When working in an industrial environment you may have a variety of equipment pieces that are plugged into a standard electrical outlet. If this equipment vibrates, you may find that the cord eventually unplugs itself. In other situations, if the equipment is critical to operations and you find that it is being disconnected frequently it can interrupt the workflow. For these situations, a twist lock receptacle would be the ideal solution. At Expert Electric, our residential electricians are here to answer any questions you may have about twist lock receptacles.
How does a twist lock receptacle work?
A normal three-prong outlet can simply be pushed or pulled to connect with a standard wall outlet. To add a layer of protection to this process, a twist lock receptacle requires that it be twisted in order to connect properly. The male connector usually has curved prongs that plug into the receptacle and then are twisted to lock into place. To unplug, the plug must be twisted the opposite direction. Without this process the electrical device cannot be disconnected from the wall.
Benefits of a twist lock receptacle
A twist lock is beneficial in those environments where the electrical equipment is critical to operations, is semi-permanent, and should not be easily unplugged. This should not be used as a solution to prevent foot traffic disconnections. Others may continue to trip over the cord, which can damage the cord and create stress. This will expose the wires and create an electrical hazard. If the cord is a tripping hazard it should be rerouted or secured to the ground to prevent this from happening.
If a weather-resistant twist lock is chosen it can be useful when the receptacle is exposed to the elements. It can prevent water from entering the connection and causing electrical surges. The twist lock creates a tight connection and seal. The plug will not become loose and create exposure of the prongs and receptacle holes.
Licensed electrician installation
If you can think of a device in your home or workplace which is semi-permanent, will not or should not be unplugged easily, then a twist lock receptacle could be beneficial. This will require the male plug to be replaced on the electrical device and also the wall receptacle to be replaced. We highly recommend that a licensed residential electrician complete this replacement. A mistake in this task can cause damage to the device and constant electrical shortages or surges.
If you are interested in twist lock receptacles, contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338. We can help you to determine if a twist lock is the ideal solution and help complete the installation properly and up to code.
