I just watched a TikTok about how people used to plug in things to their light sockets when electricity was first becoming popular. And they kept calling the plug a light socket, what rule says it’s not a plug that screws in? And why shouldn’t plugs screw in? We have material science to make plugs and cables hard enough that if you kick the wire it still doesn’t come out. Electrical connections should be more secure. That’s all I’m saying.
And what if you need to unplug something quickly?
just cut it and solder everything back together later
Yes, cut it and complete a circuit with the scissor blades so now they’re electrocuted as well. That’s the best solution by far
The cord would get all twisted up
There are a lot of valid reasons not to do a screw in plug, but hoses solved this problem decades ago. The tip turns, the cord doesn’t
It’s a lot harder to stick something, like your fingers, into a small hole than a light socket.
Plugs can be more secure, but they also can’t.
You don’t want plugs to be too secure because they’re supposed to be temporary. Plug in fast, unplug fast.
There’s a benefit to plugs that come off easily: That’s the weakest point. If you kick a cord, the cord doesn’t snap, it just comes unplugged. If you make your plug stronger, maybe instead the cable breaks and now you’ve got lethal voltage swinging around, or you have arcing inside a connector or inside a cable that starts a fire.
There are electrical connections that are more secure used in industry or other places. For example DIN plugs or Brad Harrison connectors.
My guess to the biggest reason not to do this is safety - if somebody is being electrocuted, you want to be able to pull the cord out of the wall as quickly as possible to maximise their chance of survival.
… because they’re supposed to be temporary. Plug in fast, unplug fast.
Some are supposed to be temporary. Others are meant to be more permanent.
But anywhere a plug is permanent, like an entertainment center, it’s not in a place where it’s in danger of being jostled. So there’s no need for a stronger attachment.
One reason would be so that if you needed to unplug something quickly, you can do so. Also you wouldn’t be able to have so many different variations to differentiate the different amperage and voltages. Most residential dwellings (in U.S.) only use 15A or 20A 120V receptacles, but there are plenty of other different types that use horizontal or verticle or even anhled slots. Think of a 240V air conditioner, it has a different type of plug so you don’t accidentaly plug it into a 120V receptacles. If needing something more secure, you can always get a twist-lock plug.
Cause if something catches and pulls hard on the cord you would prefer it yank the cable out of the socket and you just plug it back in, rather than either strip the screw and ruin the socket or even pull the entire socket out of the wall. Or if you trip on that cord its much safer for you to have that cord come out and only trip you a bit than it catch, go taut, and send you falling on your face.
This. They make twist lock receptacles, for certain applications. Normally in commercial settings where small appliances are powered by ceiling mounted outlets.
My university theatre has twist locks for their electrics. But the theatre I’m working in now uses stage pin.
Your foot catches the cable. It’s immediately taut. Your leg’s caught and you start to fall. Right then, this drywall gives way and the cable, the socket, and a big chunk of drywall come flying forward and crack the back of your skull. You’re out cold.
The exposed wiring touches the pile of foil bags you were carrying. Electricity arcs through the stack igniting the entire thing instantly.
The plastic is burnt off in a toxic cloud, which engulfs everyone present.
In his microplastic gas stupor the first guy to pull out his phone drops it. The wildly oscillating cord being pushed around by boiling steam happens to land on both sides of the phone and sends a vicious arc through the case. The battery overheats and explodes, injuring the cat.
Nice work, screw-in plugs. Nice work indeed.
Yeah, think about a child tripping over a cord. Do you want it to come unplugged or pull down the crock pot, coffee pot… This is also why they put short cords on hot stuff.
They screwed bulbs in and out before light switches were invented. Switches are better.
As for the plug, pretty sure you had limited plugs. You had to plug in one device, and then unplug it and plug in the next. Ava you likely wanted to unplug when not in use. You wanted it tight but not so unwieldy that it was a pain. This was a good design. Never really had a problem with them coming out. The grounding plug which came later helps make it even more secure.
Are you high? Who in their right mind thinks this is a good idea?
They exist and have done pretty much since the screw in light socket (ES) was invented.
Check out the British design to see a way to make them more secure: Tom Scott explaining British power outlets
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I can see multiple reasons:
- trip hasard
- could break the cord or the device if it gets yanked
- less convenient, slower
- it would tangle/twist the cable
To ad to the first 2 points when a cable is broken often from getting tripped from the cable it’s now a electrocution hazard meanwhile with the sockets we have now when you trip from a cable it’s just unplugs and there’s no risk of electrocution
It is (https://www.amazon.com/Simpo-Socket-Adapter-Lampholder-Indicator/dp/B07Z4H1RND) it’s just a connection to your mains. It’s just kind of inconvenient as opposed to a regular plug
I agree with you - don’t care what the attachment method is, but it definitely should be more secure - especially at the airport. What the hell are people doing to those outlets? Most are completely useless.
Seems like the world couldn’t agree to a standard at all.
https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/
Me scrolling through the list.
Ok
Yeah
Ok
Interesting
I know that one
…
No! Why?
Why?
Why?
No! Why?
Why?!
Why has everybody another Standard? And many so similar but incompatibe?!
Twist lock plugs are definitely a thing.
