American Reacts to British Plugs and Outlets - The Best in The World!
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- čas přidán 28. 06. 2023
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In this video I react to why British plugs and outlets are truly the best in the world. This is the 2nd time I'm exploring British plugs and I'm glad I checked this video out as I learned so much more. The plugs and power outlets in the UK are so much better than what I’m used to. As a parent I wish we had the safety features of British plugs and outlets here at home.
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The size of a British plug has NEVER stopped me pushing any furniture up against a wall because British plugs are flat.
Yeah I'd say it's actually easier than American plugs due to the lead going straight down. With American plugs having it stick straight out it probably ends up taking up more room, and there's more chance of damaging it.
@@Relyx also more of a chance of tripping over something plugged in in America than in uk.
The size of a British plug has SOMETIMES stopped me pushing some furniture up against a wall because they are bulky.
@@X22GJP fine but think how much trouble you would have with an American plug with the plug and wire sticking strength out and not going down like with a uk plug.
Depends on the plug tbh. My laptop and game console plugs are bulkier.
But yeah, most plugs are no thicker than the skirting board so it's redundant in most cases.
He was struggling to find negatives. Load balancing isn't really a problem and we rarely unplug from the socket and leave them lying around. Always left in the outlet whether on or off.
he had to try to find something to say america is better ;)
@@Greenwood4727yes he dosent know what he’s talking about, he dosent live here. Just being picky for the sake of it, and we don’t often have to pull a plug out,, he’s just jealous cos there plugs are rubbish!!
Also our appliances like kettles, toasters etc have cord storage and even if they don't, we generally wrap up the cord and put it out of the way anyway.
I have been an idiot on a few occasions and left a cord with the plug up and stepped on it, yes hurt and one time drew blood, though last time I did that was 15 years ago... I don't intend for a repeat feck-up! 😅
@@beverleyringe7014 yeah i lived in america for a time and it was scary, not just the general stuff, where i was was kids and they were attracted to the plugs gave me fear everytie they went near.
The only real negative I can think of that he didn't mention is some poorly made plugs might be hard to remove from the socket.
And the grips aren't great at getting your fingers on if they're not indented enough.
Another American pointed out that you can push a sofa up against a British plug as it's flat to the wall, but the American one sticks out.
ino who ur on abt
Good point
@ElonTusk. it was Just two American girls! I can't see how to do a laughing emoji on here.
@@ElonTusk. ...Well, let's not be shy about naming names, shall we, Elon? The reference relates to the Natalie and Debbie Show, which clearly you know about in order to apply your illiterate, wink-wink comment. Take note: trash should always be binned.
@@2eleven48 ayyoo what, i was saying.. didnt mean anything by it.. i just forgot there channel name..
Why do people worry so much about standing on the plug ...... because there's a switch on the socket you can leave it permanently plugged in ..... no need to have it lying around on the floor
Possibly the age old US style of pointing to other country's things and saying they are dangerous
Exactly right. I have never in all my life stepped on a plug. But Lost count of the times I’ve stepped on a Lego brick
Exactly no need to pull out the plugs, so you won’t stand on them will you..
You leave your....
Iron
Hairdryer
Curling tongs
Hot glue gun
Jigsaw
Drill
Sandwich toaster
Grilling machine
Food blender
Cold fans
Fan heaters
Inflatable pumps
Phone chargers
Sewing machine
Clothes steamer
Overlocking machine
Deep fat fryer
Air fryer
Electric whisk
Heat gun
Nail gun
Extension leads
Hoover
Hair clippers
Battery chargers
Lawnmower
Strimmer
Nail lamp
Massager
Circular saw
Hedge trimmer
Jet washer
Fairy lights
Laptop
Tablet
Kids toys
Kids bikes
Bread maker
Air hockey
Foot spa
Toothbrush charger
And anything else you can think of plugged in 24-7????
Really?
I mean as well as usual plugged in items such as
TVs
Games consoles
Cooker
Toaster
Kettle,
Lamps
Fridge
Freezer
Washing machine
Tumble dryer
Dvd player
Sound bar
Speakers
Monitors
Computer
Dishwasher
Stereos
Microwave etc
Seriously? How many sockets do you have?
............
Yes I was being sarcastic. On account of your inability to think of other people's lives, homes, lifestyles, locations, equipment, family members, medical issues or anything else you seem incapable of imagining outside of your own four walls! Not everyone lives within four walls first off, they may live in a caravan or spend most of year in a tent. Many people live in hostels, bedsits, hospital wards, hospices, care homes, tiny flats or only rent a room...which may not have anywhere close to enough sockets for their daily lives.
You're not a woman, so did it not occur to you to think of hairdryers, nail lamps, curling irons?
If you don't do DIY or make clothes for example, then you wouldn't need power tools and craft machines, but many people do.
If you're fit and healthy it may surprise you to be reminded of disabled people, who have electric profiling beds, rechargeable scooters, medication pumps, automatic feeding pumps, hoists, electric wheelchairs, monitoring devices, sleep apnoea or epilepsy alarm pads on their beds, sensory toys, stimulatory devices and any other million and one gadgets to improve their quality of life.
And if you're not a parent it wouldn't occur to you to think of the rechargeable toys, batteries, bikes, electric cars, consoles, and games that require plugging in. Not to mention newborns often require equipment such as food blenders, steam sterilisers, breast pumps, nursery cams etc.
............
When you ponder a question, I often think it's best to ponder it alone for a while before blurting it out in public and making a fool of yourself. You've shown yourself to be primarily fixated on yourself and your situation, and incapable of trying to look at life through anybody else's eyes or experience. You seem to take an awful lot for granted in life too, and in case you weren't aware, shit happens. At any point your own finances or health could rapidly deteriorate and you may need to downsize. You could find your health requires far more electronic devices, yet your smaller home has far fewer sockets.
You did ask a question, and rather judgementally answered it in a smug self satisfied way, whilst proving you didn't really even ponder for a second on the answer. If it makes no sense to you, then it makes no sense full stop? How simple and smooth sailing your life must be....for now. How proud you are to have this ridiculous problem sussed out in life, when, what...everyone else is an idiot compared to you then? Just because they occasionally step on a spare plug they have insufficient sockets for?
Is the answer to your question so profound and mind boggling that it needed someone else to point it out to you? Well, no, it's not profound at all! It's actually very obviously easy to answer....the real question should be, why are YOU so unable to think beyond YOURSELF, to be able to answer it on your own?
@@tamielizabethallaway2413 All those things you mention are not every day use items. Do you keep all those things inside your home or do they live in the garage/shed or cupboard?
That was a long essay over nothing.
I have never stepped on any of these plugs in my life. The appliances don't need to be unplugged because you can switch it off at the socket. Also in the case of TV's , washing machines and many other appliances, the plug is usually behind it, so you are not going to struggle to pull the plug out.
I was going to say the same thing I don't see it as flaw to be honest coz even if you unplug who is going to stick it so out where you can stand on it? You wouldn't
@@user-wm6hq2qz5knor can it be pulled out easliy because of the bottom cable outlet, so wouldn't be lying on the floor
This is why the sockets with USB's are so useful, the taking the plugs out was common many years ago when we didn't have so many sockets, but now not so as mentioned.
My house was so old when I got it, there were old fashioned bakerlite sockets, I didn't have the plugs so put 2 wires into the sockets . It worked well enough until I re wired the place !
@@petergordon4525 oh yes I know that of course but I was just saying coz the video look like it was applying you would leave it in the middle of the room ( ok not that far but you know what I mean) for you to stand on it if taken out, you wouldn't you would push it to side of the wall or with an extension lead you would pick it up if your not using it.
There is no problem with load balancing it's a very dated idea.
Yeah until this bloke mentioned it in his video I've never even heard of load balancing being an issue on power sockets.
Was going to say the same thing. It's just not something anyone ever thinks about in the UK. A single ring circuit can carry 32 amps at ~230v, the max you can pull through a single plug is 13amps, but there are very few items that pull that sort of current around the home and you'd need at least three of these high watt devices in use at the same time and on the same ring circuit to have any issues.
Load balancing is not a problem. Not sure where he gets this from. Yes standing on a plug is the worst. X
I remember my parents telling me (we're talking the 60s now) that you shouldn't plug hungry things like a kettle and a toaster into plugs next to each other - I guess that's what he's talking about. So ingrained was this advice (I was such an attentive child!) that even today I find myself letting the kettle turn off before I put the toaster on. Completely unnecessary, I suppose! 🙂
Spot on
Worth mentioning, fuses are interchangeable, so 13 amp would be great for washing machines while 3 amp for smaller stuff.
That's not always a positive, if you have a faulty device that uses a 5 amp fuse that keeps blowing, there's nothing to stop you putting a 13 amp fuse in and continuing to use it. Good way to start a house fire.
I think the already good design could be improved if the plug only accepted a fuse of the correct amperage for the device it is fitted to.
@@TestTestGo valid point (Grenfell is testament to that), which is why many kitchen appliances have started fusing the plugs to the appliance so it can’t be changed. My father was an electrician and taught his kids the different amp types, how to maintain plugs and sockets, toilets, sinks. He gave us everything we needed to be self sufficient. I was a 15 yr old girl with skills many people never have. Now I’m a grandmother whose never needed to call an electrician or plumber til health reasons threw me off my pedestal.
@@Burglar-King A fused plug does not stop me from cutting the plug off and putting my own on.
I grew up having to wire plugs so I actually get a bit annoyed with molded plugs as the plug itself can be annoying as hell when trying to run a cable discretely. There are many times I have had to hack off a molded plug, feed the wire through a gap and then attach a new plug to the end afterwards.
The fuse is supposed to be rated for the size of cable on the plug, to protect the cable from overload. That it can be further derated for the appliance is secondary.
and as i say, 1 down for UK plugs is that the fuse can by self fixed with tin foil
What he didn't mention was our electrical safety standards are constantly being improved, a lot of things have their own circuit, like cookers and showers which run on 30 amps , smoke alarms and burglar alarms also have their own circuit, and the kitchen sockets are not on the same circuit as the rest of the house, lighting circuits are usually separate for each floor too, meaning it doesn't plunge the whole house into darkness if there is a problem, we have a fusebox with switches for each circuit, so its quite easy to tell if its an appliance or the wiring thats at fault, we don't have sockets in our bathrooms either, apart from a shaver socket which is useful for electric toothbrushes, there's only one improvement I would make to our fusebox and that's a built in battery light so you can find the tripped switch in the dark, and as for standing on a plug , it does really hurt but you only do it once 😅
Use the torch on your mobile phone, which is constantly in the hands of younger folk.🤣
are rcds standard in most your fuseboxes aswell? in new zealand most houses have them so even if a kid did stick something in the socket the power would immediately trip preventing a shock
@@mikekilkelly2138 RCD'S are standard these days, however, there are a lot of older properties that are lacking this safety feature.
Sadly I'm a 40.year old.dummy who never learned the first.time 😢
The breaker levers are large enough to be operated by feel. I don't know if it's intentional.
What the video failed to mention also was that all houses in the UK have at least 4 different ring circuits, so that the chances of overloading are minimised, as someone previously mentioned that a ring circuit is rated at 32 amps, and all UK appliances have their own fuse rating linked to their power consumption, hence why washing machines, dryers, and fridge/freezers have a 13 amp fuse and other appliances have 1/3/5 amp fuses accordingly.
No they don’t, an average 3 bedroom house has 2-3 rings max.
Thats not why homes have rings......rings are actually bad and cause overload in the cable....they were introduced during the 40s to combat the copper shortage and gave been used ever since
We were taught to wire plugs safely and correctly, in high school. It was part of the basic level physics class. I never forgot how - the wires are easy - bLue to the Left, bRown to the Right and when there is a green and yellow, it goes straight up like a daffodil. The English education system did work back then (I am OLD)!
Just as I was taught.I am old as well!
I was also taught that, I'm not even 30 yet.
They only stopped teaching it in schools around the 2010s.
Maybe I am older because when I learnt it was red black and green,
Unfortunately now most if not all plugs on devices are moulded ones so the art of wiring a plug is going to be lost.
The original mantra that I heard was "George Brown is a live wire"; He was a Labour poilitican about whom it was once said "he wasn't drunk; he was tired and emotional".
I can say our plugs are easy, as even I can change a fuse and change a plug! It's very rare to stand on a plug as we can just flip the switch on the socket to cut the power so we rarely unplug many items.
Load balancing really isnt a problem unless you are in a massive building like a factory or office block.
Isn't really a problem does not mean it is not a problem.
@@X22GJP isnt really a problem means its not a problem at all for 99% of buildings in the UK which are domestic dwellings or small businesses
Load balancing is only applicable between the phases of a 3 phase system. He is muttering about load distribution, a totally different thing
Yes, and there are ways to get around that, wiring a ring you skip every alternate socket (on commercial) ... the 2.5mm cable can take 75% of the load easily, even if the ring is open circuit it's unlikely to actually be a problem
WOW, America is behind like 50+ years with plugs. I remember our house in the UK in the late 50's having American-style plugs and I got an electric shock of the one that powered our Christmas tree lights. I can also remember plugging irons into where the bulb goes in the overhead light socket
Into the overhead light socket 😅 they did that in 1900 😂
@@cotton9087everyone’s got one of those lightbulbs to outlet adapters somewhere but no one uses them
The British plugs are bigger visually but once plugged in, they don’t protrude from the wall as far as the American plug does.
I recently bought a Mini Waffle Maker that makes one waffle at a time, perfect for one person. However I find it scary to use because it has no switch and the cord is too short to plug into the wall directly, at least in my house, so I have to use an extension lead. When I’m done using it, I have to disconnect it while it’s still hot. So far, I’ve been careful, but I wish it had a switch. Thankfully, I can switch it off at the wall first, if I get up and walk across the room.
He mentions at the end of the video that the British plug is a hazard at night because you can step on it in the dark, however that’s purely American thinking, because we can switch it off at the wall as well as at the appliance, so there’s no need to unplug it and drop the plug on the floor! If we are done with the appliance for the next few days, we can just put it away once it’s cold. No one leaves plugs lying on the floor! There’s never a need to do so.
Leave the plugs in when out or on holiday just turn switches off . Very clever design . 😊
I have no idea why I found this fascinating... nor why it made me proud 😂
The plug is a great way of learning about the uk because if you put this much effort into a plug and socket, imagine how much effort we put into everything else.
like what ?
Some things yes, in some things no. You're really talking us up lol. This county is a mess 😂
Like: Car safety, motorway/road design and safety (roundabouts), lift construction, building codes, Seat belts (the Green Cross code was innovative for its time! Click clunk 😂), event/taxi/food licensing, trading standards, leisure activities and the Health & Safety Executive, Environmental Health, restrictions on building on landfill/burial sites, gas mains maintenance, gas/flammable liquid/electrical safety etc etc
I'm SERIOUSLY tired of Brits slagging off our own Country!
You have NO idea how much thought & innovation, government and industry has put into keeping us alive and taking safety for granted!
So much so, that while slagging off the UK, we self righteously turn on lights, drink water, bathe in fresh non contaminated water, buy new clothes without bedbugs/fleas, eat any item from the shops safely, survive RTAs, and go to work knowing the company can't casually kill you with shoddy practices (or even a frayed carpet!) without the HSE charging them with murder 🙄
Read a book. Ingrates 🤦🏽♀️😂
@@user-ky6vw5up9mFiguring out how to screw over our children.
@@charlesbridgford254 We don't even need to figure that out, just vote for whoever is the biggest PoS at the time and then sit back and watch the country burn.
I'm from The UK, and when I was at engineering college in 1984/85 we were told that one of the reasons we started to insulate the part of the live and neutral pins on the plugs was because a 1 pence coin was a nice snug fit in between the 3 pins. And for a joke some people would turn the socket off, take the plug out, put a penny between the pins, and as the coin was so flat when the plug was plugged back in you couldn't tell. And then when someone turned the outlet back on there would be a short. And quite a loud bang and it would blow the fuse!
This got me suspended from school in the early 90s. The short could be insane and we would push the plug in with our shoes or by pushing a (wooden) chair onto it. Penny and pins often melted; a one shot system
Only a Bozo would think of those "cons" 🤣
Except the last one it hurts like a bastard
@@tarkett8529 Can confirm, leaving one of these laying on the floor should be considered a war crime
@@upsidedownairline9388 usually my own fault, unplug my guitar amp or pedalboard and have to sort out the kids for 5 minutes, come back in and completely forget I’ve left them out
Only a Bozo would go out of their way to disagree with them
All of our plugs in the UK have an earth/ground pin, and I was genuinely shocked (no pun intended 😂) when I first learnt that yours don’t. It’s one of the biggest reasons I’d feel scared to plug things in if I visited the US!
I'd probably have electrocuted myself as a child.
Many UK ground pins are not actually connected to an appliance
I grew up in the UK, in Scotland and have now lived in the US, California, for thirty years. The UK Type G plug is hands down totally superior in every way to the US Type A or B. The negatives the presenter provided were a "stretch" at best for something to put on the Con side of the argument. To me personally, there is NOTHING on the con side at all. The plug housing is larger, but this actually help anyone with arthritis or weakness and the plug housings normally have a flange towards the outside that makes them easier to grip. They are flat when plugged into the wall and the cord runs down the wall, so they take up much less space than the US plugs. The pins NEVER get bent or broken, lol. In twenty years of living with the Type G in the UK I never personally stepped on the pins, and I've never known anyone to. In truth, because we have the outlet switch on the socket, we rarely unplug any appliance and leave the plug on the floor. Vacuum cleaners and mobile devices like that would be the only possible time that may occur, but I've really never heard of it.
Vacuum cleaners tend to have somewhere to coil or hang the plug from so a plug being on the floor is highly unlikely.
one CON is that if you are using one of the UK plugs you are probably in the UK paying UK energy prices, Ive read about how much they pay for electricity in Britain and it's quite high compared to other nations, i pay the equivalent of about 9p per kwh in New Zealand, In britain they pay over 4 times that amount if google is to be believed
@@mikekilkelly2138it's not normally much more than 9p, it has been excessively high over the past 18 months or so, following Russia invading Ukraine. Prices are coming down again though so hopefully won't be long before we're back in 15p/kWh again!
I have stood on a UK plug. It's like standing on Lego, but worse - this is the reason I've never done it again because on the odd occasion I leave a plug on the floor, it is next to the wall and tipped toward it!
@@willb4643 when I was a kid, I think my auntie had just finished vacuuming and hadn't wrapped the wire back up yet. My cousin decided to show a tekken move 😖 jumped off the settee and the earth pin went straight in the bottom of his foot. only time I've ever seen this happen though 😂
For most people they only turn things off at the wall if A: the socket is not in permanent use or B: you are going away. So for most people we leave the sockets on if there is something plugged into them and used regularly/daily. But when we do come across things that won’t turn regularly we check the switch on the wall first.
I think the only item we turn off at the wall is our toaster as it uses a few watts when its not in use, other than that we tend to leave everything turned on all the time unless you are going on holiday. Thinking about it, I always turn a plug off at the wall before unplugging or plugging something, just as an extra precaution to prevent sparking during unplugging.
We do have moulded plugs. When that happens, you can still get at the fuse (when it is unplugged).
If for some reason you the plug gets damaged it can simply be cut off, the wire stripped back to reveal the individual strands and a new plug wired up.
Stayed in a large hotel in Philadelphia a number of years ago. The bathroom light was not working, however there was a table lamp on the side of the bath pluged into a loose socket in the bathroom wall. They could not really understand why I kicked up hell and demanded another room.
In the UK we originally had a different system which had a central fusebox feeding individual sockets around the property which had round pins but still with the larger earth/ground pin. The changeover to to the present system was gradual with older properties continuing to use the older system until the property was rewired. That's why when one bought a new appliance it came without a plug and you had to fit it yourself. Now that the vast majority of properties have the ring main system all appliances are supplied with fitted plugs.
Or you just did what my dad had me do, when I was in my early teens, replace all the 15 Amp sockets in the house with 13 Amp ones. Actually I think I changed the 5A ones too. It was in the mid 70's.
Those round (BS 546) sockets are still code for some (rather niche) applications. Most common example is if wiring 2A sockets for table/standing lamps to the lighting circuit.
The UK is moving back to the old wiring system as copper shortage no longer a thing
Exactly. The old system with single radial cables to individual outlets that you describe is the same as the current US system before we went to a ring circuit system
@@scrappystocks It was a bit different as there were three (originally four) different sockets with different current ratings for different purposes with different wiring gauges. They were 2, 5 and 15 amp (the 30 amp version in the original standard was very rare) and were not interoperable. The USA does have both 15A and 20A 110V sockets, but a 15A plug will fit either. However, the USA does have a plethora of other sockets, especially for 240V for things such as driers. That doesn't happen in the UK as high powered devices, like ovens and electric showers have to be hard-wired (at least outside of industrial environments).
