Why are these receptacles so difficult to plug into?
15
I just moved into a new apartment with these weird receptacles that make it very difficult to plug anything in. Is there a trick to these? Or is it normal for it to be extremely difficult to plug into them?
receptacle cord-and-plug
edited Feb 18 at 2:17
manassehkatz
9,7621337
asked Feb 18 at 1:45
LoreLore
7913
|
show 1 more comment
15
I just moved into a new apartment with these weird receptacles that make it very difficult to plug anything in. Is there a trick to these? Or is it normal for it to be extremely difficult to plug into them?
receptacle cord-and-plug
edited Feb 18 at 2:17
manassehkatz
9,7621337
asked Feb 18 at 1:45
LoreLore
7913
What's with the two holes in the middle, on both sides of the test & reset buttons? Foreign plug adapter? With no guards to prevent things being stuck inside?
– Xen2050
Feb 18 at 5:33
5
@Xen2050 the two holes are indicators that show red when the GFCI is tripped.
– Tom Carpenter
Feb 18 at 9:35
5
Bet you guys wish you lived in the UK now. :) We've had something like this since 1947, as part of British standardisation on electrical safety. We have an earth pin as standard on most electrical equipment, and on our sockets it's the earth pin which opens the tamper-resistant shutters. The earth pin is longer than the live/neutral pins, so the live/neutral pins never hit the shutters. Double-screened equipment which doesn't need an earth has a "dummy" plastic pin on the plug to open the shutters.
– Graham
Feb 18 at 15:57
Building on @TomCarpenter answer, the two "holes" are actually LEDs to show the state of the GFI.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:11
1
@William-Rem Yes, earthing is an afterthought in US wiring. It's perhaps not as essential for 115V compared to 230V. The US approach to mains is that it's painful but not fatal, whereas in the UK it's possible to kill yourself with mains voltage. (Although harder to do so - I've had a number of shocks, and I'm still ticking.)
– Graham
Feb 19 at 19:18
|
show 1 more comment
15
15
15
1
I just moved into a new apartment with these weird receptacles that make it very difficult to plug anything in. Is there a trick to these? Or is it normal for it to be extremely difficult to plug into them?
receptacle cord-and-plug
edited Feb 18 at 2:17
manassehkatz
9,7621337
asked Feb 18 at 1:45
LoreLore
7913
I just moved into a new apartment with these weird receptacles that make it very difficult to plug anything in. Is there a trick to these? Or is it normal for it to be extremely difficult to plug into them?
receptacle cord-and-plug
receptacle cord-and-plug
edited Feb 18 at 2:17
manassehkatz
9,7621337
asked Feb 18 at 1:45
LoreLore
7913
edited Feb 18 at 2:17
manassehkatz
9,7621337
asked Feb 18 at 1:45
LoreLore
7913
edited Feb 18 at 2:17
manassehkatz
9,7621337
edited Feb 18 at 2:17
manassehkatz
9,7621337
edited Feb 18 at 2:17
manassehkatz
9,7621337
9,7621337
asked Feb 18 at 1:45
LoreLore
7913
asked Feb 18 at 1:45
LoreLore
7913
asked Feb 18 at 1:45
LoreLore
7913
7913
What's with the two holes in the middle, on both sides of the test & reset buttons? Foreign plug adapter? With no guards to prevent things being stuck inside?
– Xen2050
Feb 18 at 5:33
5
@Xen2050 the two holes are indicators that show red when the GFCI is tripped.
– Tom Carpenter
Feb 18 at 9:35
5
Bet you guys wish you lived in the UK now. :) We've had something like this since 1947, as part of British standardisation on electrical safety. We have an earth pin as standard on most electrical equipment, and on our sockets it's the earth pin which opens the tamper-resistant shutters. The earth pin is longer than the live/neutral pins, so the live/neutral pins never hit the shutters. Double-screened equipment which doesn't need an earth has a "dummy" plastic pin on the plug to open the shutters.
– Graham
Feb 18 at 15:57
Building on @TomCarpenter answer, the two "holes" are actually LEDs to show the state of the GFI.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:11
1
@William-Rem Yes, earthing is an afterthought in US wiring. It's perhaps not as essential for 115V compared to 230V. The US approach to mains is that it's painful but not fatal, whereas in the UK it's possible to kill yourself with mains voltage. (Although harder to do so - I've had a number of shocks, and I'm still ticking.)
