An actual answer: you very quickly learn to pull in a way that prevents your fingers from slipping onto the prongs, or you just pull the cord to remove things from outlets. That creates its own long term problems, but most people don’t really give a shit because the US is built off cheap plastic shit that you simply replace when it breaks.
That being said, I’ve received like 5 or 6 good hits of the 110v wake up due to the eccentricities of the US plug. It hurts like a bitch, but probably won’t kill you if you don’t have a pace maker and aren’t grabbing something grounded with the other hand.
We also only use GFCI in the bathroom and kitchen and don’t use RCD breakers. It’s honestly astonishing that the US electrical system doesn’t kill more people.
An actual answer: you very quickly learn to pull in a way that prevents your fingers from slipping onto the prongs
…Do you, though? Because this thread is the first time I’ve considered this as a problem- which I agree it could be better designed in general but especially for child safety purposes- and I’ve been around American plugs my entire life. I’ve never been shocked, unless we’re counting the time I grabbed an electric fence because I was an idiot teenager being goaded by other idiot teenagers.
You just… grab the plug by the plug part? It doesn’t really require any kind of special technique to not touch the metal bits. Maybe I just have big hands? Realistically, I probably couldn’t fit between the wall and the plug while it was still inserted enough to be live.
I also have big hands, but some plug designs are so low profile that if they are plugged into a particularly tight receptacle, you can’t get good leverage to remove them. You get the plug partially out, then try to reposition your grip to pull it the rest of the way or you grab it too far forward and your fingers slip while squeezing, and BAM, zapped.
Power strips are the biggest culprit for this one, since your fingers can end up on the seam between cord and strip and more easily slip under when unplugging.
A GFCI is the same thing as an RCD, they’re just different terms. They both have the same function: detecting leakage current, and isolating the electrical connection as soon as it does.
I am aware, but GFCI is the common term in the US, especially for outlets. RCD is used most other places. I was trying to keep the terminology consistent to what would be expected regionally.
:) only the strong survive.
An actual answer: you very quickly learn to pull in a way that prevents your fingers from slipping onto the prongs, or you just pull the cord to remove things from outlets. That creates its own long term problems, but most people don’t really give a shit because the US is built off cheap plastic shit that you simply replace when it breaks.
That being said, I’ve received like 5 or 6 good hits of the 110v wake up due to the eccentricities of the US plug. It hurts like a bitch, but probably won’t kill you if you don’t have a pace maker and aren’t grabbing something grounded with the other hand.
We also only use GFCI in the bathroom and kitchen and don’t use RCD breakers. It’s honestly astonishing that the US electrical system doesn’t kill more people.
…Do you, though? Because this thread is the first time I’ve considered this as a problem- which I agree it could be better designed in general but especially for child safety purposes- and I’ve been around American plugs my entire life. I’ve never been shocked, unless we’re counting the time I grabbed an electric fence because I was an idiot teenager being goaded by other idiot teenagers.
You just… grab the plug by the plug part? It doesn’t really require any kind of special technique to not touch the metal bits. Maybe I just have big hands? Realistically, I probably couldn’t fit between the wall and the plug while it was still inserted enough to be live.
I also have big hands, but some plug designs are so low profile that if they are plugged into a particularly tight receptacle, you can’t get good leverage to remove them. You get the plug partially out, then try to reposition your grip to pull it the rest of the way or you grab it too far forward and your fingers slip while squeezing, and BAM, zapped.
Power strips are the biggest culprit for this one, since your fingers can end up on the seam between cord and strip and more easily slip under when unplugging.
A GFCI is the same thing as an RCD, they’re just different terms. They both have the same function: detecting leakage current, and isolating the electrical connection as soon as it does.
I am aware, but GFCI is the common term in the US, especially for outlets. RCD is used most other places. I was trying to keep the terminology consistent to what would be expected regionally.