3 ms·

Not impossible with the Schuko, it's still possible for something to get caught in it and touch the pins when it's partially inserted, that's happened to me. It

Not impossible with the Schuko, it's still possible for something to get caught in it and touch the pins when it's partially inserted, that's happened to me. It's better when only the tip of the pins are exposed, as on the UK plug and the Europlug.

jqpabc123 3y ago
The plug is an issue but so is the socket. What keeps a kid from sticking something metal into it?
- james_a_craig 3y ago
  On UK plugs at least, there are shutters and you need to insert something into the earth pin slot before they will allow you to access the live/neutral pins. On better sockets, the shutters then need simultaneous pressure on both live/neutral to completely release. The actual contacts in the socket are recessed too. UK plugs and sockets are really, really, really safe. Except to stand on.
  - kwhitefoot 3y ago
    Same on modern Schuko.
- ovi256 3y ago
  There is a hole cover plate that has to be pushed by rounded plug pins to pivot and unlock the socket holes. You can try pushing with something like a screwdriver (to test for live) and it's hard to pivot the plate (feels like it needs both pins to pivot), and a non round tool snags on the plastic cover plate.
- bluGill 3y ago
  In the US code requires shutters so you can't stick anything into the socket other than the correct plug (IIRC as of 2008?). Other responses are implying the UK (and I assume EU) now require that too. On the other end, in India I saw a power strip that would accept EU, UK, or US plugs. I took one look and refused to get close, but someone else plugged my laptop in and it worked. (everything got 240 volts, which my laptop power supply was fine with)
  - LinAGKar 3y ago
    No EU-regulation for that I think, it depends on the country. British Standard 1363 has had mandatory safety shutters since it was introduced in 1947 (not sure if you could still use the older British Standard 546). Here in Sweden there is a building regulation from 1988 stating outlets should be placed or designed to make it hard for children to insert things into them. I was surprised to learn that wasn't common in the US, at least until recently.

jqpabc123 3y ago

The plug is an issue but so is the socket. What keeps a kid from sticking something metal into it?

james_a_craig 3y ago
On UK plugs at least, there are shutters and you need to insert something into the earth pin slot before they will allow you to access the live/neutral pins. On better sockets, the shutters then need simultaneous pressure on both live/neutral to completely release. The actual contacts in the socket are recessed too. UK plugs and sockets are really, really, really safe. Except to stand on.
- kwhitefoot 3y ago
  Same on modern Schuko.
ovi256 3y ago
There is a hole cover plate that has to be pushed by rounded plug pins to pivot and unlock the socket holes. You can try pushing with something like a screwdriver (to test for live) and it's hard to pivot the plate (feels like it needs both pins to pivot), and a non round tool snags on the plastic cover plate.
bluGill 3y ago
In the US code requires shutters so you can't stick anything into the socket other than the correct plug (IIRC as of 2008?). Other responses are implying the UK (and I assume EU) now require that too. On the other end, in India I saw a power strip that would accept EU, UK, or US plugs. I took one look and refused to get close, but someone else plugged my laptop in and it worked. (everything got 240 volts, which my laptop power supply was fine with)
- LinAGKar 3y ago
  No EU-regulation for that I think, it depends on the country. British Standard 1363 has had mandatory safety shutters since it was introduced in 1947 (not sure if you could still use the older British Standard 546). Here in Sweden there is a building regulation from 1988 stating outlets should be placed or designed to make it hard for children to insert things into them. I was surprised to learn that wasn't common in the US, at least until recently.