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What does a plug consist of? Plug: types, device and purpose. Standards of different countries

If you believe the explanatory dictionary and Ozhegov’s dictionary, then a plug is nothing more than a plug, and this word has no other concept. So it turns out that a plug connection (as an example - a household pair “plug - socket”) can be called a fork connection. A plug is a switching plug that is inserted into a socket to create electrical contact between the electrical network and an electrical appliance. Plugs vary in both performance characteristics and configuration (see figure below). Household plugs are designed for a current of 10 or 6 amperes at a current of 220-250 volts. Below are the types of household plugs:

IN general concept, a plug is nothing more than a connector (electrical connector) with which electrical appliances are connected to the electrical network. And, in general, in colloquial speech A plug is a common socket or socket. The plug usually has two sockets and consists of a socket and a plug. All this together is called a plug connection. In turn, plug connections are already divided into mechanical and electronic, external and internal, etc.

Electric plug.

Plug (hereinafter - plug) serves for temporary connection of consumers electrical energy. She happens to be integral part detachable connection (in technical slang called "male"), which has contacts in the form of rods. (This “temporary connection” can last for several years for some devices - e.g. a refrigerator.)

When using plugs, you should remember some rules: do not use a wet plug, do not take it with wet hands, insert the plug without significant effort, holding it by the body, pull it out only by the body, you can swing it slightly, do not pull the plug by the wire - you can break it or tear it out from the plug, with all the ensuing circumstances (electric shock, short circuit (if it does not insert/pull out, then there is a reason - the wrong type of plug, a broken plug/socket...)

Plugs come in several varieties: low-current, reinforced (“European standard”), power, straight, curved, special, with grounding.

The plug consists of the following main parts - a housing in which 2 (or more) metal contact rods are fixed, a housing cover with a fastening screw (or several), and possibly grounding contacts.

The fork body is usually cylindrical in shape with possible shaped locks. The beads serve to protect your hand from slipping and prevent you from touching live contacts. Also, the bulges and grooves on the plug do not allow it to be connected to unintended sockets. On the left picture there is an old-style fork with thin rods, on the right there is a “European standard” fork with thickened rods and locks.

Sometimes, to connect certain devices, a “special, only for this group of devices” plug is used (A three-phase power plug is shown). In household appliances, a non-separable one-piece plug is also used.

Do not connect a plug with cut off protective beads. Also the forks are old household appliances They do not have locking grooves and therefore are difficult to connect to new (“Euro”) type sockets. The reason for using these locks is as follows. The connecting rods-plugs of the old-style plugs are about half thinner than those of the new Euro-style plugs. When connecting thinner rods to the socket, especially if you previously connected devices with thicker plugs, there will be poor contact in the socket and it will start to heat up, which in the best case will lead to failure of the socket and, possibly, to a fire.

Thin plugs for most televisions, video/audio equipment, radios, and table lamps. Thick plug rods are usually found in more powerful consumers - vacuum cleaner, iron, hair dryer, mixer, electric kettle, electric heater, desktop computer, etc.

Features of the device of plugs.

When using power forks, we recommend using one where the fastening screw is placed perpendicular to the direction of the rods (left picture). The reason is quite simple. The power plug fits tightly into the sockets of the socket and is held there quite well. When you pull out a plug with a longitudinal fastening screw (right picture), it may be pulled out and in front of you you will find a plug plugged into the socket with the protective cover torn off and also under voltage. The cross mounting screw holds the integrity of the fork much better.

Adapters.

IN modern house there are a lot electrical engineering various manufacturers. And often their plug does not fit into the existing outlets. The solution is simple - use adapters. When using adapters, you should adhere to basic electrical safety rules. At the same time, pay attention to the reliable fixation of both the adapter in your stationary socket and the plug of the device in the holes of the adapter. An adapter is a temporary solution to the problem. When used, the risk of electric shock and fire increases.

Extension cords, carriers, splitters.

To temporarily connect 2-3 or more consumers to one outlet, splitters are used - so-called “doubles” or “tees”. Remember - this is only a temporary solution for connecting consumers electric current. Tee structures hung on the socket impair its safety. It heats up more and will fail sooner.

