Shocking Facts about Power Sockets You Probably Didn’t Know!

1. Shocking Facts about Power Sockets You Probably Didn’t Know! The term power sockets can be quite confusing to a layman as it is also referred to as electrical outlets, electrical wall plugs or power plugs. But whatever name it may be known in an area, the function it performs is the same and that is allowing electrical equipment to be connected to an electrical grid. Alternating current is provided to the electrical grid by the power socket. There are a wide array of sockets available today to cater to the varied power needs and standards of a particular region. Power sockets are an integral part of every household as it enables all electrical devices to get access to the power supply. It allows every household member to plug in and use the varied electronic gadgets and appliances in their homes. The power socket is an indispensable item as without it, the functioning of every household or business will come to a standstill. However, there are several interesting facts about these power sockets that are not known to a majority of people. Listed below are some of them: Sockets differ depending upon the country of use The power socket differs from country to country due to the differing electrical standards followed by each nation. A power socket that is used in a particular country may not be a right fit for use in another country. It is therefore essential to carry an adapter while traveling to another country. Tracing the origin of the power socket design The origin of the power socket design can be traced to Harvey Hubbell who created a patent of the original design as early as 1900s. The ‘ground’ pin is crucial The term ‘ground’ refers to the power socket’s third hole and this is an important aspect as far as safety is concerned. That is because it offers a pathway for escape of the electric current if a fault occurs and thus preventing the occurrence of electric shock. Color coding used as a safety measure Color coding is used as a safety measure in several countries for designating ground, neutral and live wires in a power socket. This helps in avoidance of accidental miswiring. Light bulb socket used as the early power socket Before the advent of the dedicated power socket, appliances were directly plugged into light bulb sockets. These were later modified to take in separate plugs. Presence of smart sockets to suit the digitized age In order to go with today’s age of digitization, ‘smart’ sockets have been developed. These help in monitoring and controlling usage of power which promotes energy efficiency and automatic power control. The modern power socket of today is equipped with shutters which act as a safety measure by helping to avoid unintended contact with live elements.

2. Difference between domestic sockets and industrial sockets In addition to domestic power socket, there are specialized power sockets meant for industrial usage. These are used for applications like high-power machinery and they are equipped with greater current capacity and a special pin configuration. Outdated sockets are still used Outdated sockets are still prevalent and used in several older constructions alongside the ‘smart’ sockets.