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
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.
It may also protect against accidental contact. Like if the prongs lay across something metal with a voltage differential, it could be a problem.
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 coiled 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.
It looks very easy to produce, what if it’s for the illusion of higher quality? In which case the small increase in production cost is worth it for better sales (or allows them to sell the item at a higher price).
Same idea as the unnecessary packaging on fruits at the store
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.
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.
Edit: I submitted this right after Hylactor’s top comment and I agree with them!
It’s designed to keep the prongs from collapsing or extending during manufacturing and shipping.
but then the three cover would be connected at the tip? otherwise the plastic is not strong enough to help against deforming?!
It’s designed to make sure that the contact point with the back plate is reinforced.
That’s the point you don’t want to have fatigue or stress during shipping, etc since it breaking off there when it’s plugged into your wall would be a pain.
I suspect it’s mainly there for the shipment from the cord manufacturer to the company that made the product and there’s little benefit in removing it on their end when they can then ship it, cover and all, to their end consumer.
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. Modern outlets don’t need that anymore since they kind of squeeze the prongs with springs, 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.
Apparently, there are places out there and manufacturers that have decided to stop drilling the holes. I’ve seen one or two of those plugs and they immediately look extremely weird.
I recently saw a video on this and they said that the holes are used in manufacturing and showed an example. I’ll see if I can find the video.
It was probably the Technology Connections one. Even if not, I strongly recommend his channel.
It’s not really what the holes were made for, but there are some extension cords that have a locking feature; a pair of plastic pins moved by a lever that lock into those holes preventing it from unplugging. Handy for dragging power tools around the shop.
We just always made a loose knot where they joined.
Keeps the cords from coming unplugged and reduces the stress on the plugs
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.
ah, same vibe as “I’m not locked in here with you, you’re locked in here with me”
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 ever seeing any such things coming with EU plugs, of which there are two 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.
