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[YouTube]: American is impressed by sensible British mains plug design
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Simon:
I do seem to remember wondering at the US plugs, they are rather exposed. At least 120V is not quite as dangerous as 240V (250V at mine still - yay for transmission efficiency)
james_s:

--- Quote from: b_force on October 22, 2022, 07:44:22 pm ---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?

--- End quote ---

Because they have been in use for over 100 years and people just know not to touch the prongs. You have to be really careless to get a shock, certainly never in my life have I ever been shocked by the prongs of a plug. Also the voltage is half what it is in places like the UK so a shock is much less likely to be lethal. Another thing worth noting, light sockets throughout the world have no safety mechanisms that I've ever seen, a person can easily insert a finger in an empty socket and receive a shock. Is that really so much different than being able to touch part of a plug you're not supposed to touch? Electricity is dangerous, it's easier to teach people how to handle it safely than to try to protect against every possible abuse.

Being able to kick/pull a plug out of a receptacle is in many cases a feature and not a bug. If you trip over a cord it's usually better to pull the plug out of the wall than to yank the appliance onto the floor or trip and fall, possibly injuring yourself. A good quality receptacle holds the plug pretty firmly, they don't just fall out, unless it's a very cheap and well worn receptacle.
coppice:

--- Quote from: Simon on October 22, 2022, 08:39:45 pm ---I do seem to remember wondering at the US plugs, they are rather exposed. At least 120V is not quite as dangerous as 240V (250V at mine still - yay for transmission efficiency)

--- End quote ---
A lot of US sockets have an RCB/GFCI in them these days, especially in bathrooms. They seem to have gone down this path, rather than improve the plug and socket.
james_s:

--- Quote from: coppice on October 22, 2022, 08:59:57 pm ---A lot of US sockets have an RCB/GFCI in them these days, especially in bathrooms. They seem to have gone down this path, rather than improve the plug and socket.

--- End quote ---

GFCI protection is required in damp locations, it has been required in bathrooms, garages and outdoor receptacles since the late 70s and in the 90s I think was when they added that requirement for kitchen receptacles or anything within 6' IIRC of a water source. They are primarily for protecting against leakage due to things being wet.
themadhippy:

--- Quote ---Schuko can also mounted either way, which is totally fine for any electrical device made from about the 90s or so.
--- End quote ---
Even a table lamp with an es lamp base?

--- Quote ---light sockets throughout the world have no safety mechanisms that I've ever seen,
--- End quote ---
best  come to the uk and have a look at our enhanced safety lamp holder,with the lamp out theres no power to the pins.
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