Why can some (US) outlets fit a plug from either way you put it in, but some plugs have a fatter and skinnier prong?
In: 8026
So many comments that are so close to the whole story.
Plugs are polarized or not depending on the device being plugged in.
If there is a chance of exposed electrical parts, like a lamp, the plug will need to polarized so that the screw shell is not “hot” when bulb gets removed. The neutral side is connected to the ground at the panel so you shouldn’t get shocked if you touch it, as long as the rest of the house wiring is done right.
If the device is double insulated, marked by a symbol looking like square inside a square, there is no chance to get zapped, so no need to polarize the plug. Think of your cellphone charger.
Last is old stuff that was built before polarizing was a thing.
If it has a ground/bond prong on the plug, you can’t put it in backwards, so no need for polarizing.
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