Strange Electrical outlet

Posted by Al Schmidt on December 7, 2005, 10:11 am

I have just purchased a house and will do some remodeling. The house was
built in 1958 and has two prong electrical outlets through out. ( the
kitchen was remodeled and has new three prong outlets) My question is about
some strange outlets. they are the same size as normal duples outlets, two
prong, but have four slots. below is the best representation I could do with
out attaching a digital photo. Any thoughts as to the use of these?

_____
/ \
| | | |
| |
| | | |
\______/

_____
/ \
| | | |
| |
| | | |
\______/

Al Schmidt

Posted by Jeff Wisnia on December 7, 2005, 10:37 am

Al Schmidt wrote:

> I have just purchased a house and will do some remodeling. The house was
> built in 1958 and has two prong electrical outlets through out. ( the
> kitchen was remodeled and has new three prong outlets) My question is about
> some strange outlets. they are the same size as normal duples outlets, two
> prong, but have four slots. below is the best representation I could do with
> out attaching a digital photo. Any thoughts as to the use of these?
>
> _____
> / \
> | | | |
> | |
> | | | |
> \______/
>
> _____
> / \
> | | | |
> | |
> | | | |
> \______/
>
>
> Al Schmidt
>
>

I've seen these around in the pas., I believe they were intended to let
you plug in up to four "flat" style two prong plugs.

But, if the slot size or spacing doesn't match that kind of standard
plug then I don't know WTF they could be.

HTH,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."

Posted by windriverfamily on December 7, 2005, 10:52 am

> Al Schmidt wrote:

>> I have just purchased a house and will do some remodeling. The house was
>> built in 1958 and has two prong electrical outlets through out. ( the
>> kitchen was remodeled and has new three prong outlets) My question is
>> about some strange outlets. they are the same size as normal duples
>> outlets, two prong, but have four slots. below is the best representation
>> I could do with out attaching a digital photo. Any thoughts as to the
>> use of these?
>> _____
>> / \
>> | | | |
>> | |
>> | | | |
>> \______/

If the insertion points are round, they could be telephone outlets.

skg

Posted by mm on December 7, 2005, 2:29 pm

On Wed, 7 Dec 2005 07:11:15 -0800, "Al Schmidt"

>I have just purchased a house and will do some remodeling. The house was
>built in 1958 and has two prong electrical outlets through out. ( the
>kitchen was remodeled and has new three prong outlets) My question is about
>some strange outlets. they are the same size as normal duples outlets, two
>prong, but have four slots. below is the best representation I could do with
>out attaching a digital photo. Any thoughts as to the use of these?

Yeah, if you are using a clock that uses almost no current, and a
transistor radio that uses only a tiny bit more, and a lamp that uses
less than an amp, and even a vcr or tivo that doesn't use much and
they all have rectangular plugs, not the round plugs, it would be nice
to not have to add extra doo-dads to plug them all in.

I guess the sum of al this, used at the same time, has to be under 15
amps, That's the usual maximum for receptacles.

My friend just bought a house built in 1917, and the fridge and
something else were plugged into 3 prong adaptors, with its pigtail
dutifully attached to a screw in the receptacle box. From the other
work the previous owner did, I can tell he knew what he was doing.
(But my friend will still make sure the box is grounded.)

> _____
> / \
> | | | |
> | |
> | | | |
> \______/
> _____
> / \
> | | | |
> | |
> | | | |
> \______/
> Al Schmidt

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

Posted by Al Schmidt on December 7, 2005, 2:53 pm

I think that Jeff is on with this outlet. unfortunately the new to me house
is 2000 miles away. Since there will be no construction in the areas with
these outlets they will be allowed to stay. I'll have the electrician check
them out.

Thanks

Al S

>I have just purchased a house and will do some remodeling. The house was
>built in 1958 and has two prong electrical outlets through out. ( the
>kitchen was remodeled and has new three prong outlets) My question is about
>some strange outlets. they are the same size as normal duples outlets, two
>prong, but have four slots. below is the best representation I could do
>with out attaching a digital photo. Any thoughts as to the use of these?
> _____
> / \
> | | | |
> | |
> | | | |
> \______/
> _____
> / \
> | | | |
> | |
> | | | |
> \______/
> Al Schmidt
>

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