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UK Switched Socket Outlets

Markyboyce

Socket outlets in UK generally fall into two groups (excluding lesser known/used products) and that is switched or unswitched.

My question is, what is value in having a switched socket outlet when so many of the switches simply don't get used i.e. they are often left in the on position? Indeed, whenever I visit Savoy House in London, 80% of the switched socket outlets have their switches left in the on position!

Parents

  • The original reason for switched sockets as I understand it was historical - it started back in the day when many supplies were d.c. and not all appliances had an internal means of switching off. Breaking a d.c. circuit can produce a quite impressive arc (there being no zero crossing point that automatically extinguishes the arc every 100th of a second as with 50Hz a.c.) - which is quite disconcerting as well as damaging to contacts. So switches were supplied and people soon got into the habit of switching off before unplugging 'for safety'. As things moved over to a.c. the habit of switching off was already ingrained so the general public expected switched to remain. For higher rated sockets (>32A) it's still usual to have switches on sockets for the same arc preventing reasons - often interlocked to make sure.

       - Andy.

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  • The original reason for switched sockets as I understand it was historical - it started back in the day when many supplies were d.c. and not all appliances had an internal means of switching off. Breaking a d.c. circuit can produce a quite impressive arc (there being no zero crossing point that automatically extinguishes the arc every 100th of a second as with 50Hz a.c.) - which is quite disconcerting as well as damaging to contacts. So switches were supplied and people soon got into the habit of switching off before unplugging 'for safety'. As things moved over to a.c. the habit of switching off was already ingrained so the general public expected switched to remain. For higher rated sockets (>32A) it's still usual to have switches on sockets for the same arc preventing reasons - often interlocked to make sure.

       - Andy.

Children
  • in reply to AJJewsbury

    That said Andy, IIRC (and I may be misremembering, it was a long time ago!) the old round 15A and 5A sockets in our house when I was young were unswitched? I think it was when we moved to 13A sockets that we had switched sockets?

    Personally I'm all for switched sockets, for energy saving in the house, and for making sure lab equipment is actually turned off back in the days when I ran a lab. (And still at home in the workshop for avoiding that nasty moment when you move the circular saw and accidentally press the trigger...) Of course we did always have to have the signs in the lab ready for use "Test in progress DO NOT TURN OFF!!!" Which occasionally workedSmiley

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Community Rules & Guidelines