General > General Technical Chat
[YouTube]: American is impressed by sensible British mains plug design
<< < (13/29) > >>
Simon:
I've never heard of it but then how long ago was the plastic bit added?
coppice:

--- Quote from: Simon on October 22, 2022, 06:50:17 pm ---I've never heard of it but then how long ago was the plastic bit added?

--- End quote ---
The regulations changed to add the sleeve in 1984, but MK was making plugs with sleeves for a number of years before that.
pcprogrammer:
coppice answered it, but you can check it out here: https://www.plugsocketmuseum.nl/British-plugSocket_history.html

The complete history, but it is just the one site so how trust worthy is it 8)
Simon:
OK in 1984 I was 1.....
b_force:
I am very confused about a big portion of the replies here.

A plug design is a mixture of being safe (probably highest priority), size/convenience and costs.
These plugs have certain standards that have to be met.

I have read some stories of plugs being burned or so.
I believe those stories, but keep in mind that these plugs were also not confirm standards.
Because that is not normal behavior for such a plug.

As for safety, I really don't understand US standard plugs.
They are very prone to kind of hang out of the socket with both pins totally exposed, very easy to touch (even more so for little fingers)
AUS/NZ plugs used to have the same problem, and therefor modern plugs need have to have a coated on the pins (that is mandatory according current standards).
US plugs are also extremely easy to kick/slap/pulled out of the socket.
I just really don't understand at all how such a plug with such simple safety flaws can be a standard at all?


All other choices are just kind of different taste I guess.

A modern schuko is totally recessed in the socket, so any (side) force on it is dealt with by the socket itself (which is quite a big surface).
Most other type plugs (UK or US) all rely on the mechanical strength of the electrical pins.
Which is from a electro-mechanical point of view, kind of interesting.
The same goes for rectangular shaped pins, which are not only a little more tricky to make, they also have a less uniform design.
Which is less great for mechanical stress, corrosion and electrical loads.

Schuko can also mounted either way, which is totally fine for any electrical device made from about the 90s or so.

I personally don't have a preference as long as the plug is safe and sturdy.
I guess the schuko is just a compromise between that, as well as not being so enormous like UK plugs.
(that size just doesn't make any sense)

In the end it's obviously also not possible to change a whole plug type for any country.
Navigation
Message Index
Next page
Previous page
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...

Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod