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[YouTube]: American is impressed by sensible British mains plug design

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Simon:

--- Quote from: Monkeh on October 21, 2022, 09:03:57 pm ---
--- Quote from: Simon on October 21, 2022, 08:49:03 pm ---Check out the technology connections youtube channel, he analyses the system to bits.

--- End quote ---

And I don't recall him showing 'a wire for each socket' - circuits are usually wired as radials, point to point. The star arrangement pcprogrammer points out is fairly unusual but quite logical if you're operating on a circuit-per-room basis.

--- End quote ---

I mean he goes to town an the way the US system works and points out flaws particularly in the US extension cords. Ultimately different places found different ways to solve the same problem.

Monkeh:

--- Quote from: Simon on October 21, 2022, 09:23:32 pm ---
--- Quote from: Monkeh on October 21, 2022, 09:03:57 pm ---
--- Quote from: Simon on October 21, 2022, 08:49:03 pm ---Check out the technology connections youtube channel, he analyses the system to bits.

--- End quote ---

And I don't recall him showing 'a wire for each socket' - circuits are usually wired as radials, point to point. The star arrangement pcprogrammer points out is fairly unusual but quite logical if you're operating on a circuit-per-room basis.

--- End quote ---

I mean he goes to town an the way the US system works and points out flaws particularly in the US extension cords. Ultimately different places found different ways to solve the same problem.

--- End quote ---

Ah, yes, he is quite critical of the design and products in that area, rightfully so.

james_s:

--- Quote from: Simon on October 21, 2022, 09:23:32 pm ---I mean he goes to town an the way the US system works and points out flaws particularly in the US extension cords. Ultimately different places found different ways to solve the same problem.

--- End quote ---

It's the price we pay for having a system that was developed very early and that largely has retained backward compatibility for more than a century.

That said, for all its warts the North American system works pretty well and is fairly safe, you don't hear about consumers getting electrocuted very often and save for houses built during the Vietnam war with aluminum wiring, electrical fires caused by the wiring are fairly rare. Like every other system around the world it has advantages and disadvantages, and it gets the job done. I've discussed at length with a British friend over the years and we've both concluded that there is no clear winner between the two.

IanB:

--- Quote from: TimFox on October 20, 2022, 02:17:21 pm ---The spring-loaded gate, activated by the PE terminal (in the form of a screwdriver insertion during wiring), held them in place.
--- End quote ---

Amusingly, that doesn't work anymore with the latest designs. With recent versions, you have to insert both line and neutral pins simultaneously for the gates to open. If you try to press a screwdriver or other implement into any single opening individually, the gates won't move.

IanB:

--- Quote from: Halcyon on October 20, 2022, 10:11:31 am ---No need to worry about loose or incorrect wiring inside the plug, or broken strain relief.
--- End quote ---

If you trust the manufacturer. Here in the USA I get highly suspicious of molded plugs on 1500 W appliances that get rather warm when the appliance is running.

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