One of the solutions when connecting several consumers to one place can be an extension cord, the so-called. "computer". It consists of a plug, a small wire and a block of sockets. Some units have an additional switch, signal light, and noise filter.

Extension cords are designed for temporary connection of electrical appliances. It consists of a plug and socket connected by a soft multi-core wire-cord of various lengths (3 - 10...m). When using extension cords, ensure that the plug and socket do not get wet. When winding, it is better to use special coils so that the wire does not bend. If severe bending occurs, individual cable wires break and eventually pierce the insulating coating, which can lead to short circuit cable and its subsequent fire.

When folding the power cord, do not wrap it around your elbow. After such installation, the cable usually unwinds poorly. It is necessary to fold the cable like a snake: - take one end of the wire in left hand, and take the right one forward and return it back. With your left hand, pinch the wire in your palm. Right hand draws figure eights 888, and the left one clamps the wire in the middle. This folding method allows you to unwind a coil of wire in one throwing motion. (This is what hunters did in the old days by throwing a wound lasso loop over the animal)

When using the cable, place it in such a way as to prevent it from being damaged. For example, when using an electric trimmer, start at the point closest to the outlet and work away from it so that the cord is on the treated area of ​​the grass. Or so that the cable does not lie on the cutting line of the jigsaw. Do not place cables in the path of movement of people, animals, or operating machinery.

Electrical engineering surrounds us everywhere. It is impossible to imagine without electrical appliances modern society. Therefore, it is quite understandable that each person in his own Everyday life interacts with devices in one way or another: opening the refrigerator, pressing the elevator call button, turning on the lighting in the room, etc.

The fine line of gradation

Conventionally, all existing electrical equipment according to the method of interfacing with the electrical network can be divided into two categories:

Stationary, which is connected to a cable and Of course, if you have the tools, you can disconnect it, but only in emergency situations. An example would be equipment in production.

Relatively mobile, allowing you to disconnect without the use of specialized devices. This group includes almost all household electrical appliances. Their distinctive feature is the plug.

What is a plug

Everyone has encountered sockets and power plugs. However, few people understand where the term “plug” comes from. It's actually simple. The word "plug" - German origin. And it means nothing more than a traffic jam. Indeed, the plug, being in the socket, seems to clog the holes of the latter. Hence the term. Well, the additional word “fork” appeared due to its distant resemblance to the famous cutlery. Of course, the tasks of this device are completely different, although, it is worth recognizing, there are real plastic stoppers for sockets, protecting curious children from accidental electrical injury.

From theory to practice

If we talk in simple language about what a plug is, it is a device designed to provide the ability to make a safe detachable connection with a specially designed

Old-timers remember that something similar was previously used even in places where it is now impossible to even think about it. Thus, during the Soviet five-year plans, special lamp designs were used everywhere in lighting networks, which made it possible, through simple manipulation without tools, to disconnect the block with the socket and lamp, leaving on the line... a plug socket. True, its design was somewhat different from what is familiar to the eye. modern man decisions. Now, of course, they try to separate cable routes as much as possible, so lighting circuits, as a rule, do not allow the transmission of significant powers.

Plug device

There are several options for the design of this detachable connection element. Thus, there are special solutions designed to connect sufficiently powerful electrical equipment to three-phase network- they use four contacts (three for phases and ground). However, in mass production, a simpler design is used - exactly the same as, for example, a plug

Externally, these are two metal (copper or chrome-plated) rods, placed parallel at a certain distance from each other and located in a housing made of dielectric material. Inside each of them there is a bolt or other clamp designed for connecting current-carrying conductors and grounding. Through such a system, electricity is supplied to the device via a cord (cable). The housing can be dismountable, in which case its parts are assembled together using a screw. There are also monolithic modifications. The thickness of the rods and the method of making the grounding contact are determined by standards. So, speaking about what a plug is, one cannot help but point out the widespread use in countries former USSR misconception that there are two types of power plugs (and sockets) - regular and euro.

