3 ms·

> In the UK, where ground fault interrupters are part of the sockets it can be hassle Did you mean US? I've never seen that, and searching 'ground fault interr

by OJFord 4y ago

> In the UK, where ground fault interrupters are part of the sockets it can be hassle Did you mean US? I've never seen that, and searching 'ground fault interrupter UK' images all look like US sockets. They're usually called RCDs (Residual Current Devices) in the UK, and they're fitted in the Consumer Unit.

jacquesm 4y ago
No, I meant the UK, for instance: https://internationalconfig.com/icc6.asp?item=72300-S-10MA https://internationalconfig.com/icc6.asp?item=72300-S-10MA or https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-general-900-series-13a-2-gang-sp-switched-passive-rcd-socket-white/3133j https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-general-900-series-13a-2-... It's the only place where I have seen these.
- OJFord 4y ago
  Wow ok, I've never seen that in the wild. RCDs are required on all circuits including lighting in the current regs (i.e. old installations can not have them and be compliant, but they have been required and socket circuits for a long time; bathroom & outdoor lighting for less; all lighting more recently). Maybe these sockets are for when you have no more room in the panel and don't want to replace it, but need it upgraded due to other work or to pass an EICR to let the property? Not sure. Example US looking one I was seeing: https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/e9c29ec0-5eeb-40c3-8cde-e2ff7ea971a2_1.a69ddb010322e58dd2bd6086a3c24e63.jpeg https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/e9c29ec0-5eeb-40c3-8cde-e2f... I suppose Earthed sockets are less common there anyway right, so that limits how common these could possibly be.
  - jacquesm 4y ago
    The lack of grounded sockets in the US has always been a complete mystery to me. Especially for kitchen appliances.
    - Domenic_S 4y ago
      Grounded outlets became code for kitchens and baths in 1961, although it wasn't that uncommon to see in '50s new construction. 1971 code started requiring them throughout the house.
    - OJFord 4y ago
      It's weird on imported goods here in the UK too. Macs are infamous for the fuzzy feeling of the double not-quite-insulated chassis. My Marantz amplifier (not US made but also sold there) that arrived today is the same. Weird looking plug too, like they had to go out of their way to source a dummy Earth to Earthless kettle lead and the result is bizarre and cheap looking but it's all they could get, because it's a weird requirement.
  - scrlk 4y ago
    The university halls that I lived in had those RCD sockets installed. The halls dated back to the early 60s - the sockets + Ethernet were installed in perimeter trunking. I suspect it was the cheapest option available to the university to modernise the electrical infrastructure inside the halls.

by OJFord 4y ago

jacquesm 4y ago

No, I meant the UK, for instance: https://internationalconfig.com/icc6.asp?item=72300-S-10MA https://internationalconfig.com/icc6.asp?item=72300-S-10MA or https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-general-900-series-13a-2-gang-sp-switched-passive-rcd-socket-white/3133j https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-general-900-series-13a-2-... It's the only place where I have seen these.

OJFord 4y ago
Wow ok, I've never seen that in the wild. RCDs are required on all circuits including lighting in the current regs (i.e. old installations can not have them and be compliant, but they have been required and socket circuits for a long time; bathroom & outdoor lighting for less; all lighting more recently). Maybe these sockets are for when you have no more room in the panel and don't want to replace it, but need it upgraded due to other work or to pass an EICR to let the property? Not sure. Example US looking one I was seeing: https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/e9c29ec0-5eeb-40c3-8cde-e2ff7ea971a2_1.a69ddb010322e58dd2bd6086a3c24e63.jpeg https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/e9c29ec0-5eeb-40c3-8cde-e2f... I suppose Earthed sockets are less common there anyway right, so that limits how common these could possibly be.
- jacquesm 4y ago
  The lack of grounded sockets in the US has always been a complete mystery to me. Especially for kitchen appliances.
  - Domenic_S 4y ago
    Grounded outlets became code for kitchens and baths in 1961, although it wasn't that uncommon to see in '50s new construction. 1971 code started requiring them throughout the house.
  - OJFord 4y ago
    It's weird on imported goods here in the UK too. Macs are infamous for the fuzzy feeling of the double not-quite-insulated chassis. My Marantz amplifier (not US made but also sold there) that arrived today is the same. Weird looking plug too, like they had to go out of their way to source a dummy Earth to Earthless kettle lead and the result is bizarre and cheap looking but it's all they could get, because it's a weird requirement.
- scrlk 4y ago
  The university halls that I lived in had those RCD sockets installed. The halls dated back to the early 60s - the sockets + Ethernet were installed in perimeter trunking. I suspect it was the cheapest option available to the university to modernise the electrical infrastructure inside the halls.