This article was posted 05/09/2012 and is most likely outdated.

Mike Holt - Helping the Little Guy - Introducing the Biceptacle™ Electrical Outlet
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Helping the Little Guy - Introducing the Biceptacle™ Electrical Outlet

Introducing the Biceptacle™ Electrical Outlet

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We were recently contacted by K.T. Kim (president of KCSM, Inc.) about his Biceptacle™ electrical outlet. This is a device that eliminates permanent "Half-Hot" or "Switched" outlets and their limitations by combining 2 receptacles into one. What we also uncovered is another inspirational story about how a "light bulb" moment catapulted K.T. down his entrepreneurial road and after overcoming many obstacles his idea is now a reality. We asked him to share his story and hope that you find inspiration to follow through on your great ideas.

K.T. Kim's Story:

My name is K.T. Kim and I am a naturalized US Citizen originally from South Korea. From a very young age, my parents taught me the lessons and values of hard work and perseverance. They also taught me to treat others fairly and to always leave the places I go a bit better than how I found it. These lessons have formed who I am today and I will forever be grateful to my parents.

I am a graduate of the US Air Force Academy and a commercial airline pilot. I am also currently trying my hand at being an entrepreneur.

The fork in my life’s road which took me down the entrepreneurial path began during the Summer of 2000 when I was helping my brother (then a general contractor) on one of his remodeling projects.

The owners (for whatever reason) requested that all duplex outlets in the house be switched or “Half Hot”. So as I was observing the subcontracted electrician installing the Half Hot outlets, it occurred to me that the new owners (in many respects) would be losing half of the functionality of these duplex outlets (since a Half Hot outlet could never be used as a standard continually hot duplex outlet).

It was there that I began to wonder if it could be possible to somehow afford users full functionality of duplex outlets regardless of whether they were Half Hot or not.

Then came the “light bulb” moment. A Half Hot outlet is nothing more than two sockets (with one Hot contact and one Switch controlled contact) sharing a COMMON Neutral. I wondered if it would be possible to combine two sockets into one hybrid socket utilizing a single COMMON Neutral contact slot. With this new hybrid socket configuration, the user could access two different circuits by simply plugging into one side or the other (while utilizing the same Neutral contact slot).

That single event on that Summer’s day in 2000 was the spark that catapulted me down the entrepreneurial fork (nearly 12 years and counting so far!).

I immediately obtained the latest 3D CAD (computer aided design) software available and began modeling and testing various versions of the new hybrid design while simultaneously launching into the world of patents and trademarks.

Near the end of 2004, after numerous iterations and prototypes, I finally had (what I thought at the time) a workable design as well as the first patent on my product. I decided on the name Biceptacle™ since my product is just that, two receptacles combined into one.

Although I was fairly sure that my design would not violate any Codes, I decided to conduct some research just to be sure. It was then that I Googled “NEC” and found the name Mike Holt.

After a few email exchanges, Mike agreed to meet with me for breakfast at the then upcoming 2005 Electric West Show at the Anaheim Convention Center to look over the Biceptacle™.

My crude prototype did not even have correctly colored terminal screws, yet Mike was gracious enough to offer his help to promote the Biceptacle™ after seeing it at our breakfast meeting.

I was humbled and grateful for his offer and left the meeting on Cloud 9. Soon thereafter, however, the realities and challenges of bringing a new product to market hit me squarely in the face.

I immediately ran into quality control problems in taking the prototype to the manufacturing stage and fruitlessly spent over 2 full years trying to iron out the problems at my contracted manufacturing facility. In the end I was forced to start from scratch with completely new tooling at a different facility.

That new facility initially also had some quality control problems which took a good year to sort out. It was now well into 2008. However, as fate would have it, another bombshell fell into my lap just as I was getting ready commence my full manufacturing runs.

I found out through my brother’s electrical subcontractor that there was going to be a substantial change in the 2008 NEC concerning Tamper Resistance (TR) and that new residential construction would require integral TR Mechanisms in all outlets.

I was thus forced to go back to the drawing board to completely redesign the Biceptacle™ with a triple shutter TR mechanism. Soon thereafter (in 2009), the issue of quality control again reared its head when the TR mechanism proved too much of a challenge for the second manufacturing facility.

I was then fortunate enough to find a third (and final) manufacturing facility with world class technical expertise and equipment. The last two year have been spent refining, testing, and perfecting the TR Biceptacle™ which is now finally ready to go to market.

