I believe it’s to protect the prongs from getting damaged during shipping - and if the container gets rained on or something, it could provide some protection from that
What is the purpose of this plastic piece?
Submitted 1 month ago by Kraven_the_Hunter@lemmy.dbzer0.com to nostupidquestions@lemmy.world
https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/pictrs/image/527cc1a3-db98-45f0-baad-9e8574463107.webp
Comments
Pogogunner@sopuli.xyz 1 month ago
assembly@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I’m of the opinion that it’s just to improve the perception of package quality. I don’t see those cheap plastic pieces as keeping the prongs from accidentally warping or bending but I guess they could keep moisture away. I’ve never received a corroded set of prongs before their use though so my theory stands as they are upping the packaging visual aesthetics.
Kraven_the_Hunter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
Yeah this is probably the most likely. We do love to put plastic on everything.
bcgm3@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Could it be to protect the rest of the item from getting scratched by the prongs? Especially a screen, or some soft/glossy plastic case that would be prone to scratches.
Kraven_the_Hunter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
I’ve been buying electrical and electronic things for years (okay decades), and the toys and computers I got as a kid never had these. The cords are always nicely cooked in their own cavity of the box too, so already protected well enough.
All in all it just seems like a solution to a non-existent problem.
lemmyng@lemmy.ca 1 month ago
It could be to protect the cord from being damaged by the prongs - the plastic cover would be softer and less sharp.
otter@lemmy.ca 1 month ago
It looks very easy to produce, what if it’s for the illusion of higher quality? In which case the small overhead increase is worth it for better sales (or allows for a higher price on the item).
Same idea as the unnecessary packaging on fruits at the store
themeatbridge@lemmy.world 1 month ago
It may also protect against accidental contact. Like if the prongs lay across something metal with a voltage differential, it could be a problem.
Kraven_the_Hunter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
That’s a reasonable guess, but it suggests that (a lot) of people are unpacking new electronics over bare live electrical wire.
7EP6vuI@feddit.org 1 month ago
but a simple plastic bag would be enough for that?
Boozilla@lemmy.world 1 month ago
The plastic adds enough rigidity overall to help resist bending. The combination of the metal inside and the overall thickness of the added plastic is pretty good. It won’t resist a Hulk smash or a tank rolling over it. But it should, hopefully, resist routine bending forces during packaging and shipping. Goof around with it the next time you receive one, and you’ll see what I mean.
douglasg14b@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I like how many of the top level comments on here are going the way of Reddit already.
One-liners trying to be funny or make puns instead of actually engaging in conversation, indistinguishable from bots.
Wilzax@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I guess you could say they’re plugging up the discussion!
In all seriousness, it takes more humanity to make a relevant joke than to identify an object in an image, analyze the accompanying text, and form a response that answers the question without a trace of a smart-ass tone.
The old sci-fi books were right. You can’t teach a robot to laugh. Not in the same way people do, with the tech we currently have, at least.
I just wish more people would be helpful after making their joke, all within the same comment. Keep it engaging and relevant rather than picking just one lane.
otp@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Being funny is engaging in conversation though.
Here’s an actual bot answer:
Those plastic covers for electrical plugs are typically used to protect the plug prongs when they’re not in use. They help prevent the prongs from getting bent, damaged, or exposed to dirt and debris. Plus, they can minimize the risk of accidentally touching the prongs and getting a static shock.
And here’s a joke that I asked ChatGPT to make:
Ah, those little plastic mysteries—probably just trying to keep the plugs warm in the winter!
modifier@lemmy.ca 1 month ago
I guess it is a good thing that this is seen as a problem worthy of addressing. I tend to comment more than I would have on reddit, as a means of just driving up activity and engagement on this comparatively low traffic alternative, and so I will definitely go in for some low effort joke cracking just to get the ball rolling sometimes. Maybe that’s not as needed anymore.
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I’ve been here a fraction the time you have, and have 3.5 times as many comments as you do.
Yes, you absolutely need to step up your game. What are you even DOING with your life??? Living it??? Pssshhhh!!! Gotta feed the fediverse! Grow the fediverse! All hail fediverse!!!
…so what’s new with you?
Kolanaki@yiffit.net 1 month ago
It’s to protect the prongs during shipping or whatnot so they don’t get bent.
werefreeatlast@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Yeah, it keeps the cheese 🍕 from sticking to the box.
Pantsofmagic@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I think it’s just to stop the prongs from scuffing other things in the same package compartment. Usually you’ll get the cord in a bag or with the plastic but not both. With the cord is in a section of the packaging with other items it keeps them from getting scratched.
JustZ@lemmy.world 1 month ago
The real interesting question is those two holes in the end of two of the prongs.
What are they for?
A long time ago there were two little dimples inside the outlet that corresponded to those holes, they would kind of help snug the cord in place and hold it in. Moderate outlets don’t need that anymore since they grip the prongs inside of the outlet, so why are we still drilling holes in all the plugs?
Well, it turns out, that if you don’t drill them, consumers, think there is something wrong with the plug and don’t want to use it. True story.
Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 1 month ago
alquicksilver@lemmy.world 1 month ago
The only time I saw one was on a cheap dollar store plug. I immediately thought it was defective.
This is neat info!
ikidd@lemmy.world 1 month ago
There are types of locking extension cords that use them to hold the prongs in. IDK if that’s why they’re there, but that’s what they get used for.
Daaric@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Also, at some point during manufacturing they hang it by the holes.
Crumbgrabber@lemm.ee 1 month ago
As long as it remains covered the lizard people cannot see it.
badbytes@lemmy.world 1 month ago
echo@lemmings.world 1 month ago
It’s probably not for shipping of the final product at all. Cords for a product are going to be purchased in-bulk. There will be thousands of these cords with sharp and semi-fragile ends all packed together and then handled throughout the product build. This cap both protects the prongs from shipping/handling/assembly processes and protects equipment/handlers while products are being assembled. There’s no good reason to remove the cap after assembly, so it stays on the final product to the consumer.
CascadianGiraffe@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Complementary cat toy
abbadon420@lemm.ee 1 month ago
The plastic piece goes onto the metal pieces
Hylactor@sopuli.xyz 1 month ago
I’m going to disagree with most of these comments. They don’t protect the prong so much as they protect the cord or other objects in the cords vicinity (painted surfaces, fragile surfaces, etc). The little plastic cap that covers tire stems on cars and bikes , while keeping it clean when installed, are primary to prevent chaffing issue on the inner tube whike shipped and stored; same thing with this prong shroud. They have holes in them as to not retain moisture I imagine.
Long story short, the prongs are metal and have corners. They are the strongest, “sharpest” thing in the box. The plastic isn’t protecting the prongs from us, it’s protecting us from the prongs.
Apytele@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
This answer rings truest to me as well.
SLVRDRGN@lemmy.world 1 month ago
ah, same vibe as “I’m not locked in here with you, you’re locked in here with me”
spankmonkey@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Why not both?
Primarily for not scratching surfaces, but with a side benefit of not needing to be packed as carefullly.
Aceticon@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Exactly.
You commonly get plastic protectors like that with UK plugs which have squarish metal pins with hard corners - example - but I don’t remember seing any such things coming with with EU plugs, which come in two types but both with all pins having round tips - example.
This is consistent with the explanation that those plastic covers are to protect everything else from the plug pins, hence why they come on plugs whose pins have tips with hard corners that more easilly perforate or shred things but not on those with tips which are rounded.
In the specific example of this post, two of the pins are have hard corners and although the other does not, the plastic protector covers all 3 probably because it’s just a more stable fit (and it looks better) if it slots in all 3 than in only the more dangerous 2 even if it’s not doing much for the round pin.