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#1
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was
putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? |
#2
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On Mon, 17 Dec 2012 02:11:23 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote: I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? Well, the reason for no wide neutral on the "piggyback" is so you cannot connect a high-power load through the "piggyback" plug. Why they put it on the end IS a good question - it should NOT be polarized if the primary connector is not. |
#3
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
DerbyDad03 wrote: I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? Hi, I think newer ones seem to have polarized plug/receptacle. Some of old strings I have are not like that. To mix them, I just snip off wider blade little bit. For last couple years mixing them, nothing bad happened. |
#4
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On Dec 16, 8:11*pm, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets.. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? I thought by law that all new electrical stuff, unless double- insulated, had to have polarized plugs. You may have bought some really old lights. |
#6
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
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#7
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On Dec 17, 2:11*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets.. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? If the lights are Chinese, there may well be issues with plugs. It runs in my mind that there are places in the world with non polarised sockets similar to yours. In the UK we have had moulded on plugs that are deadly from China.. |
#8
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On Dec 17, 5:28*am, wrote:
On Sun, 16 Dec 2012 19:04:54 -0800 (PST), "hr(bob) " wrote: On Dec 16, 8:11*pm, DerbyDad03 wrote: I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? I thought by law that all new electrical stuff, unless double- insulated, had to have polarized plugs. *You may have bought some really old lights. It really has nothing to do with double insulated in this case. The 2 pin (2 wire) bulbs are not polarized (no screw shell) so there is no requirement to polarize the string. And pointless anyway as they are wired in series. |
#9
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
wrote:
On Sun, 16 Dec 2012 19:04:54 -0800 (PST), "hr(bob) " wrote: On Dec 16, 8:11 pm, DerbyDad03 wrote: I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? I thought by law that all new electrical stuff, unless double- insulated, had to have polarized plugs. You may have bought some really old lights. It really has nothing to do with double insulated in this case. The 2 pin (2 wire) bulbs are not polarized (no screw shell) so there is no requirement to polarize the string. That doesn't address the question of having a wide slot on the socket at the end of the string but not on the socket at he plug end. If you have other sets of lights with a polarized plug (I do) you can't plug them into the plug end of the Philips sets, you have to plug them into the socket end, which is not always what I want to do. |
#10
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On 12/16/2012 9:11 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? I've read all these replies, but I really think I have an answer. I too have always wondered, but for me I've wondered why are these things polarized. I think I have an answer. On older light strings, with a non polar plug, they usually have 2 fuses in the plug so if the plug it put into the socket in either way, the hot will have a fuse. In essence, because the lights in the strings are wired in series, the 2 fuses are also in series. But the safety aspect is that if something shorts to earth ground in the beginning of the string, it should take out the fuse that's on the hot side, whichever way it is plugged in. BTW, the second reason for the fusing itself is that in each bulb there is a shunt which 'activates' when the bulb's filament burns out (opens), thus keeping the circuit complete and keeping the remaining lamps lit (if the shunt actually works!). If multiple bulbs in the string burn out, you can get to a runaway situation where more and more current flow, burning out more and more lamps until all that is left is shunts. The fuse(s) protect against the large currents causing bad things to happen with the bulbs and/or wiring. But, of course, for this case only one fuse is needed. So, to save on putting in the 2nd very cheap fuse, they only put one fuse on the hot side and use polar plug to guarantee it. BTW, some older strings had 2 special bulbs, which were called 'fuse bulbs' which apparently didn't have shunts and usually had some green paint on the bulb. They usually had a different base, so a regular lamp could not be plugged in these special sockets. But these seem to have disappeared through the years. So now, we seem to be stuck with this polar stuff. A small file or a moto tool works wonders, but I always make sure they are plugged in the 'right' way .... yeah sure |
#11
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
In article 1310476926377401614.235313teamarrows-