Variety of modifications

The term “euro” is used in relation to the CEE 7/4 standard (Type F, or Shuko) - these are fairly large products that necessarily contain a grounding contact or rod in the design. The socket holes are deepened in such a way that when the plug is turned on, it is impossible to accidentally touch the half-extracted rods of the plug. using CEE 7/4 is designed for 16 A and 230 V. The name “euro” was given due to the fact that in Soviet times, devices from the GDR and Czechoslovakia were supplied with exactly such plugs.

In fact, the Euro fork does exist. This is a solution based on the CEE 7/16 standard. Those who have ever wondered what the structure of a power plug is table lamp, know all the features of this type design. For others, let us explain: a Europlug consists of two rods with a thickness similar to Soviet (ordinary) plugs, located in a thin monolithic body made of dense rubber. There is no grounding contact. The shape is such that such a plug can be easily inserted into a socket of almost any design. Safety from accidental contact is achieved by insulating most of the rods, leaving only the outer parts, about 5 mm long, exposed. These Euro plugs are designed for connecting low-power equipment, such as table lamps. The permissible current is 2.5A, although there are modifications for 5A.

Maintainability

The design of the table lamp plug used in mass production does not allow for acceptable repairs in the event of damage. Although such monolithic plugs can be cut and the internal contacts restored by soldering, such an operation cannot ensure electrical safety while maintaining normal appearance. This applies to all monolithic solutions. In case of damage network cable cut as close to the plug as possible, strip it, identify the grounding conductor and connect it to a new collapsible plug.

Concise Encyclopedia household. - M.: Great Soviet Encyclopedia. Ed. A. F. Akhabadze, A. L. Grekulova. 1976 .

See what “PLUG” is in other dictionaries:

    plug- - [Ya.N.Luginsky, M.S.Fezi Zhilinskaya, Yu.S.Kabirov. English-Russian dictionary of electrical engineering and power engineering, Moscow, 1999] Topics of electrical engineering, basic concepts EN male plugpin plugwall plug ... Technical Translator's Guide

    FORK- FORK, forks, women. 1. Item from cutlery in the form of a handle with two, three or four teeth, with which pieces of food are taken and placed in the mouth. 2. B various areas equipment, a tool, device or some kind of device in the form of a pitchfork, with... ... Dictionary Ushakova

    FORK- FORK, and, genus. pl. lock, female 1. A piece of cutlery with sharp teeth on a long handle. Silver, cupronickel c. V. on a metal, wooden, bone handle. V. with two, three, four teeth. Lift the meat onto a fork. Knife with... ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

    fork- And; pl. genus. lok, dat. lkam; and. 1. One of the pieces of cutlery with sharp long teeth and a handle, which is used to pick up pieces of food. Silver, cupronickel c. Use a fork to pry the mushroom onto the fork. 2. Name of various devices, devices with... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

    fork- And; pl. genus. lok, dat. lkam; and. see also fork, fork 1) One of the pieces of cutlery with sharp long teeth and a handle, with which pieces of food are taken. Silver, cupronickel violet. Use a fork to pry the mushroom onto the fork. 2) Names of various... Dictionary of many expressions

    Socket (plug box)- type F socket The socket is the female part of the connector (“female”), most often intended for permanent installation. The mating part of the connector (pin, “male”) is called a plug. Contents 1 Power sockets ... Wikipedia

    VS- mine trolley vertical hinge plug plug viscose silk fibrous slag concrete high school... Dictionary of Russian abbreviations

    VS- viscose silk VSh higher school education and science Dictionary: S. Fadeev. Dictionary of abbreviations of the modern Russian language. St. Petersburg: Politekhnika, 1997. 527 p. VS ventilation shaft, for example, metro... Dictionary of abbreviations and abbreviations

    AC power plugs and sockets- This article is about the design, technical features and the history of the development of plug connectors. About standards for plug connectors adopted in different countries ah, see List of plug connector standards... Wikipedia

    GOST R IEC 60598-1-2003: Lamps. Part 1. General requirements and test methods- Terminology GOST R IEC 60598 1 2003: Lamps. Part 1. General requirements and test methods original document: 1.2.6. basic luminaire: A luminaire consisting of a minimum set of parts that can meet the requirements ... Dictionary-reference book of terms of normative and technical documentation

