Image:Light fitting plug with toaster.jpg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[edit] Copyright info

See Talk:Mains power plug for copyright information.

[edit] Extract from Mains power plug:

When electricity was first introduced into the domestic environment, it was primarily for lighting. However, as it became a viable alternative to other means of heating and also the development of labour-saving appliances, a means of connection to the supply other than via a light socket was required. In the 1920s, the two-prong plug made its appearance.

At that time, some electricity companies operated a split-tariff system where the cost of electricity for lighting was lower than that for other purposes, which led to low-wattage appliances (e.g. vacuum cleaners, hair driers, etc.) being connected to the light fitting. The picture below shows a 1909 electric toaster with a lightbulb socket plug. As the need for safer installations grew, earthed three-pin outlets were developed.

File history

Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time.

Date/TimeDimensionsUserComment
current09:13, 26 July 2004324×193 (9 KB)Chameleon (Talk | contribs) ({{PD}})

The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed):