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Every time I read about plugs, I remember Tom Scott's video about why British plugs are the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEfP1OKKz_Q https://www.youtub

by V__ 4y ago

Every time I read about plugs, I remember Tom Scott's video about why British plugs are the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEfP1OKKz_Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEfP1OKKz_Q

alserio 4y ago
I also remembered that video. But, as a non plug expert, I've always been curious how much of what he describes is really good engineering and how much is, erm, plug patriottism (?). Are there any stats or studies that back up his safety claims?
- V__ 4y ago
  I found this thread on StackExchange [1] with an extremely thorough answer. Basically, the numbers don't differ that much. Also, different electrical systems having additional features like GFCI's make it hard to compare. [1] https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/22572/are-british-plugs-safer-than-all-other-plugs https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/22572/are-briti...
  - Amorymeltzer 4y ago
    This was an excellent read, thoroughly enjoyable!
  - ndsipa_pomu 4y ago
    The separate fuse-in-the-plug is a useful safety feature for lower powered items, as they can have a lower rated fuse (e.g. 3A) and thus blow before tripping any other fuses.
Brajeshwar 4y ago
Here is another where I learnt about the awesomeness of UK's plugs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=139Q61ty4C0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=139Q61ty4C0
- hnlmorg 4y ago
  Good video but I take issue with one item raised on there: > having a switch on the outlet makes it harder to debug if the bulb has blown… No it doesn’t. It really doesn’t. The other drawbacks have merit (though in 40 years of using electrical appliances I’ve never once had to worry about load balancing, but I’m willing to entertain that might be an issue for some people under niche circumstances). But the whole “a switch makes it harder to debug” argument is a really weak point.
  - smilespray 4y ago
    Well, you also have one fuse in the plug and one fuse in the socket. Then you have uncertainty about whether the plug is fully plugged in. The whole system is finicky. And god help you if you step on a plug, because they always rest teeth up. I spent 15 years in the UK, and despite the fact that I take good care of my stuff, I've never had so much trouble with electrical stuff.
    - closewith 4y ago
      UK sockets are fused (in the general case) - only the circuits and plugs are. Also, of all the standards, it seems to me that UK plugs are the easiest to be sure are fully plugged in?
      - smilespray 4y ago
        In practice, UK plugs will glitch out if they are not asbolutely, positively all the way in. We're talking sub-mm precision here.
        hnlmorg 4y ago
        I’ve never experienced that and I have kids who are constantly tugging on plugs.
        closewith 4y ago
        This is wildly different to my experience. UK plugs are most stable I've ever used (at least residentially).
downvotetruth 4y ago
They are all last century trash as inserted has a straight edge allowing a short & GFCI is a no true scotsman.
- ssl232 4y ago
  Care to elaborate? I don't understand what you mean, nor can I even guess.
  - downvotetruth 4y ago
    A, B, C, F, H, I, K, & L short with a straight conductor as shown on top (dropped). A, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, M, N & O from below. A relative larger ground prong in the middle in a linear config would be a minor fix keeping the bare terminals, but still leaves open the issue of the terminals getting wrapped in a conductor (i.e. wet hair).
    - basicoperation 4y ago
      G prevents this. From its page here: https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/g/ https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/... “The 9-mm long insulated sleeves prevent accidental contact with a bare connector while the plug is partially inserted.”
    - alexvoda 4y ago
      I do not get how you claim a type F or G or L can be shorted. The CEE 7/7 (E & F hybrid) can not be shorted due to socket design. The Europlug, the British plug, the Italian plug and a few others can not be shorted because the prongs are covered in plastic.
      - downvotetruth 4y ago
        Thin Plastic/insulator may wear faster than metal - not that it should not also be used. Again socket design is a no true scotsman - recessing the socket (https://www.legrand.com/ecatalogue/media/catalog/product/cache/4/image/650x650/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/l/g/LG-004285-WEB-R.jpg https://www.legrand.com/ecatalogue/media/catalog/product/cac...) could be claimed to fix the issue for all of them, but that does not disallow flat sockets or male to male. An alternative is to have the ground shaped as the circular conductor acting as the (plastic) insulator surrounding one or both terminals.

by V__ 4y ago

Every time I read about plugs, I remember Tom Scott's video about why British plugs are the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEfP1OKKz_Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEfP1OKKz_Q

alserio 4y ago

I also remembered that video. But, as a non plug expert, I've always been curious how much of what he describes is really good engineering and how much is, erm, plug patriottism (?). Are there any stats or studies that back up his safety claims?