The electrical outlet is used to connect portable lighting or connecting cords of various types using plugs. electrical appliances. Electrical sockets and plugs for connecting to electrical networks household appliances constitute a group of products called electrical connectors (formerly called plug connectors). Plug sockets are installed at a height of 50...90 cm from the floor. DO NOT place sockets near grounded water supply or gas pipes, batteries central heating, sinks, gas and electric stoves. Sockets must be located at least 50 cm from these devices. There are electrical sockets for external and internal wiring. Plug sockets are made of porcelain or plastic. An electrical outlet usually contains two sockets for plug legs, holes for screws and screws with a nut for fastening the cover. The inter-socket distance in electrical sockets is usually 19 mm. Some outlet designs have fuse clips. The electrical wiring cord, during electrical installation, suitable for the plug socket, is sealed with loops and connected to the corresponding contacts with screws. At open wiring, the socket is secured with two screws on a wooden socket mounted on the wall of the apartment (Fig. 1.65). In the case of internal wiring, plug sockets are mounted in metal or plastic boxes. The socket is closed with a porcelain or plastic cover and screwed in with a screw. The socket cover has two, and sometimes three holes through which the plug legs are inserted into the sockets.

If there are small children in the house, then to prevent them from accidentally touching the sockets of the socket, you should make a safe socket. To install such an outlet, take a small circle of plywood or plastic with two holes for the plug (Fig. 1.66). The screw securing the socket body to the fittings is carefully unscrewed, passed through the hole in the mug and the screw is screwed in again. The force of pressing the screw head against the circle should be such that it rotates with little friction. When the socket is not in use, the circle is turned until the socket holes are closed.

Every electrical appliance starts with electrical plug or just plugs. There are collapsible and non-removable plugs (Fig. 1.67). One of the designs of a collapsible plug consists of contact legs, which are fixed in a plastic case (Fig. 1.68). The body consists of two halves, fastened with a screw and nut. Part of the length of the contact legs of the plug with wires attached to them is fixed inside the housing.

Rice. 1.65. Fastening plug socket open wiring

Rice. 1.66. Design of a safe socket: 1 - holes in the socket; 2 - holes for plug; 3 - circle; 4 - screw

Rice. 1.67. General form some types of collapsible (a, b) and non-removable (c) forks

Rice. 1.68. The device of a collapsible fork: 1 - body; 2 — contact legs; 3 - wire; 4 - screws securing the ends of the wire to the contact legs, 5 - screw securing the housing halves

Replacing the plug

Replacing the plug on the cord or installing the plug is done as follows (Fig. 1.69).

1. First, use a knife to strip the ends of the wire going to the plug, solder them and make rings.

2. Unscrew the screws on the contact legs of the plug.

3. Screw the ends of the wire, sealed with a ring, to the contact legs of the plug.

Rice. 1.69. Technology for connecting the electrical cord to the plug: 1 - screws of the plug legs; 2 — contact legs; 3 - bracket; 4 — half of the body with depressions (base), 5 — half of the body; 6 — screw and nut securing the housing halves

4. Unscrew one screw of the bracket attached to one half of the case and move the bracket to the side.

5. Insert the housing halves with the bracket into the recesses, and the ends of the wire with the contact legs, turn the bracket and press the wire with it. Screw the screw into the hole in the bracket.

6. Cover the assembled part of the plug with the other half of the housing, insert a screw into the hole in the housing and twist it on the other side of the housing with a nut.

Replacing a permanent plug

Permanent plugs are an electrical cord made of rubber or plastic, which is molded together with the plug. If a permanent plug fails, do this. The unusable plug is cut off, and the connecting ends of the cord, after being sealed with a loop, are attached to a dismountable plug according to the above method.

Repairing a broken cord

If for some reason an electrical appliance plugged into an outlet does not work, then first of all you should check whether the cord is damaged. What is the easiest way to find where the cord breaks? You need to bend the wire along its entire length. At the break point, the wire has less resistance. If only one wire of a two-conductor patch cord is broken and that location is closest to the plug, the easiest way is to cut the second wire at the same location and attach the plug to the shortened cord. If the cord is broken in the middle, then you need to strip only one wire of insulation and try to connect it. If this cannot be done, then cut the second wire, and then connect both wires of the cord.