This all comes from an image I saw:
https://imgur.com/a/qio204X
In: 6
The basic reason that these are bad is because if one end is plugged in, then the other end will have live wall voltage on the exposed prongs. We’re not used to this, because electrical systems are designed intentionally to avoid live voltage existing on exposed metal. Think of all the times you’ve picked up the metal end of your laptop or phone charger, or grabbed any old extension cord? Well, if this thing is plugged into the wall and you grab the other end like you would with any other extension cord, that’s 120 volts into your hand. Moreover, even if you’re smart enough to avoid touching it, the live end could easily short on itself if left lying around, which could easily lead to fires.
A more advanced reason why they are bad is because the main reason people want them is to back-feed their building electrical system from a generator, for example in a blackout. These systems aren’t designed to work this way, and doing so can circumvent safety features on your house’s electrical grid, leading to problems. It can also potentially pose a risk to people working on the local grid. (There are responsible ways to power your house from a generator or other sources, but this ain’t it.)
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