Then came the double insulated stuff that can have a two pronged polarized plug.
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