The world of electrical outlets (although crucial) is certainly not the most dynamic. The outlet has not gone through any significant change in many decades. My dream is to change that. Simply, my dream is to make the Biceptacle™ the New Standard of electrical outlets within five to ten years. Wired appropriately, It does everything a regular outlet does and much much more.

The Biceptacles™ increase electrical fire safety as well as decrease tripping hazards (by eliminating the use of hazardous extension cords for lighting), help easily control “Standby” or “Vampire / Phantom” electrical losses caused by continually plugged in electrical appliances (and thus decrease energy consumption / carbon footprint), allow easy equalization of high wattage loads in multiple circuit areas (e.g. - in kitchens), and allow simultaneous use of large polarized transformers / GFCI corded appliances (e.g.- in bathrooms).

You won’t be disappointed with the Biceptacle™. From the moment you pick one up, you’ll notice its world class engineering and manufacturing. From the front you’ll notice the beautiful Triple Slot Hybrid Sockets with integral TR Shutters, and from the back you’ll notice the rock solid low profile space saving “vacuum” type construction (instead of the tall / deep and considerably less installer friendly flat back).

With nearly 12 years invested into this journey, I will not stop until the goal of making the Biceptacle™ into the New Standard is realized. My parents taught me better.

Thank you for your time and thank you for partnering with me to make the world a little better than yesterday.

K.T. Kim
President
KCSM, Inc.

For more information about the Biceptacle™ electrical outlet, please visit K.T.'s website: www.biceptacle.com

If you are interested in placing an order, K.T. will be offering a 20% discount and free shipping on minimum quantities of 10 for 7 days to all Mike Holt Newsletter Members.

Visit: www.biceptacle.com to place your order online and be sure to enter in the promo code: mikeylikesit

 

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Comments

  • I like to recommend that each receptacle should incorporate a switch & led to show it is energised and to switch off in an emergency instead of pulling the plug as well as to switch off the receptacle when not required to avoid vampire or phantom power which constitute nearly 10% or more of the total power consumption. Alternatively a switch could be installed at the light switch level or receptacle could be mounted at table level as in kitchen so that kids cannot access it and those in wheel chair too can use without bending down.

    Sinnadurai Sripadmanaban  June 2 2012, 10:46 am EDT
    Reply to this comment

  • You've got to be kidding! Really?

    Gordon  May 16 2012, 6:00 pm EDT
    Reply to this comment

    • Reply from: KT Kim   May 16 2012, 6:39 pm EDT
    Really!!

    At $3.16 per piece (with free Priority Mail Shipping if you order 40 units and use Promo Code: mikeylikesit).
    Reply to KT Kim

  • OK. The pictures convinced me that the Biceptacle, in fact, occupies a smaller volume in the box than a standard GFCI. I look forward to seeing whether and how the market for this product evolves and also, like with any new product, what the field experience will show. It is interesting to note that one never misses a product that hasn't yet been invented and afterward you don't want to be without it.

    Heinz R.  May 13 2012, 4:34 pm EDT
    Reply to this comment

    • Reply from: KT Kim   May 17 2012, 10:17 pm EDT
    By the way, the Biceptacle can be wired in alternate ways for totally different functions.

    For instance, in bathrooms, both sides of the Biceptacle could be "pigtailed" on the same Line (NO wiring changes). This would make all sockets (both the 2 on the left side and the 2 on the right side) continually hot. This would allow 2 polarized GFCI appliances (e.g. - GFCI corded curling iron, and GFCI corded hairdryer) to be plugged in simultaneously. Before I changed out my bathroom receptacle with a Single Line pigtailed Biceptacle, my wife constantly had to unplug her GFCI corded curling iron to plug in the GFCI corded hairdryer and vice versa (with the curling iron getting cold in the process and therefore causing great inconvenience).

    Furthermore, in the "pigtailed" configuration, the Biceptacle can directly replace any single gang receptacle in any room or location (again with NO wiring changes) and allow more room to handle bulky transformers or "wall warts" as well as allowing more user friendly “indexing” or orientation of angled low profile plugs.

    The advantages described in the previous paragraphs are demonstrated in the last half of the computer generated animation on the “Demo” page of the www.biceptacle.com site.

    Additionally, one side of the Biceptacle could be wired to Line 1 and the other side of the same Biceptacle wired to Line 2. This would afford 1 additional socket per Line, per location, for better load equalization (e.g. - in kitchens where high wattage appliances are the norm).

    Wired appropriately, the Biceptacle does everything a receptacle does and affords multiple key advantages with little increase in price (if you choose to use them with no wiring changes).

