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International plugs and sockets

Chris Pearson
As we leave the EU, with all its standardization, I am bound to wonder why plugs and sockets have not been subject to this process. It isn't even that we have our funny square pins and the rest have round ones. Type C (2 pin) is common, but earthed plugs are mostly type E or F. IEC site.


Oh well, too late now!
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    Why not put it in the socket (outlet)?




     



    I think that was considered in the early (pre BS 1363) days - but the conclusion was that a blown fuse should move with the faulty appliance rather than stay at the (innocent) socket. That way when something doesn't work and gets plugged into another socket to decide whether it's the socket or the appliance that's at fault, you don't end up with multiple dead sockets that are then useless for perfectly serviceable appliances (until someone get a screwdriver out and replaces the fuses), and the same fault isn't inflicted on the supply multiple times.


    Perhaps less of an issue if the socket incorporates a readily resettable circuit breaker than a fuse.

     



    And a BS1362 fuse can be very reluctant to blow when overloaded.


    As are most overload protective devices - a 16A or 20A MCB (of the rest of the world's practice) probably wouldn't be any better.

     

    (c) We can't do away with the fuse whilst we still retain ring final circuits.



    Minor detail - but it's not so much the ring as our preference for 30/32A circuits - there's exactly the same issue with a 32A radial.


       - Andy.
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  • 0



    Why not put it in the socket (outlet)?




     



    I think that was considered in the early (pre BS 1363) days - but the conclusion was that a blown fuse should move with the faulty appliance rather than stay at the (innocent) socket. That way when something doesn't work and gets plugged into another socket to decide whether it's the socket or the appliance that's at fault, you don't end up with multiple dead sockets that are then useless for perfectly serviceable appliances (until someone get a screwdriver out and replaces the fuses), and the same fault isn't inflicted on the supply multiple times.


    Perhaps less of an issue if the socket incorporates a readily resettable circuit breaker than a fuse.

     



    And a BS1362 fuse can be very reluctant to blow when overloaded.


    As are most overload protective devices - a 16A or 20A MCB (of the rest of the world's practice) probably wouldn't be any better.

     

    (c) We can't do away with the fuse whilst we still retain ring final circuits.



    Minor detail - but it's not so much the ring as our preference for 30/32A circuits - there's exactly the same issue with a 32A radial.


       - Andy.
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