Also, radials do not, indeed rarely connect just one socket. It's usually a daisy chain of sockets.
As far as radials go, it's possible to keep the advantages of a 32A circuit by using 4mm^2 cabling. I like 32A circuits in places like workshops or the kitchen as it avoids nuisance trips. Plug a 3kW electric kettle and a 2kW 4 slot toaster in simultaneously and you are drawing about 20A, which won't trip a 16A breaker immediately (it will take a few minutes), but add another load and it might well do so. In the USA they tend to wire things like dishwashers into dedicated circuits.
we were taught to change the fuse with the correct amp as children. Love the UK plugs
All our plugs have an earth pin as it's the only way to open the shutter. On double insulated electrical items the pin either isn't connected or is made of plastic. There is also, pretty much) zero chance of pulling the plug out accidentally. I don't think anyone ever leaves a plug contacts up in a walking area. They tend to be coiled away of left pugged in and turned off at the wall. Much more likely to step on LEGO in our house!!
Ye you either leave an electrical item plugged in or you store the electrical item away in a draw/cupboard. Ye I temped to leave items I use daily turned on unless I go away. When I do go away agreed I just turn power off at the wall.
If an item is actually unplugged, rather than switched off at the socket, it's usually put away. Yes you'd have more chance of stepping on a bit of Lego in our house, and we don't have kids
@@raindancer6111 who the hell wants kids if you have lego?
@@victormuckleston True, and we also have Meccano.🤭
Bathroom shaver/electric toothbrush sockets are just 2, pin but should run off the lower powered lighting circuit and be double insulated.
The way they get around load balancing is to have a separate circuit that's of a higher amperage for specific places within the home. Usually the kitchen where an electric oven/hob is used, or a water heater in an upstairs cupboard, for example. Usually rated to 15 or even 30 amps, whereas everywhere else is usually rated to 13 amp.
You won't find a 13A circuit in the UK. Standard ratings for breakers tend to be 6A (for lighting), 16A for radial circuits on 2.5mm^2 cabling, although 20A is possible, 32A for rings on 2.5mm^2 cabling or radials on 4mm^2 or 5mm^2 cabling and 40A on 10mm^2 cabling.
Thats the only learning point besides how to wire up plugs. Never taught this in senior school!
As we said the very important safety lesson is to know the value of fuses and their colour code!! The plugs you buy in the store come with a Brown 13 Amp fuse OK. This is good for most household items OK? But if you have your home PC plugged in it normally with several other items such as the monitor and a blower for keeping the plot cool. Room ventilation below 65 F
I have a custom build PC with good airflow so it doesn't want the external tower fan blowing into the fan air vent often only 2/3 months when the room temperature is whew level😞
Thankfully despite it on a 13 Amp fuse the wattage is low.. Another thing to calculate towards the total loading.
Finally the PC's 750w power supply unit lead on my computer has been fitted with a black 5amp blow fuse and is100%
On my older PC I have it fitted with a red 3amp fuse but the PSU is only an old 450 watt unit
The rest of the wired in devices are fitted with 3 amp fuses as opposed to the rest of the house which is 90 % 13 Amp fuse fitted Bar the isolated electric Cooker circuit which has a high amp blow fuse reset in the fuse box and the washer/dryer.too We cook by Microwave and Gas BTW.
It is worth noting that moulded plugs are becoming more common in the UK. You can't easily take these apart and they usually only have a small shutter compartment to change the fuse.
What surprises me most is schools still taught how to properly wire a plug right up until the 2010s.
I only turned 28 this year and I remember being taught how to put one together in 2005.
Majority of new appliances sold in the UK have sealed plugs now only thing you can change or access is the fuse.
Born in 97, we were taught too
i was born in 2004, it was still taught during my gcse course a few years back lol
It seems it wasn't every school. I was born in 92 and was never taught it at school. Although wiring your own plugs was phased out a couple years prior if I've got my dates correct.
My father did end up teaching me instead, although never had to do it since and it's been so long I'd probably look up how to do it nowadays 😅
The days of wiring plugs is over, reflecting many products which prevent the right to repair
One small point but still an interesting one is a reactor on another channel pointing out that UK plugs were flush to the wall, whereas US plugs stuck out so that any furniture (such as sofas)/computers/utilities could not be situated in the same manner; there has to be a space between the plug and whatever is being positioned in front of it.
It's uncommon to find outlet in the middle of a wall section, they're usually on or near the edges of the walls purposefully so that furniture will not be placed up against them. A lot of newer homes(2000+) have open living rooms so often people won't bother putting furniture up against a wall.
Hi Steve I see most of the downsides of the British system have been addressed in this comment section apart from the ridiculous one about the lamp not working and not sure if it's the lamp or socket. All you need to do is check that the socket switch is on the on position(most switches have a red coloured indicator to show that it is on). If the switch is on then it is most likely that the light bulb has failed! My family love your channel and we like the way you react to our, sometimes, quaint British ways.
Using 230v is essential in Britain, because we love a cuppa and 110v isn’t man enough for a decent kettle 😎🇬🇧☕️
I noticed that over in America,had to build water on a cooker??? Why not upgrade your power America.. 110.volts. ??? 230-240.volts 👍
@@georgejob2156 The US also uses 220 volts for heavier appliances and 110volt for lighter loads.