– Graham
Feb 19 at 19:18
|
show 1 more comment
What's with the two holes in the middle, on both sides of the test & reset buttons? Foreign plug adapter? With no guards to prevent things being stuck inside?
– Xen2050
Feb 18 at 5:33
5
@Xen2050 the two holes are indicators that show red when the GFCI is tripped.
– Tom Carpenter
Feb 18 at 9:35
5
Bet you guys wish you lived in the UK now. :) We've had something like this since 1947, as part of British standardisation on electrical safety. We have an earth pin as standard on most electrical equipment, and on our sockets it's the earth pin which opens the tamper-resistant shutters. The earth pin is longer than the live/neutral pins, so the live/neutral pins never hit the shutters. Double-screened equipment which doesn't need an earth has a "dummy" plastic pin on the plug to open the shutters.
– Graham
Feb 18 at 15:57
Building on @TomCarpenter answer, the two "holes" are actually LEDs to show the state of the GFI.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:11
1
@William-Rem Yes, earthing is an afterthought in US wiring. It's perhaps not as essential for 115V compared to 230V. The US approach to mains is that it's painful but not fatal, whereas in the UK it's possible to kill yourself with mains voltage. (Although harder to do so - I've had a number of shocks, and I'm still ticking.)
– Graham
Feb 19 at 19:18
What's with the two holes in the middle, on both sides of the test & reset buttons? Foreign plug adapter? With no guards to prevent things being stuck inside?
– Xen2050
Feb 18 at 5:33
What's with the two holes in the middle, on both sides of the test & reset buttons? Foreign plug adapter? With no guards to prevent things being stuck inside?
– Xen2050
Feb 18 at 5:33
5
5
@Xen2050 the two holes are indicators that show red when the GFCI is tripped.
– Tom Carpenter
Feb 18 at 9:35
@Xen2050 the two holes are indicators that show red when the GFCI is tripped.
– Tom Carpenter
Feb 18 at 9:35
5
5
Bet you guys wish you lived in the UK now. :) We've had something like this since 1947, as part of British standardisation on electrical safety. We have an earth pin as standard on most electrical equipment, and on our sockets it's the earth pin which opens the tamper-resistant shutters. The earth pin is longer than the live/neutral pins, so the live/neutral pins never hit the shutters. Double-screened equipment which doesn't need an earth has a "dummy" plastic pin on the plug to open the shutters.
– Graham
Feb 18 at 15:57
Bet you guys wish you lived in the UK now. :) We've had something like this since 1947, as part of British standardisation on electrical safety. We have an earth pin as standard on most electrical equipment, and on our sockets it's the earth pin which opens the tamper-resistant shutters. The earth pin is longer than the live/neutral pins, so the live/neutral pins never hit the shutters. Double-screened equipment which doesn't need an earth has a "dummy" plastic pin on the plug to open the shutters.
– Graham
Feb 18 at 15:57
Building on @TomCarpenter answer, the two "holes" are actually LEDs to show the state of the GFI.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:11
Building on @TomCarpenter answer, the two "holes" are actually LEDs to show the state of the GFI.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:11
1
1
@William-Rem Yes, earthing is an afterthought in US wiring. It's perhaps not as essential for 115V compared to 230V. The US approach to mains is that it's painful but not fatal, whereas in the UK it's possible to kill yourself with mains voltage. (Although harder to do so - I've had a number of shocks, and I'm still ticking.)
– Graham
Feb 19 at 19:18
@William-Rem Yes, earthing is an afterthought in US wiring. It's perhaps not as essential for 115V compared to 230V. The US approach to mains is that it's painful but not fatal, whereas in the UK it's possible to kill yourself with mains voltage. (Although harder to do so - I've had a number of shocks, and I'm still ticking.)
– Graham
Feb 19 at 19:18
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
36
They are tamper resistant, as indicated by the letters "TR" stamped between the holes. The secret is to insert the plug squarely into the receptacle. The two little doors inside have to be pushed at the same time by the prongs of the plug.
edited Feb 20 at 21:50
Moshe Katz
488314
answered Feb 18 at 2:13
Joe FalaJoe Fala
4,088226
1
Right. My experience that extra force is not necessary or helpful. When you get the pressure on both doors, they open easily. Learning how to get the probes of my multi-tester through taught me how it works.