    All these wiring options are describe on the www.biceptacle.com site.
    Reply to KT Kim

  • My first thought was also one of "where's the need"; and must say that I felt relieved to read some similar comments and that it wasn't just me that was missing something here. The benefit of the "wrong side up" cords is a good one, but really how often is that a real problem.

    I believe the "flaw" in the development of this product lies in the conditions surounding it's inception ....

    "The owners (for whatever reason) requested that all duplex outlets in the house be switched ..."

    For the specific conditions of the project, this seems to make sense, although Mr. Kim's statement that "Half Hot outlet could never be used as a standard continually hot duplex outlet" appears to me to be incorrect ... can't you just leave the switch on.

    In the end, the market will tell whether this is a great idea in general, or a great idea for a specific condition. Well, that is, if we continue to be a capitalistic free market society; but at this point, the only way I see this becoming "the new standard" is if the government imposes a mandate requiring it ot be such.

    I am impressed with the perseverance exhibited by Mr. Kim, and do believe it should serve as a reminder to everyone about what is good with America.

    RonEl  May 10 2012, 9:56 am EDT
    Reply to this comment

    • Reply from: KT Kim   May 16 2012, 6:55 pm EDT
    The owners of the house were a fireman (him) and an interior decorator (her). The wife supposedly liked to rearrange the furniture quite often. He, being a fireman, knew the dangers of using extension cords for lighting.

    This was the reason that they wanted all outlets to be Half-Hot.
    Reply to KT Kim

  • where is the Promo code?

    roger  May 10 2012, 9:06 am EDT
    Reply to this comment

    • Reply from: Tara Moffitt   May 10 2012, 10:21 am EDT
    the promo code is: mikeylikesit

    It was listed in the newsletter - in the yellow box along with information on how to order:

    Visit: www.biceptacle.com to place your order online and be sure to enter in the promo code: mikeylikesit


    Reply to Tara Moffitt

  • I see no gain with the outlet. And where are all of these switches going to go to operate all of these outlets. How do you explain the additional cost of wire, boxes and switches for these outlets to the homeowner when they don't want to pay for the minimums as it is now.

    ctcox  May 10 2012, 8:49 am EDT
    Reply to this comment

    • Reply from: KT Kim   May 10 2012, 4:30 pm EDT
    Ladies and Gentlemen, the main idea is to have a logical group of Biceptacles all switched by one switch. For example, all Biceptacles in a room (let’s say 4 (one on each wall)) would be wired with the left 2 outlets controlled by the switch and the right 2 outlets continually hot. In other words, the 4 boxes in this room would be wired just like traditional Half-Hots. In this configuration, the user of this room would have ready access to as many as 8 switch controlled outlets (2 at each Biceptacle) or as many as 8 continually hot outlets.

    The main advantages of this is twofold:

    1) Single or multiple non-permanent lighting units (e.g. - floor lamps) could be relocated anywhere in the room without the use of extension cords. Elimination of extension cords would increase electrical fire safety from frayed cords (due to the cords getting hit by vacuum cleaners or having furniture placed on top of them) as well as decrease infant electrocution hazards from the socket ends of the cords (since their initial inclination whenever they find anything new is to put the object into their mouths). Additionally, depending on how extension cords were used (previous to Biceptacles) the extension cords could have posed a significant tripping hazard (especially to the elderly). 2) If the room is already equipped with permanent lighting, then the 8 switch controlled outlets would provide a simple and effective way of controlling “Standby” electrical losses of any appliance / equipment which could be plugged into them.

    Additionally, as a minimum (with absolutely no wiring changes or practices), you could simply install Biceptacles instead of Half-Hot receptacles wherever the Half-Hots are called for in a plan. This affords your customers with the full flexibility of the Biceptacles instead of the option limited Half-Hots for the life of their house. In a typical 3-4 bedroom house the cost difference (just substituting the Biceptacles for the Half-Hots (without any wiring changes)) would be approximately $5.

    There are other wiring options available (without the switch controlled function) which make the Biceptacle superior to the standard duplex receptacle in any location in any residence (described in www.biceptacle.com).

    Finally, I firmly believe that “seeing is indeed believing”. It’s one thing to read about and look at the pictures of the Biceptacle on the web, but it’s another thing entirely to actually hold it in hand and observe personally.

    Please use the Promo Code “mikeylikesit” and try a set of 10. The promotional unit price is $3.76 with the free shipping. Try them first hand for a full 60 Days. KCSM will cheerfully refund your purchase if they do not meet your satisfaction and exceed your expectations.

    Thank You.

