A mains power plug is a mechanical connector that fits into a power
point or electrical socket. It has male features, usually brass and
often tin or nickel plated, that interface mechanically and
electrically to the mains. Such plugs have live, neutral and an
optional earth contact. Large appliances with higher voltages use
three-phase current and have phase 1, phase 2, phase 3, neutral and
an optional earth contact. The reason why we now have over a dozen
different styles of plugs and wall outlets is because many countries
preferred to develop plug designs of their own, instead of adopting
a common standard. In many countries, there is no single standard,
with multiple plug designs in use, creating extra complexity and
potential safety problems for users.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_power_plug
Today's selected anniversaries:
* 1813 - The Battle of Lake Erie is fought between the United States
and Great Britain.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lake_Erie)
* 1960 - Mickey Mantle hit what is thought to be the Major League's
longest home run an estimated 643 feet.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mantle)
* 1974 - Guinea-Bissau's independence from Portugal is officially
recognized.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea-Bissau)
* 2003 - Anna Lindh, the foreign minister of Sweden was stabbed and
died of the wounds on September 11.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Lindh)
Wikiquote of the day:
"The earth is rude, silent, incomprehensible at first; Be not
discouraged— keep on— there are divine things, well envelop'd;
I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words
can tell." -- Walt Whitman in Leaves of Grass
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman)