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[YouTube]: American is impressed by sensible British mains plug design
Gyro:
--- Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on October 23, 2022, 03:20:32 pm ---
--- Quote from: tom66 on October 20, 2022, 04:26:58 pm ---
I'm fully aware the fuse has nothing to do with protecting the equipment. However, the fuse also protects the plug and by extension the socket as well, and the BS1363 plug and socket is not rated to exceed 13 amps, therefore it is still required with 4mm^2 cable. I can tell you having used a 10 amp electric car charger for some time on a BS1363 socket/plug that they don't like extended high current operation and begin to overheat, a safe limit is around 8 amps. The idea of 32 amps being OK with the right cable is farcical.
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The irony is that a lot of the heat in a heavily loaded 13A plug comes from the fuse, so on balance it may actually be safer overall to use an unfused 13A plug for a 10A car charger.
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There are always Chinese suppliers happy to oblige. They'll even throw in a sleeved PE pin, no extra charge! ::)
james_s:
--- Quote from: PlainName on October 23, 2022, 02:57:31 pm ---What are the holes in the US prongs for? Are they for ball bearings to drop in and retain the plug? I presume they're not so some kid can bolt some wires to them...
If they are part of a retaining mechanism, shouldn't that mitigate against them falling out of the socket, but still allow them to pop out if the cable is snagged?
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Nobody really seems to know. Technology Connections did a video about this but even he didn't have a concrete answer. Most but not all plugs have them and I've never seen a receptacle with a ball detent. Even twist-lock plugs have them.
james_s:
--- Quote from: themadhippy on October 23, 2022, 03:54:20 pm ---
--- Quote ---There have long been some niche products like that.
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Not even niche,available from all good electrical wholesalers,nor that new, i first discovered them in the mid 90's , but if your not playing with the stuff most days you may be excused for thinking that.They do have 1 minor down fall ,but that don't effect the end user,you need another adaptor in your testing kit as just probing the contacts dont work
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They could be widely available and still niche. What matters is the installed base, not how easy they are to obtain. I could see them being useful in a child's room for example but in most cases I think it's probably easier to just teach people not to stick things in light sockets.
IanB:
--- Quote from: james_s on October 23, 2022, 07:22:41 pm ---Nobody really seems to know. Technology Connections did a video about this but even he didn't have a concrete answer. Most but not all plugs have them and I've never seen a receptacle with a ball detent. Even twist-lock plugs have them.
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This answer provided by Legrand seems to have a lot of credibility, since they actually make the plugs and should know why they do it:
PlainName:
--- Quote from: TimFox on October 23, 2022, 04:55:11 pm ---
--- Quote from: PlainName on October 23, 2022, 02:57:31 pm ---What are the holes in the US prongs for? Are they for ball bearings to drop in and retain the plug? I presume they're not so some kid can bolt some wires to them...
If they are part of a retaining mechanism, shouldn't that mitigate against them falling out of the socket, but still allow them to pop out if the cable is snagged?
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I don't know the original design requirement, but I have seen small padlocks inserted through the two flat-blade holes to prevent installation.
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Would be easier just to cut off the plug :)
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