From: DecadentLinuxUserNumeroUno@decadentlinuxuser.org   
      
   On Fri, 06 Oct 2017 02:17:55 -0400, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:   
      
   >On Fri, 6 Oct 2017 02:12:15 -0400, "Anon Y. Mouse"   
   > wrote:   
   >   
   >>I have an old (1940s I think) ceramic outlet in a box, for a two prong   
   >>plug, no ground. It accepts a standard US 2 prong (1-15) plug. It is   
   >>polarized. It is also marked "15A 125V" (molded in the ceramic).   
   >>   
   >>The box also has 2 standard fuse holders, one in series with each slot.   
   >>   
   >>However, both slots are T-shaped, like one slot is in a 5-20 or 6-20   
   >>outlets. Almost as if it was designed to accept a 2-15 plug (does such a   
   >>thing exist?) as well as a standard 1-15 plug.   
   >>   
   >>Why are the slots T-shaped?  Were 2-15 plugs a thing for 220V at the   
   >>time, they installed the same outlets on both 110V and 220V circuits,   
   >>and you just had to know which outlet to plug in the 110V things and   
   >>which to plug the 220V things in? And if you got it wrong, too bad?   
   >>   
   >>That's what I thought when I saw these in older houses. But this one is   
   >>explicitly marked for 125V max, so it's not intended for 220V.   
   >>   
   >>For a 110V circuit, one fuse would be in series with the neutral, not a   
   >>good idea. But it would make sense if used on a 220V split phase circuit.   
   >>   
   >>Why are the slots T-shaped?   
   >   
   >There were receptacles many years ago that would accept a 1-15 or a   
   >2-15. I would like to think they have been replaced by now because it   
   >requires a whole lot of care by the user that they know what they can   
   >plug in.   
      
     Hospital grade outlets and cord end receptacles have that   
   configuration, and I always figured it was yet one more insurance that   
   a device has proper phasing and fault protection when it gets plugged   
   in.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)