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What is the best style electrical outlet? (self.asklemmy)

submitted 10 months ago by JusticeForPorygon to c/[email protected]

153 comments fedilink hide all child comments

This is a debate, not an argument, let's be adults about this. [Insert political joke]

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[–] Carighan 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

I find the love for the UK plug fascinating, as to me it's one of the worst designed pug types:

It's bulky. This makes small appliances annoying, plus it increases the chance the plug can be damaged/broken if it drops onto a hard surface.
The plus is weighted opposite of the pins, meaning they become caltrops if dropped to the ground.
Fuses in plugs are unnecessary in countries where standards for housing wiring exist. Plus, even if you want to improve that, why decree fuses in plugs instead of fuses in walls and power strips? The latter you have far less of, take the practical route and decree fuses to be where the problem is, not next to the problem.
Even if for whatever reason every single device that'll be produced going forward needs to be fused (so this isn't about current in the strips or the wall lines, but about the devices), put the fuses in the devices. This prevents some mechanical problems in case the cable gets damaged (again, the fuse is part of the problematic circuit it's trying to fuse for, not away from it), but more importantly it removed the need for a very bulky plug.

It's important to keep in mind that UK plugs were a necessity (ring circuits without circuit fuses in homes due to a copper shortage), not a desired result. They are good for what they had to do, but in times where the limitation no longer stops you from using a better plug style, they aren't needed and just add bulk and complexity.

[–] Ross_audio 4 points 10 months ago

Fused plugs still have a big advantage.

The amperage can be specific to the device.

We do mandate all circuits have RCD/GFCI now, but we're not taking away fuses in plugs.

If a lamp starts drawing too much current for its wire, it might be on a 20A breaker. It should have a 1A fuse in the plug.

Fuses on the sockets would mean either specific sockets and circuits for low, medium, and high power devices or a loss of specificity. In fact there are 5 levels, so 5 different levels to replicate with your system.

https://www.stevensonplumbing.co.uk/bs1362-fuses.html

For a short or earth the RCD trips. If more goes out on the live than returns to the neutral the RCD trips. If the current goes high but returns correctly to the neutral, the RCD does nothing, the fuse in the plug breaks.

Fuses are an inch by a quarter inch.

Fuses and plugs could be made smaller but to be honest the pins and wires need to be able to take 13A.

Most of the bulk is about the length of the pins. Making it mechanically safe so the earth connects before the live, making it difficult to accidentally pull out the wall, and making sure no live connection is contactable when partly outside the wall.

We have low power travel adapters for low power devices that fold away bits they don't need. Or separate onto pieces.

I think we're good. Plugs are still smaller than AC-DC adapters we use all the time. Calling the bulky is a bit of a stretch. They're aren't bulky, even compared to a modern phone charger.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

I absolutely second this