    KT Kim President KCSM, Inc.
    Reply to KT Kim

    Reply from: gamblr@GMAIL.COM   May 11 2012, 12:40 pm EDT
    I would recommend putting all these biceptacles on a programmable master clapper unit, a different clap for each unit, or maybe a tap dance to energize them all at once!
    Reply to gamblr@GMAIL.COM

    Reply from: KT Kim   May 11 2012, 12:48 pm EDT
    Let's dance!!
    Reply to KT Kim

    Reply from: MikeHolt   May 13 2012, 6:19 am EDT
    That was not a nice post to someone who is trying to do something positive.
    Reply to MikeHolt

    Reply from: Mike   May 13 2012, 11:44 am EDT
    Something you're never going to change. Haters are going to hate. I applaud the effort and the time to stay with it. That seems to be something we lost in this country.

    You did not make it through the air force academy. Critics are a dime a dozen. Do not listen to them. Keep following your dreams.
    Reply to Mike

    Reply from: Mike   May 13 2012, 11:47 am EDT
    Sorry, what I meant to say previously was you do not make it through the air force academy by giving up

    Stay the course and best of luck..
    Reply to Mike

    Reply from: KT Kim   May 14 2012, 5:45 pm EDT
    Thank you for your encouragement.

    I know that new things will always be met with a high level of skepticism and the feedback (both good and bad) is fully expected. I thank everyone (regardless of their comments) for taking the time to review the Biceptacle on the web.

    I take simple comfort in knowing that every Biceptacle I ship out makes the world a tiny bit safer and more convenient for the end users.
    Reply to KT Kim

  • Sorry, I don't see the great advantage. You'd have to wire the switch circuit to all receps just in case one or another recep might be desired to be switched some time in the future. What this buys essentially is flexibility for future use. The cost for this possibly never used flexibility is greater recep cost and a bigger profile on the wall. Furthermore, the example shown with one switch is somewhat misleading because it makes using two receps switched by two different switches in the same room more difficult. We'll see what the market will say.

    Heinz R.  May 10 2012, 8:14 am EDT
    Reply to this comment

    • Reply from: MikeHolt   May 10 2012, 8:41 am EDT
    THe size is the same as a standard receptacle and it doesn't need to be switched, so you have lots of options without any douwn side, other than the increased in cost. Might not be practical or useful everywhere, but there are locations where the flexibility is great.
    Reply to MikeHolt

    Reply from: Heinz R.   May 10 2012, 9:00 am EDT
    Mike: I stand corrected on the wall profile aspect, the front plate is indeed he same size but I would have to guess that there is less room in the box and it does require the wiring of the switch(or switches for potential 3-ways) and all the receps which may never be used in the switched mode. Nonetheless, I can see where under certain circumstances such flexibility might be desirable, but like everything else in this world it comes at a price. "Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice" as the old proverb says.
    Reply to Heinz R.

    Reply from: KT Kim   May 13 2012, 4:23 pm EDT
    I just uploaded some photos showing side-by-side comparisons of a Biceptacle vs. a GFCI on www.facebook.com/biceptacle.

    Thank you.
    Reply to KT Kim

  • K.T. Kim has simple solution to problems we have all encounted. 1. You do not have to deal with the Ground UP/Down Question. 2. Cords that have the Ground Pin upside down from the receptacle that you want to use are no longer a problem 3. Those Power Adaptors that block half of the outlet are no longer a problem. 4. It is UL Listed and Tamper Ressitant. As an "Old Time Electrican" and now an Electrical Inspector I still would want to have one in my hands and install it before I would recommend it to anyone.

    wyrenutt  May 10 2012, 7:47 am EDT
    Reply to this comment

  • speaking of boxes, maybe the two previous posts should start thinking outside of their boxes.

    Dusty Durst  May 10 2012, 12:36 am EDT
    Reply to this comment

  • Seems like a novel idea. Not sure how extensively were they would be used, given the price. I wish him luck, but I just don't see the market.

    Mike  May 9 2012, 11:45 pm EDT
    Reply to this comment

  • It seems like a clever solution to a non-existent problem to me. it does not look like it will fit in a standard box. If you are going to have to put in a larger box, you might as well put two receptacles in and get the full benefit of two switched and two unswitched receptacles.

    bob peterson  May 9 2012, 10:30 pm EDT
    Reply to this comment

    • Reply from: KT Kim   May 13 2012, 4:19 pm EDT
    I just uploaded some photos showing side-by-side comparisons of a Biceptacle vs. a GFCI on www.facebook.com/biceptacle.

    Thank you.
    Reply to KT Kim

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