Most americans dont even drink tea, thus, there is no need for a kettle
@@nhitc6832 a kettle is much quicker at boiling water for any reason.....coffee for example.
All the advantages that were mentioned are all based on 230-240v and the fuse's are our second safety measure, as it's the 1st point of failure in a power surge. However most homes in the UK use surge protection on extension leads, also they help avoid circuit failures. Most homes in the UK have multiple ring circuits e.g kitchen, living room, bedrooms etc so if you do trip the circuit breakers you don't lose all the circuits at once e.g an electric fire trips the wall socket ring for that room, the main house lights still function. However re the wall switches I found the fact that a power switch is a negative, I have to disagree as the first thing we do is check the switch is powered on, then we check any possible switches on the device. 😂. Sorry for the ramble.
That "criticism" of wall-socket switches was so laughable, I thought he must be joking.
"Oh dear, my TV won't come on - let's ring up the TV repair guy! ... .... oh no, I forgot to press the switch on the wall. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN! Type G SUCKS!"
THAT, plus outdated information about "load-balancing", and the "pain level" of standing on 3 blunt prongs with your foot due to sheer neglect and untidiness, were his only criticisms (ok - and the "size" which in 3 dimensions is actually LESS than the US plugs due to the tidy way it fits into the wall)
The UK plug takes up 2 cm (or one inch) of furniture space tight against the wall. The US one, with its cord sticking straight out, safely takes 2 inches (and even then, the cord needs to be bent)
I'm 59yrs old, lived in a few houses, and I bet no one on here will say they have ever had a problem with outages in power on the ring circuit! As you nearly always leave the plug in then how would you stand on it! And lastly, the size is great and makes it so much easier if you need to unplug it to plug in somewhere else! Especially things like hair dryers, tongs or straighteners as I'm usually all over the house doing my hair! 👍💇♀️😉
I agree with all your points, and I am 84 years' old. In the flat, where I grew up, there were indeed sockets with large round holes for appliances, and small round holes , for lights.
You mean you don't plug your hair dryer in the bathroom/restroom. USA allows plug outlets in these places because they can't be bothered to walk into a dry area to dry their hair etc... I know they only have 110 v over there, but as water and electricity don't mix very safely, you might still get your lights put out permanently (die) if a hair dryer gets dropped into a basin or bath tub filled with water. The UK shaver/electric tooth brush socket in water areas is only 12 v. Even light switches have to be outside the bathroom here in the UK, or if inside, a string pull is a legal requirement, because you might have wet hands.
This guys almost spot on ….. things to note, plugs should be fitted with the correct fuse, 1,3,5 or 13 amp depending on the load.
Most fuse boxes are split load, so places like the kitchen have their own circuit, and the ring circuit method it helps spread the load elsewhere
I’ve only stood on a plug once in my entire life, and it wasn’t that bad, must of been my reflexes. And fault finding isn’t really that bad, it’s something we’re taught in school (the basics)
We don’t generally unplug our plugs. Because we can switch it off at the wall/ outlet
I've never heard of any problems with the ring circuit overload, as for the size the British plug doesn't stick out like the American plug does, being flat mean you can push furniture up against the wall saving room, and standing on them is pretty painful but almost never happens because they are very very hard to accidently pull out, are often behind furniture or you don't have to take them out because you can turn the power off with the switch, so you leave the plugs in almost all the time
In the UK, for appliances which do not require grounding, there is still a ground (earth) pin on the plug, but it might be made of plastic. Obviously it is needed to open the little shutters.
Except plugs for devices like electric shavers, rechargeable toothbrushes etc. which are two pin.
@@I_Evo that's true. But those low-load 2 pin sockets are allowed in bathrooms, standard G-type ones are not.
@@I_EvoThose do not fit into standard sockets, the pins are too thick and close together. These plugs fit into bathroom sockets which are low amperage and specially protected.
It's unlikely that you would stand on a plug due to them not needing to be removed from the socket. However, if you do stand on one (speaking from experience), you never do it again. It's a very painful lesson to learn and you become much more vigilant about making sure plugs aren't in places that you walk.
lmao yup, It's once in a lifetime thing for most people.
Yup done it once while decorating, woke up early and it had been left on the stairs stood on it, lots of blood it really went it.
The good thing is about our plug sockets they have a on off switch, because if you have to pull the plug out and you get up in the night and stand on the pins you will know about it, because it hurts like hell. More painful than standing on Lego. 😂
Its pretty funny how he was searching for the negative things to say,our plugs may be bigger but a lot neater and don't stick out as much and having the cable going down instead of sticking out means you can push furniture much closer to the wall,i also have never stepped on a plug because you don't generally have to unplug it,if you do then its common sense not to leave it sticking up where you could step on it,i felt a little jealously from his part lol😈
Exactly, even am imbecile knows not to leave something on the floor right where they walk if they don't want to step on it 😂
@@faithpearlgenied-a5517I'm an imbecile, lol! My flat doesn't have enough sockets for everything because it's an old conversion of a Victorian house so I often have to unplug something to plug something else in and I'm terrible for leaving the plugs on the floor. I've stepped on them a few times and can confirm it is so painful! Luckily they don't bend or break if you step on them though.
