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[YouTube]: American is impressed by sensible British mains plug design
TimFox:
--- Quote from: PlainName on October 23, 2022, 08:53:42 pm ---
--- 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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Nonsense: a padlock is reversible, and can be part of a lock-out/tag-out safety procedure. https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/factsheet-lockout-tagout.pdf
mikeselectricstuff:
--- Quote from: Gyro on October 23, 2022, 07:17:55 pm ---
--- 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! ::)
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That's fine - the CCA wire will fuse at an amp or two anyway
vk6zgo:
--- Quote from: IanB on October 23, 2022, 04:13:15 pm ---
--- Quote from: coppice on October 23, 2022, 02:21:14 pm ---There have long been some niche products like that. You made it sounds like bayonet lamps are safe. The vast majority are not.
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To be practical about it, if you poke your finger inside a bayonet socket while it is switched on, the most likely outcome is that your finger will contact both pins at the same time. So the result will be that your finger gets zapped, which while painful, is not dangerous. Realistically, the probability of receiving a shock current that goes through your heart is low.
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Falling off a ladder after being zapped is dangerous, though! ;D
Been there, done that ---not from a light socket, though!
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We can also observe that every child over the age of 4 or so knows not to poke fingers in light sockets. And children under the age of 4 need to be supervised and have all kinds of dangerous things kept out of reach.
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Spot on!
I can't believe so many people don't know where their little kids are, & yet scream "Somebody(else) is to blame for this!" if the child gets run over in the front driveway (often by the very same parents) or think that 4 year olds (or even 8 year olds) can safely be left with a burning candle in the case of a power outage.
Maybe we were "helicopter parents" but our kids survived!
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While there is an undeniable possibility of electric shock, it is an exaggeration to say that such light sockets are not safe. There are countless millions of them installed and there is a negligible incidence of harm arising from them.
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SL4P:
The standard UK plugs use a very coarse thread.
If the cable assembly is treated less than perfectly, those fat threads seem to vibrate loose… arcing often ensues.
Monkeh:
--- Quote from: SL4P on October 25, 2022, 10:25:20 pm ---The standard UK plugs use a very coarse thread.
If the cable assembly is treated less than perfectly, those fat threads seem to vibrate loose… arcing often ensues.
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I've never had an issue with them coming loose when fitted properly to begin with. The thread is also not specified, so you'll find it varies make to make, some are rather fine.
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