– JimmyJames
Feb 18 at 16:49
6
I'll add that there appear to be different quality levels of these as well; I've been replacing builder TR outlets with the ones Home Depot calls "Best", and the more expensive (and I assume higher quality/better built) outlets are much more pleasant to use.
– Kevin McKenzie
Feb 18 at 19:19
1
@KevinMcKenzie Indeed; replaced a bunch of receptacles in my old house with Cooper TR receptacles, and never had a problem plugging anything in. They were the $1 a pop ones from the big box stores. Quality varies quite a bit across manufacturers on these.
– mmathis
Feb 18 at 19:33
2
We often also call these "child proof" outlets.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:08
1
@ReedShilts I've never used one, am I right in thinking that like with pill bottles they're actually more difficult for adults to use than kids?
– Dan Neely
Feb 19 at 16:06
|
show 1 more comment
11
Well, you are the owner of a newer type of tamper resistant outlet. It's great to have a safe home, but I have been asked to remove these, as in other newer code required devices that cause problems, but they are code now, so only the home owner can do this.
Try wiggling the plug back and forth to get these pieces of crap to open.
In my personal opinion if the circuit is GFCI protected these are absolute waste.
edited Feb 18 at 17:54
wizzwizz4
1033
answered Feb 18 at 2:26
Ed BealEd Beal
34.3k12148
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Michael Karas♦
Feb 18 at 17:55
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
36
They are tamper resistant, as indicated by the letters "TR" stamped between the holes. The secret is to insert the plug squarely into the receptacle. The two little doors inside have to be pushed at the same time by the prongs of the plug.
edited Feb 20 at 21:50
Moshe Katz
488314
answered Feb 18 at 2:13
Joe FalaJoe Fala
4,088226
1
Right. My experience that extra force is not necessary or helpful. When you get the pressure on both doors, they open easily. Learning how to get the probes of my multi-tester through taught me how it works.
– JimmyJames
Feb 18 at 16:49
6
I'll add that there appear to be different quality levels of these as well; I've been replacing builder TR outlets with the ones Home Depot calls "Best", and the more expensive (and I assume higher quality/better built) outlets are much more pleasant to use.
– Kevin McKenzie
Feb 18 at 19:19
1
@KevinMcKenzie Indeed; replaced a bunch of receptacles in my old house with Cooper TR receptacles, and never had a problem plugging anything in. They were the $1 a pop ones from the big box stores. Quality varies quite a bit across manufacturers on these.
– mmathis
Feb 18 at 19:33
2
We often also call these "child proof" outlets.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:08
1
@ReedShilts I've never used one, am I right in thinking that like with pill bottles they're actually more difficult for adults to use than kids?
– Dan Neely
Feb 19 at 16:06
|
show 1 more comment
36
They are tamper resistant, as indicated by the letters "TR" stamped between the holes. The secret is to insert the plug squarely into the receptacle. The two little doors inside have to be pushed at the same time by the prongs of the plug.
edited Feb 20 at 21:50
Moshe Katz
488314
answered Feb 18 at 2:13
Joe FalaJoe Fala
4,088226
1
Right. My experience that extra force is not necessary or helpful. When you get the pressure on both doors, they open easily. Learning how to get the probes of my multi-tester through taught me how it works.
– JimmyJames
Feb 18 at 16:49
6
I'll add that there appear to be different quality levels of these as well; I've been replacing builder TR outlets with the ones Home Depot calls "Best", and the more expensive (and I assume higher quality/better built) outlets are much more pleasant to use.
– Kevin McKenzie
Feb 18 at 19:19
1
@KevinMcKenzie Indeed; replaced a bunch of receptacles in my old house with Cooper TR receptacles, and never had a problem plugging anything in. They were the $1 a pop ones from the big box stores. Quality varies quite a bit across manufacturers on these.
– mmathis
Feb 18 at 19:33
2
We often also call these "child proof" outlets.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:08
1
@ReedShilts I've never used one, am I right in thinking that like with pill bottles they're actually more difficult for adults to use than kids?
