A lot of stuff new parents buy to make their home "child safe" ends up wasted. I've never used a lock on a toilette seat or a cushion on the side of a table and things have gone pretty smoothly in my house so far. One of the things it turns out that actually is useful are wall outlet covers. As much as you might try to convince yourself that your kid would never do something so dumb (and banal) as to play with an electrical outlet, it's pretty much a guarantee that he or she will find the one outlet in the room that isn't covered and try to put something into it.
Koncept Technologies has come up with something to eliminate the need for covers, while keeping everyone safe. Their "Tamper Resistant Child Safe Wall Outlets" (not exactly the catchiest name) block anything from getting in except a plug. One of the product guys showed me that if you even stick a screwdriver in one of the sides you can't get past the safety mechanism (the "Koncept Smart Shutter"), but a plug gets by without a problem. I guess if your kid has two flat-head screwdrivers you're in trouble, but then again, if your kid is wielding two screwdrivers around the house you were already in trouble to begin with.
Actually ... such a product has already been around ... from Leviton (one of the major light switch/outlet/electrical equipment companies). Their "Kiddy Cop" (see, someone can find a fun name for such a product) line includes outlets with safety features to prevent items from going in the outlet that aren't plugs. They also produce light switch covers and other related safety products. I found them at Home Depot ... annoyingly enough HD carries them in the electrical outlet section, not the child safety section. I wouldn't have found them if I wasn't doing a non-child related outlet replacement. More info can be found at: http://www.leviton.com/sections/prodinfo/kidcop/kidcopc.htm (then click on "Tamper Resistant Outlet). I've already replaced all of the accessible outlets in the rooms the little one is using.
Posted by: Eric Zago | January 20, 2006 at 05:35 AM
Looks cool. Did you try using it, or just watch the demonstration? My gripe with socket protection gadgets is that they usually block adult use, too. They're usually a pain-in-the-ass to bypass, even basic socket plugs.
Posted by: AJ | January 20, 2006 at 03:14 PM
I am in a comercial building and am having trouble with chients children turning the lights off.The switches are in the public area and difficult to relocate.The switches are 3 position momentary contact center off.I need either a locking device easy to access for daily use of authorized personel.Or keyed switches with this function. HELP Thanks
Posted by: Ernest Schiemann | March 16, 2007 at 09:51 AM
I just failed my final inspection today because I did not have these installed. I now have to replace about 30 outlets with these as it is code here in RI now.
Posted by: mike | July 16, 2010 at 06:21 AM