, says... I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? Things made in China frequently have "little problems" like this. Either because they can't read U.L electrical standards which are in English, or because they just don't care. Report the product to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. They already have tons of recalls on Chinese made electrical products which are counterfeit or unsafe. This will add to the list... Here is an example of WHY plugs are polarized - makes changing a regular light bulb safer... http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Pr...al/Electrical- Repair/wiring-a-plug-replacing-a-plug-and-rewiring-electronics/View-All |
#12
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On 12/17/2012 08:06 AM, Art Todesco wrote:
[snip] BTW, some older strings had 2 special bulbs, which were called 'fuse bulbs' which apparently didn't have shunts and usually had some green paint on the bulb. They usually had a different base, so a regular lamp could not be plugged in these special sockets. But these seem to have disappeared through the years. I don't remember any with green paint. I do remember 'flasher' bulbs with red paint. IIRC, those didn't have shunts. [snip] -- 8 days until the winter celebration (Tue Dec 25, 2012 12:00:00 AM for 1 day). Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.us "The Church preaches love, but in its heyday tortured and burned people. The injunction is symbolized by Orwell's "Ministry of Love", which is the torture and liquidation bureau." -- Richard A. Posner |
#13
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
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#14
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:06:36 -0500, Art Todesco
wrote: On 12/16/2012 9:11 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote: I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? I've read all these replies, but I really think I have an answer. I too have always wondered, but for me I've wondered why are these things polarized. I think I have an answer. On older light strings, with a non polar plug, they usually have 2 fuses in the plug so if the plug it put into the socket in either way, the hot will have a fuse. In essence, because the lights in the strings are wired in series, the 2 fuses are also in series. But the safety aspect is that if something shorts to earth ground in the beginning of the string, it should take out the fuse that's on the hot side, whichever way it is plugged in. BTW, the second reason for the fusing itself is that in each bulb there is a shunt which 'activates' when the bulb's filament burns out (opens), thus keeping the circuit complete and keeping the remaining lamps lit (if the shunt actually works!). If multiple bulbs in the string burn out, you can get to a runaway situation where more and more current flow, burning out more and more lamps until all that is left is shunts. The fuse(s) protect against the large currents causing bad things to happen with the bulbs and/or wiring. But, of course, for this case only one fuse is needed. So, to save on putting in the 2nd very cheap fuse, they only put one fuse on the hot side and use polar plug to guarantee it. BTW, some older strings had 2 special bulbs, which were called 'fuse bulbs' which apparently didn't have shunts and usually had some green paint on the bulb. They usually had a different base, so a regular lamp could not be plugged in these special sockets. But these seem to have disappeared through the years. So now, we seem to be stuck with this polar stuff. A small file or a moto tool works wonders, but I always make sure they are plugged in the 'right' way .... yeah sure Never seen a fuse in the plug of an "american style" plug - ot ANY 115 volt plug, for that matter. |
#15
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
Never seen a fuse in the plug of an "american style" plug - ot ANY 115 volt plug, for that matter. Then you haven't purchased cheap Christmas lights recently. They all have them and usually include spares in with the spare bulbs. They are tubes of glass with metal on the ends - just like fuses you may be used to but much smaller. I don't have any here, but from memory, they are about 1/2 inches long. I have never had to use one, though. |
#16
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On Dec 17, 12:21*pm, wrote:
On Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:06:36 -0500, Art Todesco wrote: On 12/16/2012 9:11 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote: I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? I've read all these replies, but I really think I have an answer. *I too have always wondered, but for me I've wondered why are these things polarized. *I think I have an answer. *On older light strings, with a non polar plug, they usually have 2 fuses in the plug so if the plug it put into the socket in either way, the hot will have a fuse. *In essence, because the lights in the strings are wired in series, the 2 fuses are also in series. *But the safety aspect is that if something shorts to earth ground in the beginning of the string, it should take out the fuse that's on the hot side, whichever way it is plugged in. BTW, the second reason for the fusing itself is that in each bulb there is a shunt which 'activates' when the bulb's filament burns out (opens), thus keeping the circuit complete and keeping the remaining lamps lit (if the shunt actually works!). *If multiple bulbs in the string burn out, you can get to a runaway situation where more and more current flow, burning out more and more lamps until all that is left is shunts. *The fuse(s) protect against the large currents causing bad things to happen with the bulbs and/or wiring. *But, of course, for this case only one fuse is needed. * So, to save on putting in the 2nd very cheap fuse, they only put one fuse on the hot side and use polar plug to guarantee it. *BTW, some older strings had 2 special bulbs, which were called 'fuse bulbs' which apparently didn't have shunts and usually had some green paint on the bulb. *They usually had a different base, so a regular lamp could not be plugged in these special sockets. *But these seem to have disappeared through the years. * So now, we seem to be stuck with this polar stuff. *A small file or a moto tool works wonders, but I always make sure they are plugged in the 'right' way .... yeah sure * Never seen a fuse in the plug of an "american style" plug - ot ANY 115 volt plug, for that matter.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Christmas lights strings have had fuses built onto the plug for many years. There is a small slide out panel in the plug that reveals the fuses. See here... http://www.bethlehem-lights.com/images/fuse.gif |
#17
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On Dec 17, 9:06*am, Art Todesco wrote:
On 12/16/2012 9:11 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote: I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? I've read all these replies, but I really think I have an answer. *I too have always wondered, but for me I've wondered why are these things polarized. *I think I have an answer. *On older light strings, with a non polar plug, they usually have 2 fuses in the plug so if the plug it put into the socket in either way, the hot will have a fuse. When you say "older light strings", what do you mean? I bought the lights with the non-polarized plug at Target yesterday. How long would they have to have been in their warehouse to be what yopu consider "older"? (BTW...I kind of agree with what you are saying, except for the "older" part. I don't really think that I bought "older" light strings, but I could be wrong.) Of course, none of what you've said seems to answer my original question - if they don't use a polarized plug or socket at the start of the string, why do they use a polarized socket at the end? *In essence, because the lights in the strings are wired in series, the 2 fuses are also in series. *But the safety aspect is that if something shorts to earth ground in the beginning of the string, it should take out the fuse that's on the hot side, whichever way it is plugged in. BTW, the second reason for the fusing itself is that in each bulb there is a shunt which 'activates' when the bulb's filament burns out (opens), thus keeping the circuit complete and keeping the remaining lamps lit (if the shunt actually works!). *If multiple bulbs in the string burn out, you can get to a runaway situation where more and more current flow, burning out more and more lamps until all that is left is shunts. * The fuse(s) protect against the large currents causing bad things to happen with the bulbs and/or wiring. *But, of course, for this case only one fuse is needed. * So, to save on putting in the 2nd very cheap fuse, they only put one fuse on the hot side and use polar plug to guarantee it. *BTW, some older strings had 2 special bulbs, which were called 'fuse bulbs' which apparently didn't have shunts and usually had some green paint on the bulb. *They usually had a different base, so a regular lamp could not be plugged in these special sockets. *But these seem to have disappeared through the years. * So now, we seem to be stuck with this polar stuff. *A small file or a moto tool works wonders, but I always make sure they are plugged in the 'right' way .... yeah sure - Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - |
#18
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On 12/17/2012 2:44 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Dec 17, 9:06 am, Art Todesco wrote: On 12/16/2012 9:11 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote: I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? I've read all these replies, but I really think I have an answer. I too have always wondered, but for me I've wondered why are these things polarized. I think I have an answer. On older light strings, with a non polar plug, they usually have 2 fuses in the plug so if the plug it put into the socket in either way, the hot will have a fuse. When you say "older light strings", what do you mean? I bought the lights with the non-polarized plug at Target yesterday. How long would they have to have been in their warehouse to be what yopu consider "older"? (BTW...I kind of agree with what you are saying, except for the "older" part. I don't really think that I bought "older" light strings, but I could be wrong.) Of course, none of what you've said seems to answer my original question - if they don't use a polarized plug or socket at the start of the string, why do they use a polarized socket at the end? Actually, I've never seen that and I have lots of light strings of various age and lengths. That's just plain wrong. I don't know how it could have been UL approved. |
#19
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:49:23 -0500, Pat wrote:
Never seen a fuse in the plug of an "american style" plug - ot ANY 115 volt plug, for that matter. Then you haven't purchased cheap Christmas lights recently. They all have them and usually include spares in with the spare bulbs. They are tubes of glass with metal on the ends - just like fuses you may be used to but much smaller. I don't have any here, but from memory, they are about 1/2 inches long. I have never had to use one, though. Where are you buying these - and when you say cheap, how cheap? Never seen one in Ontario Canada at Canadian Tire or Home Hardware or Walmart (have not looked very hard at Walmart - I try not to patronize them). |
#20
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:32:28 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote: On Dec 17, 12:21Â*pm, wrote: On Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:06:36 -0500, Art Todesco wrote: On 12/16/2012 9:11 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote: I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? I've read all these replies, but I really think I have an answer. Â*I too have always wondered, but for me I've wondered why are these things polarized. Â*I think I have an answer. Â*On older light strings, with a non polar plug, they usually have 2 fuses in the plug so if the plug it put into the socket in either way, the hot will have a fuse. Â*In essence, because the lights in the strings are wired in series, the 2 fuses are also in series. Â*But the safety aspect is that if something shorts to earth ground in the beginning of the string, it should take out the fuse that's on the hot side, whichever way it is plugged in. BTW, the second reason for the fusing itself is that in each bulb there is a shunt which 'activates' when the bulb's filament burns out (opens), thus keeping the circuit complete and keeping the remaining lamps lit (if the shunt actually works!). Â*If multiple bulbs in the string burn out, you can get to a runaway situation where more and more current flow, burning out more and more lamps until all that is left is shunts. Â*The fuse(s) protect against the large currents causing bad things to happen with the bulbs and/or wiring. Â*But, of course, for this case only one fuse is needed. Â* So, to save on putting in the 2nd very cheap fuse, they only put one fuse on the hot side and use polar plug to guarantee it. Â*BTW, some older strings had 2 special bulbs, which were called 'fuse bulbs' which apparently didn't have shunts and usually had some green paint on the bulb. Â*They usually had a different base, so a regular lamp could not be plugged in these special sockets. Â*But these seem to have disappeared through the years. Â* So now, we seem to be stuck with this polar stuff. Â*A small file or a moto tool works wonders, but I always make sure they are plugged in the 'right' way .... yeah sure Â* Never seen a fuse in the plug of an "american style" plug - ot ANY 115 volt plug, for that matter.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Christmas lights strings have had fuses built onto the plug for many years. There is a small slide out panel in the plug that reveals the fuses. See here... http://www.bethlehem-lights.com/images/fuse.gif None on any of my Noma light strings. None on the Cheapie Canadian Tire strings I have left around either -and none on the light strings on the old pre-lit tree (3 years old?) we gave to my daughter this year either. We've gone to 12 volt LED pre-lit this year - running off a 12 volt switch-mode power supply.. So like I said, I've never seen one "in the flesh" - the link above is the first I've seen, so it would appear to be far from universal. Virtually every one I've seen has a monolythic injection moulded plug - solid plastic through and through. |
#21
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Neutral prong on Christmas light plug
On Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:26:19 -0500, Art Todesco
wrote: On 12/17/2012 2:44 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote: On Dec 17, 9:06 am, Art Todesco wrote: On 12/16/2012 9:11 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote: I bought a few sets of Philips mini Christmas lights this morning. As I was putting them on the tree, I noticed something about the plugs and sockets. 1: The plug does not have a wide neutral prong. 2: The socket on the back of the plug will not accept a wide neutral plug because there is no wide neutral slot. 3: The socket at the end of the string *will* accept a wide neutral plug since it has a wide neutral slot. I wonder why that it is. Yes, it allows me to string together lights from other manufacturers that use a wide neutral plug, but there is no guarantee that the neutral is actually connected to the neutral because the Philips plug doesn't force the user to orientate the plug in any given manner. Why not build the plug and socket at the start of the string with a wide neutral prong and slot or build the socket at the end without one? Why mix and match? I've read all these replies, but I really think I have an answer. I too have always wondered, but for me I've wondered why are these things polarized. I think I have an answer. On older light strings, with a non polar plug, they usually have 2 fuses in the plug so if the plug it put into the socket in either way, the hot will have a fuse. When you say "older light strings", what do you mean? I bought the lights with the non-polarized plug at Target yesterday. How long would they have to have been in their warehouse to be what yopu consider "older"? (BTW...I kind of agree with what you are saying, except for the "older" part. I don't really think that I bought "older" light strings, but I could be wrong.) Of course, none of what you've said seems to answer my original question - if they don't use a polarized plug or socket at the start of the string, why do they use a polarized socket at the end? Actually, I've never seen that and I have lots of light strings of various age and lengths. That's just plain wrong. I don't know how it could have been UL approved. Simple. They print the labels in China and put them on - what do you mean "approved"??? |
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