May 1, 2009, Newsletter Issue #190: Make Sure The Plug Fits

Tip of the Week

To prevent arc flashes, fires and electric shock, you should never attempt to force a plug into an ill-fitting outlet. Both outlets that are too big and too small pose dangers. When the outlet is too big for the prongs of a plug, the empty space causes an arc flash, meaning the electrical current jumps between the two conductive parts. This arc flash is unpredictable and can leap out of the outlet or cause an intense heat wave that melts nearby objects. In some foreign countries, an adaptor may be needed for electrical cords to fit in an outlet. Plugs with damaged or bent prongs should be discarded and replaced.

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