One of the most interesting things in the history of electricity is that innovations in the development of electrical equipment have often occurred simultaneously around the world. As a result, there are some significant differences found among electrical outlets and plugs in America and many European countries.
Differences between the American and European plug
Most of the differences between US and EU plugs are design related, but some are related to amperage. the used mains voltage varies from country to country. The American standard is 110 to 120 volts, while the European standard is 220-240 volts. It is not uncommon for American tourists to find that their hairdryer, tongs, kettle and other items do not work in Europe due to American plugs that do not fit into European outlets.
Harvey Hubble American Plug
The first American electrical plug was invented and patented in 1904 by Harvey Hubble. It consisted of a connector into which the cartridge was screwed using blades. Other manufacturers adopted the Hubble design, and by 1915, such plugs were widely used by all consumers.
Types of modern American electrical plugs
Type A and B plugs correspond to the American standard. Type A is used in North and Central America, Japan. This is an ungrounded plug with two flat parallel blades. Earlier versions were unpolarized, but today all plugs are polarized by increasing the size of the neutral contact. Although the US and Japanese plugs appear to be identical, the neutral pin on the US plug is wider than the current carrying pin, while on the Japanese plug, both blades are the same size. As a result, Japanese forks can be used in the US, but not vice versa.
Ungrounded Type A plugs have been banned from new construction in the United States and Canada since the mid 60s, but may still be found in older buildings.
Type B plugs also have two flat, parallel blades, but a grounding prong is added to these. It is rated for 15 amps @ 125 watts. The main contact is longer than the lead-out contact, so the plug has time to connect the ground before turning on the power. These plugs are compatible with the T-shaped plugs used in the USA, Canada, Panama, Mexico, Japan, and the Philippines.
Most Americans use plugs that are standardized by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. Without standardizing the shapes of plugs and sockets, any manufacturer would have the right to use whatever shape he wants. Which would lead to inconvenience for consumers and chaos in the use of household appliances.
