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TechEngadgetFiled 3 days ago

The Reason Most Electrical Plug Prongs Have Holes In Them

Open the sourceReported by Engadget, engadget.com, 31 October 2026, by staff@engadget.com (Thomas Godwin)
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Most electrical plug prongs have holes primarily for manufacturing purposes rather than in-home function. During production, workers pass an alignment rod through the holes to hold the metal blades in position before plastic is molded around the assembly. The holes also serve as lockout tags, a required safety mechanism. While the holes once served a purpose in home outlets, today they mainly aid manufacturers in keeping components correctly aligned, from vacuum cleaner plugs to smart home plugs. Not every manufacturer uses the same process, but the feature remains a factory convenience rather than an electrical necessity.

Muhabbit's AI wrote this summary in its own words from Engadget's report. It can get details wrong, so check the source.

Named in this story

electrical plug prongs, manufacturers, wall outlets