That last bit… I always have a giggle to myself when Americans complain that stepping on Lego is painful. How cute. You don’t know the *meaning* of pain until you’ve stepped on one of these things!
Of course, there’s no mention in the entire video about how ludicrously large the plug is, especially compared to NEMA 5 connectors like we use in the US/Canada/Mexico/Japan/etc. That seems like a major downside to me. The safety features he mentioned are great, but most of them could have been implemented on a smaller connector.
In fact, they’re starting to switch to shuttered outlets for NEMA 5 connectors too, at least in areas where children are likely to reach them.
British plugs are huge, clunky, expensive, and overengineered.
All his points are true, and he misses one: they’re required to be right-angle so they can’t be pulled out by tension on the cord.
But they’re using a lorry where a pram would suffice. Consider that North American plugs carry slightly more current (15 A rather than 13) over far less gargantuan pins. Australia and China use plugs with very similar contacts (arranged differently) at 240V without alarming death rates.
Also, the entire ring main system, although a clever solution to a copper shortage, is based on the fact that copper costs more than a skilled electrician, and can fail (or be installed wrong) in undetectably unsafe ways. In particular, if the ring is broken in one place, all the outlets will still work, but the wires will be overloaded.
* It doesn’t need the complicated shutter system because the contacts are blades and not massive poles (although you can get shuttered versions too if you’re that paranoid) * Does not need an extra massive unused third pin for non-earthed appliances just to push open the shutters (compare [UK charger](http://forums-cdn.appleinsider.com/8/8c/8ced5a9b_Travel-Wall-USB-Charger-Adapter-UK-Plug-for-iPhone-4G.jpeg) with [AU/NZ/CN charger](http://galleryplus.ebayimg.com/ws/web/271614916351_1_0_1/1000×1000.jpg)) * It doesn’t mandate a fuse on every plug because it’s standardised in more modern times with proper electrical codes and safety devices (star point wiring, GFCIs, RCDs etc.) * 3-pin version is smaller than the British plug and 2-pin non-earthed version is the same size as American plugs (except the blades are slanted) * Polarised even for 2-pin plugs, unlike American plugs * Insulated pin mandated * Has variants up to 32A 230V that are downwards compatible (e.g. a 15A device will fit in a 25A socket but not a 10A socket) * Cannot be plugged in upside down even on power strips because the pins are closer together * There are these awesome [piggy-back plugs](https://www.electricaldirectltd.co.nz/ecommerce.php?func=14&DCI=126&DPT=p&DPI=1421&😉 that allows you to plug multiple devices on top of each other * Cable usually exits parallel to the blades so the blades are usually sideways, they don’t hurt your feet that much when stepped on
Heh it’s genuinely a nice design from a safety standpoint, but these things are GINORMOUS! Schuko is pretty heavy duty, but it has nothing on these beasts. 😀
Wow did not have plug standardization until ’92? that’s crazy
That last bit… I always have a giggle to myself when Americans complain that stepping on Lego is painful. How cute. You don’t know the *meaning* of pain until you’ve stepped on one of these things!
Is he saying that having fuses in each of the plugs and the entire house being a single circuit is safer? I don’t think that’s safer.
I went in spoiling for a fight, but I think he’s turned me around.
Who is this guy,
Of course, there’s no mention in the entire video about how ludicrously large the plug is, especially compared to NEMA 5 connectors like we use in the US/Canada/Mexico/Japan/etc. That seems like a major downside to me. The safety features he mentioned are great, but most of them could have been implemented on a smaller connector.
In fact, they’re starting to switch to shuttered outlets for NEMA 5 connectors too, at least in areas where children are likely to reach them.
British plugs are huge, clunky, expensive, and overengineered.
All his points are true, and he misses one: they’re required to be right-angle so they can’t be pulled out by tension on the cord.
But they’re using a lorry where a pram would suffice. Consider that North American plugs carry slightly more current (15 A rather than 13) over far less gargantuan pins. Australia and China use plugs with very similar contacts (arranged differently) at 240V without alarming death rates.
Also, the entire ring main system, although a clever solution to a copper shortage, is based on the fact that copper costs more than a skilled electrician, and can fail (or be installed wrong) in undetectably unsafe ways. In particular, if the ring is broken in one place, all the outlets will still work, but the wires will be overloaded.
Here’s [a collection of papers](http://www.theiet.org/resources/wiring-regulations/ringcir.cfm?type=zip) discussing the history, upsides, and downsides.
I do love the idea of partially insulated pins, but I’ve seen them in the EU for quite some time http://www.freewtc.com/images/products/europe_type_two_round_pin_plug_with_power_cable_8_58952.jpg
I wish the US could start doing it as sometimes I fear my fingers might wrap around and contact, but the blades on our connectors are so thin…
Yeah right. The Australian/New Zealand/Chinese/Argentina plug (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AS/NZS_3112) is the best.
* It doesn’t need the complicated shutter system because the contacts are blades and not massive poles (although you can get shuttered versions too if you’re that paranoid)
* Does not need an extra massive unused third pin for non-earthed appliances just to push open the shutters (compare [UK charger](http://forums-cdn.appleinsider.com/8/8c/8ced5a9b_Travel-Wall-USB-Charger-Adapter-UK-Plug-for-iPhone-4G.jpeg) with [AU/NZ/CN charger](http://galleryplus.ebayimg.com/ws/web/271614916351_1_0_1/1000×1000.jpg))
* It doesn’t mandate a fuse on every plug because it’s standardised in more modern times with proper electrical codes and safety devices (star point wiring, GFCIs, RCDs etc.)
* 3-pin version is smaller than the British plug and 2-pin non-earthed version is the same size as American plugs (except the blades are slanted)
* Polarised even for 2-pin plugs, unlike American plugs
* Insulated pin mandated
* Has variants up to 32A 230V that are downwards compatible (e.g. a 15A device will fit in a 25A socket but not a 10A socket)
* Cannot be plugged in upside down even on power strips because the pins are closer together
* There are these awesome [piggy-back plugs](https://www.electricaldirectltd.co.nz/ecommerce.php?func=14&DCI=126&DPT=p&DPI=1421&😉 that allows you to plug multiple devices on top of each other
* Cable usually exits parallel to the blades so the blades are usually sideways, they don’t hurt your feet that much when stepped on
Schuko is better at all.
Heh it’s genuinely a nice design from a safety standpoint, but these things are GINORMOUS! Schuko is pretty heavy duty, but it has nothing on these beasts. 😀