V__ 4y ago
I found this thread on StackExchange [1] with an extremely thorough answer. Basically, the numbers don't differ that much. Also, different electrical systems having additional features like GFCI's make it hard to compare. [1] https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/22572/are-british-plugs-safer-than-all-other-plugs https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/22572/are-briti...
- Amorymeltzer 4y ago
  This was an excellent read, thoroughly enjoyable!
- ndsipa_pomu 4y ago
  The separate fuse-in-the-plug is a useful safety feature for lower powered items, as they can have a lower rated fuse (e.g. 3A) and thus blow before tripping any other fuses.

Brajeshwar 4y ago

Here is another where I learnt about the awesomeness of UK's plugs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=139Q61ty4C0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=139Q61ty4C0

hnlmorg 4y ago
Good video but I take issue with one item raised on there: > having a switch on the outlet makes it harder to debug if the bulb has blown… No it doesn’t. It really doesn’t. The other drawbacks have merit (though in 40 years of using electrical appliances I’ve never once had to worry about load balancing, but I’m willing to entertain that might be an issue for some people under niche circumstances). But the whole “a switch makes it harder to debug” argument is a really weak point.
- smilespray 4y ago
  Well, you also have one fuse in the plug and one fuse in the socket. Then you have uncertainty about whether the plug is fully plugged in. The whole system is finicky. And god help you if you step on a plug, because they always rest teeth up. I spent 15 years in the UK, and despite the fact that I take good care of my stuff, I've never had so much trouble with electrical stuff.
  - closewith 4y ago
    UK sockets are fused (in the general case) - only the circuits and plugs are. Also, of all the standards, it seems to me that UK plugs are the easiest to be sure are fully plugged in?
    - smilespray 4y ago
      In practice, UK plugs will glitch out if they are not asbolutely, positively all the way in. We're talking sub-mm precision here.
      - hnlmorg 4y ago
        I’ve never experienced that and I have kids who are constantly tugging on plugs.
      - closewith 4y ago
        This is wildly different to my experience. UK plugs are most stable I've ever used (at least residentially).

downvotetruth 4y ago

They are all last century trash as inserted has a straight edge allowing a short & GFCI is a no true scotsman.

ssl232 4y ago
Care to elaborate? I don't understand what you mean, nor can I even guess.
- downvotetruth 4y ago
  A, B, C, F, H, I, K, & L short with a straight conductor as shown on top (dropped). A, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, M, N & O from below. A relative larger ground prong in the middle in a linear config would be a minor fix keeping the bare terminals, but still leaves open the issue of the terminals getting wrapped in a conductor (i.e. wet hair).
  - basicoperation 4y ago
    G prevents this. From its page here: https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/g/ https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/... “The 9-mm long insulated sleeves prevent accidental contact with a bare connector while the plug is partially inserted.”
  - alexvoda 4y ago
    I do not get how you claim a type F or G or L can be shorted. The CEE 7/7 (E & F hybrid) can not be shorted due to socket design. The Europlug, the British plug, the Italian plug and a few others can not be shorted because the prongs are covered in plastic.
    - downvotetruth 4y ago
      Thin Plastic/insulator may wear faster than metal - not that it should not also be used. Again socket design is a no true scotsman - recessing the socket (https://www.legrand.com/ecatalogue/media/catalog/product/cache/4/image/650x650/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/l/g/LG-004285-WEB-R.jpg https://www.legrand.com/ecatalogue/media/catalog/product/cac...) could be claimed to fix the issue for all of them, but that does not disallow flat sockets or male to male. An alternative is to have the ground shaped as the circular conductor acting as the (plastic) insulator surrounding one or both terminals.