Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: WHat are those holes for?
Message-ID: <1988Jul19.001304.21363@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <10790@oberon.USC.EDU>
Date: Tue, 19 Jul 88 00:13:04 GMT

In article <10790@oberon.USC.EDU> robiner@ganelon.usc.edu (Steve) writes:
>Why do standard electrical plugs have holes in the metal prongs?

The holes, and corresponding spring-loaded bumps in outlets, were/are an
extra bit of insurance against the plug coming out unintentionally.  This
was of considerable importance early on, when making alloys that stayed
springy over many years was quite a trick.  It's less important now.
-- 
Anyone who buys Wisconsin cheese is|  Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
a traitor to mankind.  --Pournelle |uunet!mnetor!utzoo! henry @zoo.toronto.edu