What the ?

[Al Launier]

Last evening I was using my Ridgid oscillating edge/belt spindle sander & when I removed the plug from the receptacle the grounding prong remained in the outlet. What the heck? I pulled the prong out wondering what happened. Then I set up my table mounted Porter Cable 690 router, used it, and when I pulled the plug out its grounding prong also remained in the receptacle as well. What the heck is going on?

So, today I have to check out the receptacle plus replace the 15A plug on each of the power cords.

In retrospect, the receptacle is mounted to the side of a vertical 2x4 that is attached to & drops down from an overhead floor joist. The plug enters the receptacle horizontally so perhaps the weight of the hanging cord has over time weakened the prongs??? If that's what it looks like I'll probably have to change the mounting of the receptacle so the plugs insert from below (vertically) to prevent the weight of the hanging cord to torque the plug & prong. Hopefully the weight of the hanging cord won't pull the plug out. First time I've run into this.

[Alan Caro]

Al Launier,

You're probably on the right track: repeated connection /disconnections and/or tension on the cords have fatigued the ground prongs.

Where I plug in vacuum tube audio gear, which has a large current draw (I have a power amplifier that can draw 1600W), the wall outlets are replaced with 8300 rated, hospital grade: 120V /20A, for example:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pass-and-Se...rd!23606!US!-1

They don't give them away, but these transfer the full power and are extremely durable.

If you change the outlet, you might also look into lower AWG wires and heavier duty twist and lock plugs:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hubbell-Twi...EAAOSwAO9ZOMEa

Of course that mean having twist and lock outlets.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pass-and-Se...rd!23606!US!-1

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hubbell-Twi...QAAOSwqu9VU64j

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Twist-Lock-...cAAOSwrFZZ37F4

I tend to like Hubbell and Pass & Seymour US-made components.

Alan Caro

[Pat Barry]

Thats too coincidental. Does the broken ground prong come out easily when you pull it out or do you have to work it / free it up? Is the prong 'welded' into the socket? Is there a problem with the wiring? Make sure the neutral wire is working properly.

[Lee Schierer]

I had the same thing happen a while back with an extension cord. The newer molded plugs don't have a lot of material holding the metal prongs into the plastic so they seem to be weaker than the older plugs.

[Al Launier]

Al Launier,

You're probably on the right track: repeated connection /disconnections and/or tension on the cords have fatigued the ground prongs.

Where I plug in vacuum tube audio gear, which has a large current draw (I have a power amplifier that can draw 1600W), the wall outlets are replaced with 8300 rated, hospital grade: 120V /20A, for example:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pass-and-Se...rd!23606!US!-1

They don't give them away, but these transfer the full power and are extremely durable.

If you change the outlet, you might also look into lower AWG wires and heavier duty twist and lock plugs:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hubbell-Twi...EAAOSwAO9ZOMEa

Of course that mean having twist and lock outlets.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pass-and-Se...rd!23606!US!-1

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hubbell-Twi...QAAOSwqu9VU64j

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Twist-Lock-...cAAOSwrFZZ37F4

I tend to like Hubbell and Pass & Seymour US-made components.

Alan Caro

Thanks for the suggestions. However, the receptacle is enough of an overhead reach that a twist plug would be a bit more difficult than a push plug. I'm thinking of reinstalling the receptacle horizontally, or passing the cord over a hook to take the torque strain off.

[Al Launier]

Thats too coincidental. Does the broken ground prong come out easily when you pull it out or do you have to work it / free it up? Is the prong 'welded' into the socket? Is there a problem with the wiring? Make sure the neutral wire is working properly.

Pat, you're right in that it is quite a coincidence. I looked at the receptacle, put another plug into it & it appears to be good.The prong was easily removed with needle nose pliers. I would see where each prong broke off at its base. It does look like a fatigue break, so I'll do as I mentioned above & see how things go.

[Jim Becker]

Thanks for the suggestions. However, the receptacle is enough of an overhead reach that a twist plug would be a bit more difficult than a push plug. I'm thinking of reinstalling the receptacle horizontally, or passing the cord over a hook to take the torque strain off.

The solution is a reinforced drop from the box with twist locks. If fixes the reach problem as well as the issue you've been noticing. (Just make up an adapter to use in case you have to plug these tools into a regular outlet at some point)

[Al Launier]

I found a couple of 15A Angle Plugs yesterday at Lowes (https://www.lowes.com/pd/Pass-Seymou...g-Plug/3236811) that will reduce the moment arm & related torque & allow the power cord to drop straight down. It appears to be much more durable than the molded plugs. I'll check it in a few years to see how its holding up.