@@Aranel_Alasse not learning from your mistakes then?
It's amazing how good a plug can be if health and safety is thought of 😂
You dumbass it only to do with Safety not health
The switches aren’t confusing either because if the appliance doesn’t come on, we know it’s the other switch, but that situation is so rare, we would never make the mistake of testing the appliance before checking the switch on the power outlet!
steve, these plugs you can buy for £1.00, $1.17 also the fuses, range in price but average cost 3 for £1.00, also we have ratings for the fuses which he did not mention, 3amp 5amp and 13amp, these are designed as he said for overload, a lamp 3am, chargarger or something 5amp, and the max, for washers driers, cookers rund 13amp, you put am in cooker it will blow as its wrong rating, safe
What,s not mentioned is if an appliance overloads the main box trips and cuts off, another safety feature. All you do is turn the switch back on...
An engineering design marvel
Edit: but, what is on another level is the sensation when you stand on it
Never stood on a plug in my life.
Done it once and that is all it takes to make you very cautious, I would say a once in a lifetime experience like falling out of a plane without a parachute 😂
@jillosler9353 what do you want, a medal? Know this, it is excruciating
@@jamesgornall5731 I will skip the medal would sooner have a good painkiller 🤣
You only need to unplug it if you're moving the appliance to another room. Or moving house.
In the uk our power runs about double you get in the USA. 230volts versus your 115. Which is kind of why we need extra safety. Strangely the only room in a uk home where you will never find a grounded plug is the bathroom.
you mentioned that changing over will cost money
well the was a time in the UK that ALL equipment did not have a plug attached and you had to wire a plug in. after a while the manufactures realised and said sod it and started to put plugs on (to the dismay of accountants)
this resulted in recycling of plugs so
my washing machine broke was 15yo so it had a good life bought new machine recycled plug and 1st time i used it did not work this is when i found out that it was a 3amp fuse for a 15 amp item and old was not broken just blown (many a loud curses was issued)
my house was older and had a old fashioned fuse box
now when i moved in i bought a pack of fuse wire and left it inside the box, 18 years late a fuse blew so i went to replace the wire, this is when i realised that at 50yo i have never changed a fuse wire and had to remember watching my dad replace one when i was about 6/7yo, this tell a lot of people have safe and robust our systems are.
Definitely agree the British plug is definitely the best! I lived in Spain for years where they have 2 pin very similar to the US and they aren't as good as all, often loose or wobbly in the outlet too as well as all the other drawbacks.
The disadvantages he mentioned I can't really agree with, the size is a fair one but who cares it's literally a plug, safety and things like that is more important, plus you need the size to have those safety features. Like for example you don't get 400hp out of a 1 litre engine, you need it to be larger. Plus the plugs are flatter so you can put furniture up against them so I think the size is an invalid argument. Also the loaf balancing thing is not an issue at all, I've never experienced that and neither has anyone I know. It was sometimes an issue years and years and years ago but definitely not in the last 50 years or more and even then it was a non issue. But there's one that I can't argue with.... Stepping on the plug, really really really hurts! My feet are curling up thinking about it. I'd love to say realistically it never happens, and while it may be rare, I don't know anyone that's never done it at least once! Oh well haha!
I know, you're on holiday, you plug in your phone to charge overnight, in the morning the plug has come out of the wall and you have to wait hours for 110v to charge the phone up. And those things spark and fizz. To say nothing of the odd bare electrical wire that hangs out of the wall for no good reason, that you avoid for two weeks in case your holiday ends in firey death. (You can tell I only go to cheap hotels!)
You definitely agree it's definitely the best eh? You say the size is a fair negative, which is an agreement, yet you say you can't really agree with them - bit of an oxymoronic statement there.
My Dad taught me how to wire a plug when I was 10yrs old he said the easiest way to remember where the wires go was to take the second letter of each wire colour blue (left) brown (right) and yellow and green tells you the wire is earth that's how easy it is
One thing to add as well.
In the UK every single circuit has an RCD (residual current device) or as you in the US may call it a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) both do the same job of cutting the circuit power if current leaks from the live and neutral to ground, either by a short to the ground/earth pin, or by you getting shocked.
Typically in the US you'll only have this on a hand full of plugs, such as in the kitchen. However, in the UK the whole house is protected by RCD's
our breaker panels will typically have your power meter from the supplier, your main normally 100amp breaker, the RCD, and then the individual circuit breaker to the outlet or device.
Thanks to the 230v system, we can also draw double the amount of power per socket than in the US 110v system. Each plug is rated for up to 3kw continuous load, which is why we're able to have higher power items like driers, kettles, and heaters plugged into standard sockets and don't need special sockets for them.
As a UKanian, I can confirm that stepping on one of our plugs is _not_ a pleasant experience.
It is, however, the _real_ reason we have switched outlets ;-) Although ingenious, our plugs are Chaotic Neutral, and if you leave one unplugged against the wall, it _will_ snake its way across the room whilst you are not looking, and it _will_ end up in the perfect place for a pedal collision during a 3am bathroom visit. We have learnt this at our cost, and prefer to keep them safely trapped in the outlet at all times ;-)
I don't think the switches cause much confusion though - if a device stops working, one of the first steps is to check/change the fuse. As checking the fuse involves removing the plug from the outlet, it should be pretty obvious if the switch is off.
