Understanding the NEMA 5-15P Type B Plug: The Most Common Standard in North America
The NEMA 5-15P Type B plug is one of the most widely used plug standards across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and regions such as Japan, parts of Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia. As the standard defined by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, it plays a key role in everyday residential and commercial power connections.
This plug features two flat parallel blades plus a round grounding pin, with the grounding pin intentionally designed to be slightly longer. This ensures that the device establishes a safe ground connection before electrical power flows — a key safety element of the USA Power Cord design.
For full global plug reference, see the IEC database here:
👉 https://www.iec.ch/world-plugs
🔌 Technical Characteristics
-
Official designation: NEMA 5-15P (Class I)
-
Amp rating: 15A
-
Voltage range: 100–127V
-
Grounded and compatible with Type A & Type B sockets
-
Blade thickness: 1.5 mm, spacing: 12.7 mm
-
Ground pin offset: 11.9 mm
Despite its widespread use, some regions in Central and South America still lack grounded outlets. In those areas, people may dangerously remove the grounding pin to fit ungrounded sockets — a practice that can lead to electrical shock and must never be done.
Because Type A and Type B plugs are not sleeved and their sockets are not recessed, a partially unplugged cord can expose live pins. This makes proper installation and quality-certified products especially important.
🔗 Recommended UL-Certified USA Power Cord
If you’re looking for a reliable UL power cord that meets NEMA 5-15P standards, here’s a product option from our lineup:
