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South Africa bans switched sockets to improve safety.

Sparkingchip
New requirements for socket outlets in South Africa


I wonder if they considered stipulating double pole switches on the sockets?


Presumably they prefer sockets that are compatible with European equipment than UK equipment.


 Andy Betteridge
  • 0
    Certainly in the Brazilian implementation, I can testify that a short removes power and lights for the whole floor, but then the gap between the paper standards and what is out there in practice is so wide that  such subtleties are the least of one's concern . Did you stray out of the hotel and look up at  the poles and wiring to any private housing by any chance ?  (earth anyone ? twisted twins for and no over sleeve ? taped joints in mid-span... )

    I fear that SA suffers a similar rich/poor divide, where the good stuff is very good, and the standard is almost academic, and the bad stuff ignores all rules anyway -and the standard is almost academic. I have been to Johannesburg for work a few years ago and it was a very eye opening  trip.

    I'm inclined to agree that a change of socket should not be the highest priority.
  • 0

    I  saw this type of plug and socket when I was in Brazil a couple of years ago. (Fortunately the hotel was able to loan an adaptor for my trusty BS1363 plugs. No adaptor I had brought with  me was any good.) It does have a good safety point in that the socket has a deep recess so there is little risk of touching live, partially-inserted pins. That is about as far as the positive goes. It is not  fused, so if the appliance goes faulty it takes out the  entire sub-circuit.

    In short, it is perfectly possible to enhance safety standards without completely replacing an established standard and all the chaos that that will create. I'm glad I  don't live in South Africa.




    I suspect that an earth leakage device was upfront in that case. 


    South Africa has become just another basket case, there was some sense of order when I left.. this is only one example - Escom can't control the theft of cables from their substations, overhead lines including those on railways, in the townships; live cables are laid anywhere, just the other day, a fatality was reported when a theft was attempted from an MV transformer. A "Soweto washing machine"  is a metal oil drum with a mains water hose placed inside, turned on when going out and off when coming in. Stay out of the townships ............ at any time.A beautiful country ........... sadly, now in the hands of the wrong people!  


    Jaymack  

  • 0

    (sic - I presume this really means live and neutral)



    "Live" is correct terminology for any conductor carrying current in normal service these days (except a PEN conductor) - so we have "line" and "neutral" both being "live" conductors.

     

    It is not  fused, so if the appliance goes faulty it takes out the  entire sub-circuit.



    Unfortunately the same is often true with BS 1363 plugs too now that most circuits are protected by MCBs - the fuse may well blow but usually the MCB trips as well (or first). Only when we had 30A fuses does a 13A fuse provide decent discrimination.


    but hey, a Euro Standard is continuing to break out over the rest of the world...



    Isn't it more of an international standard (that 2-pin Euro plugs happen to be compatible with) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_60906-1


      - Andy.

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