oops!
(maybe nobody will notice, subby)

The UK electrical outlets are SO BIG, they can energize an electric chair.

Here in the USA, we have the Wattgate 381 Audio Grade Duplex Socket.

Case closed.

I think this might be the nerdiest thing to get all nationalistic about ever...

Went looking for the pic of the extension cord calling the multi-outlet a whore but they're all blocked here at work. :(

the swiss ones are awesome.

Eddie Adams from Torrance: Here in the USA, we have the Wattgate 381 Audio Grade Duplex Socket.

Case closed.

Came in for this. Leaving satisfied.

Surely the Japanese ones look like tentacle penises and soiled panties?

As Neal Stephenson said about British design:

"You have to walk a half-mile to find a public telephone, but when you get there, you find that it has been constructed as though the senseless dynamiting of public telephones had been a problem in the recent past."

RockIsDead: Surely the Japanese ones look like tentacle penises and soiled panties?

What do you mean "look like?"

The authors of that article are clearly uniformed to have given the so-called 'european' plug such a bad rating and describing it as featurelaess.

In fact the European plug (which in used in all of europe except for denmark and such inconsequential islands as Malta, Cyprus, Ireland and one other which name escapes me at the moment) is not in fact standardized or featureless.

While the same two prongs and a round base is used all over europe different countries implement the grounding differently. In France a grounding-tine actually extends from the socket to be inserted into the plug. In Germany the plug is grounded contacts in ridges on the side of the plug.

Most common european plug designs either try to avoid the grounding thing entirely for better electrocution or they create hybrid plugs that will fit into several different socket designs combining German ridges with French holes for better grounding. Surely these can't be called featureless.

Loki-L: combining German ridges with French holes for better grounding.

Giggity.

As an American, I find myself agreeing with the article: British electrical plugs are superior in many ways (including foot-stabbing potential).

With how lawsuit-happy and "go green!" the US is, I'm surprised we haven't implemented the various anti-shock features of the British plug (e.g. sturdy insulated pins with the conductor at the end, shutters on outlets, each plug being individually fused, etc.) and the energy-saving potential of individually-switched outlets.

This sounds like an English major trying to write a tech article. I thought it would be a real discussion, but had no substance. I'd like my time back please.

What they fail to take into account is the size of the farking thing. You can debate the relative merits of making 110/120 the standard voltage vs 220/240, but the nice compact NEMA plug is wonderful vs. the monstrosities in the UK.

Eddie Adams from Torrance: Here in the USA, we have the Wattgate 381 Audio Grade Duplex Socket.

Case closed.

Agreed. Bonus- No smiley face, but it looks like it's been in a bar fight.

heypete: With how lawsuit-happy and "go green!" the US is, I'm surprised we haven't implemented the various anti-shock features of the British plug (e.g. sturdy insulated pins with the conductor at the end, shutters on outlets, each plug being individually fused, etc.) and the energy-saving potential of individually-switched outlets.

Are 'individually fused' plugs the same as standard GFI plugs here?

Sounds like the author is compensating for something.

FTFA: The fuse and sturdy construction prove the British plug is very clearly the safest in the world. But it's better than that, because the sockets also feature shutters that prevent children from inserting paperclips and getting a nasty shock.

uhh, you wont get shocked sticking a paperclip into a plug.

unyon: Are 'individually fused' plugs the same as standard GFI plugs here?

No. GFI outlets detect a current imbalance between hot and neutral. This allows them to rapidly turn off if someone did something stupid, like drop a toaster in the bathtub. Helps prevent electric shocks.

British plugs (i.e. what is inserted into the wall socket) are individually fused, in addition to the fusing/circuit breaker for the wall wiring. My understanding is that the plugs are fused for the maximum current load that the specific appliance would require. That is, while the outlet could supply some large amount of current (say 15-20A), the individual plug would be fused at a lower rating (1A, for example) that is applicable for the device it's connected to.

I for one like the electrocution feature of our US plugs. That's how I learned to fear and respect power outlets.

Is it really so surprising Denmark is declared the happiest country in the world pretty much every year?

/hot like a freshly electrocuted baby

I'd rather they build one that plugs in easily, stays plugged in but comes out easily when pulled, maybe something as a clicking/snapping type.

They should be as compact as possible, the British bricks are annoying as hell for that.

And brick plugs (the ones with the ac/dc converter at the plug)should be outlawed as you can't fit them in power bars, even the spaced out power bars have problems with some as they are so freaking huge.

No plug wins.

This is like reading a Cracked article. A really, really bad Cracked article.

Are there any serious articles about electrical outlets?

I farking absolutely love the Denmark's plug.

The large size of British plugs is, in fact, an offshoot of our rigid gun control laws. They have been deliberately designed as lethal weapons.

If an intruder should enter my house, I take great comfort in knowing I can easily batter him to death with the 3-pronged brick-like implement of destruction fixed securely to the end of the 2 meters of cable from my bedside lamp.

imfallen_angel: And brick plugs (the ones with the ac/dc converter at the plug)should be outlawed as you can't fit them in power bars, even the spaced out power bars have problems with some as they are so freaking huge.

No plug wins.

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Strip-Liberator-Extension-Cords/dp/B000EWVSZK

They're affectionately known as "wall warts"

Do people seriously have a problem breaking US plugs, or this more of a theoretical concern? I can only think of one instance in 30 years where I've bent a tine.

Fish in a Barrel: Do people seriously have a problem breaking US plugs, or this more of a theoretical concern? I can only think of one instance in 30 years where I've bent a tine.

