Why do some plugs have one wider prong than the other normal one while others have two normal prongs with the same size?

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What I’m talking about is, for example, a keurig coffee machine having two differently shaped prongs where one prong is bigger and wider than the other, so you have to insert the wider prong into the wider port.

However, something like a phone adapter doesn’t have this, and the two prongs are the same size and shape.

Why is this?

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14 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

One of the wires in the outlet is “hot” and one is “neutral.”

For something where someone might come in contact with the metal inside the device (or water which is in contact with the metal), you want to make sure that anything they touch is connected to neutral in the outlet, which means you want to make sure the plug only goes in one way, to ensure that the right wire goes to neutral. For something where there’s little/no chance anyone will come in contact with the insides, you don’t need to worry so much.

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