4 ms·

I don't get what is the point of this submission? Just looks like a brand of regular sockets. Is it about the modularity of the socket? Is this somehow a "new"

I don't get what is the point of this submission? Just looks like a brand of regular sockets. Is it about the modularity of the socket? Is this somehow a "new" concept for people in the North America or Europe? If yes, than that is really strange type of exceptionalism, here in Brazil modularity has been the standard for almost 30 years, you just buy the shields (with 1,2,3,4,or 6 slots) and whatever modules you want (light switches, power sockets, telecom sockets, etc). You would actually find it hard to find a non-modular socket in a hardware store.

petercooper 5y ago
I also find it an unusual submission, but here in the UK I am unfamiliar with modularity for wall sockets. They usually come as single integrated units even if they have things like USB added. The UK has very (re)strict(ive) electrical standards though. Here's an example of the style of perhaps 95%+ of sockets you'd see in UK homes nowadays: https://www.diy.com/departments/electrical-security/switches-dimmers-sockets/sockets/DIY579414.cat https://www.diy.com/departments/electrical-security/switches...
- navaati 5y ago
  That mandatory switch, oh, Britain...
  - pmyteh 5y ago
    Not mandatory, as it turns out - just ubiquitous. You can get similar sockets with no switch if you want them never to be turned off: https://www.edwardes.co.uk/products/mk-k781whi-2-gang-13-amp-un-switched-white-socket-outlet https://www.edwardes.co.uk/products/mk-k781whi-2-gang-13-amp...
  - petercooper 5y ago
    230V though.. I don't know the reality, but I was brought up with them enough to feel unsafe just pulling out (or putting in) a plug without using the switch first :-D
    - OJFord 5y ago
      Your risk unplugging anything (with a compliant plug & socket) is only really 'back EMF' from a poorly designed inductive load - you could get a jolt in significant excess of 230V, but low current, you'd be ok. A proper plug has coated pins near the grip, and the Earth will be too far removed (shutters closed) by the time you can get your hands on live & neutral contacts. Not doing you any harm to switch off of course, and there are certainly non-compliant plugs (cheap/knock-off stuff mainly of course) in the wild!
  - OJFord 5y ago
    1) It's not mandatory; 2) How would you earth a PSU (with no built-in switch) & PC chassis for working on, for example, while not having it 'hot' in your country? Special plug/cable with L&N NC? We can just turn it off. That's arguably a bit of a contrived example, but it is handy to have an ever-present switch to isolate things, and some things are always on standby while powered. Battery chargers & power tools typically, for example.
    - pmontra 5y ago
      I second your feelings. There is a module for a switch (I got one on my air conditioner) but it's uncommon. When I need one (example: TV) either I build a cable with a switch or I plug it in a power strip (example: RPi and USB hub). I buy only ones with individual switches on every socket.
    - newaccount74 5y ago
      Having something plugged in but switched off while working on it sounds pretty dangerous. I always unplug things before working on them. It's too easy to think something is switched off when it isn't, or to flick a switch without thinking. (I don't ground stuff that I'm working on)
      - DaiPlusPlus 5y ago
        > Having something plugged in but switched off while working on it sounds pretty dangerous. The switch on the socket physically disconnects the "hot" / live supply from the receptacle for the plug's live pin while leaving the Neutral and Ground still connected (some models might also disconnect Neutral just-in-case your house is miswired, but don't quote me on that). The switches also have a very vibrant red strip that's only visible when the switch is in the On position, never Off - so I can assure you it's the complete opposite of "pretty dangerous". For example: https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/media/images/screen-shot-2016-01-18-at-11.54.39.jpg https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/media/images/screen-shot-201... If you leave a computer or other EM-sensitive appliance connected to mains but with the switch off then the ground connection is maintained, so you can safely use the computer's own chassis to de-static-ify yourself without the need for a fiddly wrist-strap.
- SkeuomorphicBee 5y ago
  Thanks for the context. Now thinking, I remember seeing those non-modular sockets when watching house build/renovation TV shows from the UK. Here the equivalent search in a big box store returns all modular sockets [1], but they are not a single standard thou, there are six (or so) de-facto standards created by the first big brands, and the smaller ones follow those. [1] https://www.leroymerlin.com.br/tomadas-e-interruptores https://www.leroymerlin.com.br/tomadas-e-interruptores
- OJFord 5y ago
  I submitted it, I'm also in the UK, they're not new to me I just think they're great and should be more widespread. Nothing against them in our electrical standards - you can even have BS1363 sockets as 2U modules in them. You're right that integrated non-modular plates (even where they have USB or AV stuff) are more common though. Just undeservedly IMO.
OJFord 5y ago
I explained here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29340489 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29340489 Basically I think they're great, they're relatively common here (UK) but I think not in North America, I'm curious if there's an actual standard behind them, think there should be, and that everyone should use them. The discussion going on in the Museum of Plugs & Sockets thread about people's favourite socket 'I wish everyone used X' could be resolved as 'fit your preferred Euromodule socket'! (BS1363 are available at least, 2U modules.)
z2 5y ago
In North America, as far as I know there are a few modular standards at different sizes, so definitely not new as a concept. For small things like Ethernet, USB, and coaxial there is the keystone standard which is common and very cheap [0], and for larger things like switches there are standardized rectangular "gangs" that fit larger modules, including keystone plates. 0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_wall_plate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_wall_plate

petercooper 5y ago

I also find it an unusual submission, but here in the UK I am unfamiliar with modularity for wall sockets. They usually come as single integrated units even if they have things like USB added. The UK has very (re)strict(ive) electrical standards though. Here's an example of the style of perhaps 95%+ of sockets you'd see in UK homes nowadays: https://www.diy.com/departments/electrical-security/switches-dimmers-sockets/sockets/DIY579414.cat https://www.diy.com/departments/electrical-security/switches...

navaati 5y ago
That mandatory switch, oh, Britain...
- pmyteh 5y ago
  Not mandatory, as it turns out - just ubiquitous. You can get similar sockets with no switch if you want them never to be turned off: https://www.edwardes.co.uk/products/mk-k781whi-2-gang-13-amp-un-switched-white-socket-outlet https://www.edwardes.co.uk/products/mk-k781whi-2-gang-13-amp...
- petercooper 5y ago
  230V though.. I don't know the reality, but I was brought up with them enough to feel unsafe just pulling out (or putting in) a plug without using the switch first :-D
  - OJFord 5y ago
    Your risk unplugging anything (with a compliant plug & socket) is only really 'back EMF' from a poorly designed inductive load - you could get a jolt in significant excess of 230V, but low current, you'd be ok. A proper plug has coated pins near the grip, and the Earth will be too far removed (shutters closed) by the time you can get your hands on live & neutral contacts. Not doing you any harm to switch off of course, and there are certainly non-compliant plugs (cheap/knock-off stuff mainly of course) in the wild!
- OJFord 5y ago
  1) It's not mandatory; 2) How would you earth a PSU (with no built-in switch) & PC chassis for working on, for example, while not having it 'hot' in your country? Special plug/cable with L&N NC? We can just turn it off. That's arguably a bit of a contrived example, but it is handy to have an ever-present switch to isolate things, and some things are always on standby while powered. Battery chargers & power tools typically, for example.
  - pmontra 5y ago
    I second your feelings. There is a module for a switch (I got one on my air conditioner) but it's uncommon. When I need one (example: TV) either I build a cable with a switch or I plug it in a power strip (example: RPi and USB hub). I buy only ones with individual switches on every socket.
  - newaccount74 5y ago
    Having something plugged in but switched off while working on it sounds pretty dangerous. I always unplug things before working on them. It's too easy to think something is switched off when it isn't, or to flick a switch without thinking. (I don't ground stuff that I'm working on)
    - DaiPlusPlus 5y ago
      > Having something plugged in but switched off while working on it sounds pretty dangerous. The switch on the socket physically disconnects the "hot" / live supply from the receptacle for the plug's live pin while leaving the Neutral and Ground still connected (some models might also disconnect Neutral just-in-case your house is miswired, but don't quote me on that). The switches also have a very vibrant red strip that's only visible when the switch is in the On position, never Off - so I can assure you it's the complete opposite of "pretty dangerous". For example: https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/media/images/screen-shot-2016-01-18-at-11.54.39.jpg https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/media/images/screen-shot-201... If you leave a computer or other EM-sensitive appliance connected to mains but with the switch off then the ground connection is maintained, so you can safely use the computer's own chassis to de-static-ify yourself without the need for a fiddly wrist-strap.
SkeuomorphicBee 5y ago
Thanks for the context. Now thinking, I remember seeing those non-modular sockets when watching house build/renovation TV shows from the UK. Here the equivalent search in a big box store returns all modular sockets [1], but they are not a single standard thou, there are six (or so) de-facto standards created by the first big brands, and the smaller ones follow those. [1] https://www.leroymerlin.com.br/tomadas-e-interruptores https://www.leroymerlin.com.br/tomadas-e-interruptores
OJFord 5y ago
I submitted it, I'm also in the UK, they're not new to me I just think they're great and should be more widespread. Nothing against them in our electrical standards - you can even have BS1363 sockets as 2U modules in them. You're right that integrated non-modular plates (even where they have USB or AV stuff) are more common though. Just undeservedly IMO.

OJFord 5y ago

I explained here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29340489 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29340489 Basically I think they're great, they're relatively common here (UK) but I think not in North America, I'm curious if there's an actual standard behind them, think there should be, and that everyone should use them. The discussion going on in the Museum of Plugs & Sockets thread about people's favourite socket 'I wish everyone used X' could be resolved as 'fit your preferred Euromodule socket'! (BS1363 are available at least, 2U modules.)

z2 5y ago

In North America, as far as I know there are a few modular standards at different sizes, so definitely not new as a concept. For small things like Ethernet, USB, and coaxial there is the keystone standard which is common and very cheap [0], and for larger things like switches there are standardized rectangular "gangs" that fit larger modules, including keystone plates. 0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_wall_plate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_wall_plate