– Dan Neely
Feb 19 at 16:06
|
show 1 more comment
36
36
36
They are tamper resistant, as indicated by the letters "TR" stamped between the holes. The secret is to insert the plug squarely into the receptacle. The two little doors inside have to be pushed at the same time by the prongs of the plug.
edited Feb 20 at 21:50
Moshe Katz
488314
answered Feb 18 at 2:13
Joe FalaJoe Fala
4,088226
They are tamper resistant, as indicated by the letters "TR" stamped between the holes. The secret is to insert the plug squarely into the receptacle. The two little doors inside have to be pushed at the same time by the prongs of the plug.
edited Feb 20 at 21:50
Moshe Katz
488314
answered Feb 18 at 2:13
Joe FalaJoe Fala
4,088226
edited Feb 20 at 21:50
Moshe Katz
488314
edited Feb 20 at 21:50
Moshe Katz
488314
edited Feb 20 at 21:50
Moshe Katz
488314
488314
answered Feb 18 at 2:13
Joe FalaJoe Fala
4,088226
answered Feb 18 at 2:13
Joe FalaJoe Fala
4,088226
answered Feb 18 at 2:13
Joe FalaJoe Fala
4,088226
4,088226
1
Right. My experience that extra force is not necessary or helpful. When you get the pressure on both doors, they open easily. Learning how to get the probes of my multi-tester through taught me how it works.
– JimmyJames
Feb 18 at 16:49
6
I'll add that there appear to be different quality levels of these as well; I've been replacing builder TR outlets with the ones Home Depot calls "Best", and the more expensive (and I assume higher quality/better built) outlets are much more pleasant to use.
– Kevin McKenzie
Feb 18 at 19:19
1
@KevinMcKenzie Indeed; replaced a bunch of receptacles in my old house with Cooper TR receptacles, and never had a problem plugging anything in. They were the $1 a pop ones from the big box stores. Quality varies quite a bit across manufacturers on these.
– mmathis
Feb 18 at 19:33
2
We often also call these "child proof" outlets.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:08
1
@ReedShilts I've never used one, am I right in thinking that like with pill bottles they're actually more difficult for adults to use than kids?
– Dan Neely
Feb 19 at 16:06
|
show 1 more comment
1
Right. My experience that extra force is not necessary or helpful. When you get the pressure on both doors, they open easily. Learning how to get the probes of my multi-tester through taught me how it works.
– JimmyJames
Feb 18 at 16:49
6
I'll add that there appear to be different quality levels of these as well; I've been replacing builder TR outlets with the ones Home Depot calls "Best", and the more expensive (and I assume higher quality/better built) outlets are much more pleasant to use.
– Kevin McKenzie
Feb 18 at 19:19
1
@KevinMcKenzie Indeed; replaced a bunch of receptacles in my old house with Cooper TR receptacles, and never had a problem plugging anything in. They were the $1 a pop ones from the big box stores. Quality varies quite a bit across manufacturers on these.
– mmathis
Feb 18 at 19:33
2
We often also call these "child proof" outlets.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:08
1
@ReedShilts I've never used one, am I right in thinking that like with pill bottles they're actually more difficult for adults to use than kids?
– Dan Neely
Feb 19 at 16:06
1
1
Right. My experience that extra force is not necessary or helpful. When you get the pressure on both doors, they open easily. Learning how to get the probes of my multi-tester through taught me how it works.
– JimmyJames
Feb 18 at 16:49
Right. My experience that extra force is not necessary or helpful. When you get the pressure on both doors, they open easily. Learning how to get the probes of my multi-tester through taught me how it works.
– JimmyJames
Feb 18 at 16:49
6
6
I'll add that there appear to be different quality levels of these as well; I've been replacing builder TR outlets with the ones Home Depot calls "Best", and the more expensive (and I assume higher quality/better built) outlets are much more pleasant to use.
– Kevin McKenzie
Feb 18 at 19:19
I'll add that there appear to be different quality levels of these as well; I've been replacing builder TR outlets with the ones Home Depot calls "Best", and the more expensive (and I assume higher quality/better built) outlets are much more pleasant to use.
– Kevin McKenzie
Feb 18 at 19:19
1
1
@KevinMcKenzie Indeed; replaced a bunch of receptacles in my old house with Cooper TR receptacles, and never had a problem plugging anything in. They were the $1 a pop ones from the big box stores. Quality varies quite a bit across manufacturers on these.
– mmathis
Feb 18 at 19:33
@KevinMcKenzie Indeed; replaced a bunch of receptacles in my old house with Cooper TR receptacles, and never had a problem plugging anything in. They were the $1 a pop ones from the big box stores. Quality varies quite a bit across manufacturers on these.
– mmathis
Feb 18 at 19:33
2
2
We often also call these "child proof" outlets.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:08
We often also call these "child proof" outlets.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:08
1
1
@ReedShilts I've never used one, am I right in thinking that like with pill bottles they're actually more difficult for adults to use than kids?
– Dan Neely
Feb 19 at 16:06
@ReedShilts I've never used one, am I right in thinking that like with pill bottles they're actually more difficult for adults to use than kids?
– Dan Neely
Feb 19 at 16:06
|
show 1 more comment
11
Well, you are the owner of a newer type of tamper resistant outlet. It's great to have a safe home, but I have been asked to remove these, as in other newer code required devices that cause problems, but they are code now, so only the home owner can do this.
Try wiggling the plug back and forth to get these pieces of crap to open.
In my personal opinion if the circuit is GFCI protected these are absolute waste.
edited Feb 18 at 17:54
wizzwizz4
1033
answered Feb 18 at 2:26
Ed BealEd Beal
34.3k12148
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Michael Karas♦
Feb 18 at 17:55
add a comment |
11
Well, you are the owner of a newer type of tamper resistant outlet. It's great to have a safe home, but I have been asked to remove these, as in other newer code required devices that cause problems, but they are code now, so only the home owner can do this.
Try wiggling the plug back and forth to get these pieces of crap to open.
In my personal opinion if the circuit is GFCI protected these are absolute waste.
edited Feb 18 at 17:54
wizzwizz4
1033
answered Feb 18 at 2:26
Ed BealEd Beal
34.3k12148
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Michael Karas♦
Feb 18 at 17:55
add a comment |
11
11
11
Well, you are the owner of a newer type of tamper resistant outlet. It's great to have a safe home, but I have been asked to remove these, as in other newer code required devices that cause problems, but they are code now, so only the home owner can do this.
Try wiggling the plug back and forth to get these pieces of crap to open.
In my personal opinion if the circuit is GFCI protected these are absolute waste.
edited Feb 18 at 17:54
wizzwizz4
1033
answered Feb 18 at 2:26
Ed BealEd Beal
34.3k12148
Well, you are the owner of a newer type of tamper resistant outlet. It's great to have a safe home, but I have been asked to remove these, as in other newer code required devices that cause problems, but they are code now, so only the home owner can do this.
Try wiggling the plug back and forth to get these pieces of crap to open.
In my personal opinion if the circuit is GFCI protected these are absolute waste.
edited Feb 18 at 17:54
wizzwizz4
1033
answered Feb 18 at 2:26
Ed BealEd Beal
34.3k12148
edited Feb 18 at 17:54
wizzwizz4
1033
edited Feb 18 at 17:54
wizzwizz4
1033
edited Feb 18 at 17:54
wizzwizz4
1033
1033
answered Feb 18 at 2:26
Ed BealEd Beal
34.3k12148
answered Feb 18 at 2:26
Ed BealEd Beal
34.3k12148
answered Feb 18 at 2:26
Ed BealEd Beal
34.3k12148
34.3k12148
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Michael Karas♦
Feb 18 at 17:55
add a comment |
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Michael Karas♦
Feb 18 at 17:55
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Michael Karas♦
Feb 18 at 17:55
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Michael Karas♦
Feb 18 at 17:55
add a comment |
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What's with the two holes in the middle, on both sides of the test & reset buttons? Foreign plug adapter? With no guards to prevent things being stuck inside?
– Xen2050
Feb 18 at 5:33
5
@Xen2050 the two holes are indicators that show red when the GFCI is tripped.
– Tom Carpenter
Feb 18 at 9:35
5
Bet you guys wish you lived in the UK now. :) We've had something like this since 1947, as part of British standardisation on electrical safety. We have an earth pin as standard on most electrical equipment, and on our sockets it's the earth pin which opens the tamper-resistant shutters. The earth pin is longer than the live/neutral pins, so the live/neutral pins never hit the shutters. Double-screened equipment which doesn't need an earth has a "dummy" plastic pin on the plug to open the shutters.
– Graham
Feb 18 at 15:57
Building on @TomCarpenter answer, the two "holes" are actually LEDs to show the state of the GFI.
– Reed Shilts
Feb 19 at 14:11
1
@William-Rem Yes, earthing is an afterthought in US wiring. It's perhaps not as essential for 115V compared to 230V. The US approach to mains is that it's painful but not fatal, whereas in the UK it's possible to kill yourself with mains voltage. (Although harder to do so - I've had a number of shocks, and I'm still ticking.)
– Graham
Feb 19 at 19:18