I'm an electronics guy. They bend. They break. They sag. They suck. Believe me.

What, no love for the German Schucko plug/socket?



Clicks into place like a precision instrument, so very German.

//hot like a live wire

They keep talking about plugs, but they only show the sockets.

/it takes two to tango, so to speak

moothemagiccow: imfallen_angel: And brick plugs (the ones with the ac/dc converter at the plug)should be outlawed as you can't fit them in power bars, even the spaced out power bars have problems with some as they are so freaking huge.

No plug wins.

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Strip-Liberator-Extension-Cords/dp/B000EWVSZK

They're affectionately known as "wall warts"

I expected at least someone to post a link to s "squid", but seriously, I'd rather have the converter block built into the device or at least like Some do, with the block set aside (many laptops and camcorders power cords and bricks).

I really don't want to have to spend more just to plug a badly designed cable/power converter.

Fish in a Barrel: Do people seriously have a problem breaking US plugs, or this more of a theoretical concern? I can only think of one instance in 30 years where I've bent a tine.

It happens all the time to me. The trick is more force, less accuracy.

imfallen_angel: I expected at least someone to post a link to s "squid", but seriously, I'd rather have the converter block built into the device or at least like Some do, with the block set aside (many laptops and camcorders power cords and bricks).

I actually wish that we had a universal 12VDC plug for small household accessories. That way, you'd just have a single rectifier and transformer at the circuit breaker for the whole house.

I know that the automobile cigarette lighter socket has been used unofficially as a 12VDC power source for off-grid homes, but the plugs seem rather bulky. I'm sure there is something better out there.

This article can come in real handy when looking at the backgrounds of porn. Now I can know where they're all from!

heypete: unyon: Are 'individually fused' plugs the same as standard GFI plugs here?

No. GFI outlets detect a current imbalance between hot and neutral. This allows them to rapidly turn off if someone did something stupid, like drop a toaster in the bathtub. Helps prevent electric shocks.

British plugs (i.e. what is inserted into the wall socket) are individually fused, in addition to the fusing/circuit breaker for the wall wiring. My understanding is that the plugs are fused for the maximum current load that the specific appliance would require. That is, while the outlet could supply some large amount of current (say 15-20A), the individual plug would be fused at a lower rating (1A, for example) that is applicable for the device it's connected to.

This is correct. Leads to a massive industry of selling small fuses to go into the plugs. Also every kid in England knows the relationship between watts, amps and volts. You've got to get the rise fuse when they blow.

Our plugs really do suck. So easy to bend or have half hanging out of a socket.

Dinjiin: I actually wish that we had a universal 12VDC plug for small household accessories. That way, you'd just have a single rectifier and transformer at the circuit breaker for the whole house.

I know that the automobile cigarette lighter socket has been used unofficially as a 12VDC power source for off-grid homes, but the plugs seem rather bulky. I'm sure there is something better out there.

Agreed, 100%. I already have a large DC storage power source (batteries). It always frustrates me of having to convert DC to AC for the wiring, then seeing it drop back to DC in the form of a wall wart or power supply. I'm looking at you, servers.

Radio Shack used to be pretty good in the 80's.

"It's the plugs. The main thing is the plugs, you see. Good, British plugs."

Eddie Adams from Torrance: Here in the USA, we have the Wattgate 381 Audio Grade Duplex Socket.

Case closed.

I've never had more fun reading product reviews:
Amazon.com: Wattgate 381 (new window)

Thank you Voice of Doom.

"You've failed, haven't you, Scientist?"

The Voice of Doom: "It's the plugs. The main thing is the plugs, you see. Good, British plugs."

Dagnabbit. Teach me not to refresh one last time before posting..

MrSteve007: Dinjiin: I actually wish that we had a universal 12VDC plug for small household accessories. That way, you'd just have a single rectifier and transformer at the circuit breaker for the whole house.

I know that the automobile cigarette lighter socket has been used unofficially as a 12VDC power source for off-grid homes, but the plugs seem rather bulky. I'm sure there is something better out there.

Agreed, 100%. I already have a large DC storage power source (batteries). It always frustrates me of having to convert DC to AC for the wiring, then seeing it drop back to DC in the form of a wall wart or power supply. I'm looking at you, servers.

I just find it funny that more and more devices are being charged via USB.

Maybe they should start looking at making USB the default for all devices (low power).

I know that cell phones are heading that way (universal socket/plug), but as far as I'm concerned all devices should have taken this direction years ago.

AirForceVet: The UK electrical outlets are SO BIG, they can energize an electric chair.

We call them "The Footkillers"

I'm moving to Switzerland so I'm really getting a shock out of these replies.

Foxxinnia: Are there any serious articles about electrical outlets?

NEMA Outlets (new window)

That'll either put you to sleep, or make you glad that there are folks that still put a lot of effort into making electricity safer to use, even a century after it was introduced. Maybe both.

You farkers are slipping

Power cord sex (new window)

stevetherobot: Ned Stark: FTFA: The fuse and sturdy construction prove the British plug is very clearly the safest in the world. But it's better than that, because the sockets also feature shutters that prevent children from inserting paperclips and getting a nasty shock.

uhh, you wont get shocked sticking a paperclip into a plug.


But you could lose a nail.

didnt say it was a good idea. the paper clip will melt neigh instantaneously. there will be molten paperclip all over your hand.

imfallen_angel: I just find it funny that more and more devices are being charged via USB.

Maybe they should start looking at making USB the default for all devices (low power).

USB 3 will carry more power. Most socket technologies are pretty old. Maybe it's time to redesign.