I'll also clarify the 'Ring' concept a little - not every outlet is connected to the same ring. It is common for different floors in a house to have their own ring, and lighting and outlet rings to be split. It is also common for certain rooms or devices to have their own ring. So a common 4 bedroom house may have; A ring for downstairs outlets, a ring for downstairs lights, a ring for upstairs lighting and a ring for upstairs lights, a separate ring for the kitchen outlets, and separate rings for the shower and boiler (which provides hot water and radiator heating).
Also, although our plugs have individual fuses, we have RCD's (GFD's) in our distribution panels (still mostly called 'fuse boxes' over here). Hence, if your space heater pulls too much current then, yes, the computer in that room (and other rooms) would go off, all the lighting, the upstairs outlets and everything else would remain functional. And the chances are, you would not need to replace the fuse in the heaters plug, as it is more likely the RCD has tripped before the fuse...ummm...fused...;-)
As for load balancing, you are not mandated to have only the one ring. My father (who entirely re-wired a Victorian house) used three rings in all. Load balancing was never an issue.
Even my small two bed bungalow has two rings for the sockets. As well as circuits for the immersion heater hot water tank, cooker, and shower. Oh and a completely separate set of wiring for the electric storage heaters. I have a total of 15 circuit breakers in my two distribution boards.
That's right. The circuit diagram he showed was very misleading as it only showed a single ring for the UK system (implying that you could only have one ring per building) whereas for the American radial system, his diagram showed numerous radial spurs: a failure to compare the two systems fairly.
I've been plugging stuff in for decades and not once have I even thought about load balancing, it just isn't an everyday thing. UK houses have multiple ring circuits, e.g. in my house I have one each for upstairs and downstairs lighting (6A each), one each for upstairs and downstairs sockets (32A each), a dedicated 32A ring for kitchen sockets, 16A for garage sockets, 16A for the central heating, plus other sundry circuits that I can't remember. Plenty of juice to go round.
Yeah, our plugs are pretty huge, but given that they sit fairly flush to the wall they're actually smaller in the direction that counts, i.e. behind furniture and objects.
Yep he was really reaching with those negatives 😂
Hi Steve. Not a massive fan of commenting but a few facts ignored in this video:
1) Ring circuits are per volume (room, corridor, kitchen, landing, garage, etc) and lead back to circuit breakers (trips) on the main distribution board. This makes it possible to shutdown the electricity to (for example) the lounge or hallway whilst not affecting the rest of the building;
2) The fuses are adapted to the appliance. Eg 3 amps for a lamp, 5 amps for a computer, 13 amps for a microwave;
3) The size of the plugs should be measured in depth from the wall as it doesn't stick out and this can allow you to place furniture directly flush to it (setee, wardrobe, etc) without fearing that the cable be bent or get damaged;
4) After you turn on an appliance and it doesn't work.. the reflex is always to check that the socket is switched on - it's a false problem;
5) The possibility to completly cut power off to a TV for example without unplugging everything when you go on holiday/vacances is immense. Many are worried about fires at Christmas with Christmas lights during the night - once again, off = zero juice = safe;
6) Stepping on a plug is effectively painful however it is extremely rare and once again it's a false problem. This only ever happens once in your life.
Overall, adapting the fuse to the type of appliance so that it can never draw more power than it should, having localised ring circuits, and having the possibility to push furniture flush to the wall outweighs by far any hesitation one can have with this type G plug + socket. It's truly a shame it wasn't exported more to other countries as it is by far a most ingenious invention that doesn't get the credit it merits.
One point worth mentioning and not clear on the video, is that the ring main does not cover the whole house, you have one (as examples) for the kitchen, lounge/sitting room, front bedrooms, back bedrooms etc, theses go back to your Fuse panel, with circuit breakers, similar to US, so you can isolate an area to work (fit extra socket etc) on ~
Oh yeah. But stepping on a plug isn't just painful. It's AGONY! & the size of the plug sends you more off balance than stepping on Lego.
Hope everyone has an amazing week & much love to all from here in the UK
bonus is you can use them as caltrops if you need.
I have never trod on a plug - maybe because I disconnect by switching the plug off instead of pulling it out of the socket?
@@jillosler9353 I hope you don't ever step on a plug. & I agree with you. Where possible leave the plug plugged in, & turn it off at the wall. But accidents do happen.
I've stepped on plenty of small toys so I can only imagine how stepping on a plug must feel. Ouch. LOL I hope you have an amazing week as well Andrew. :)
@@reactingtomyroots "Ouch!"?!? You're a Dad. You know as well as any of us that yelling out "Ouch" isn't an option. We tend to only stand on stuff like that in the middle of the night while heading to the bathroom
What an interesting video because although I use plugs every day I have learned how they work for the first time and I'm in the UK
One thing he missed when he looked at the fuse within the plug is that British plugs will be fitted with different rated fuses - 3 amps, 5 amps and 13 amps, depending on the load the device will require from the electricity supply. 13 amp fuses are generally only fitted to items such as washing machines, electric kettles, microwaves etc. This is an added layer of protection to ensure there isn’t an over load on the system.
When I was young, most electric items did not come with a plug attached, so, at an early age, I learnt to wire a plug. With regard to the blue and brown wires, we learned that blue (neutral) goes to bottom left (BLue) and brown (live) goes to bottom right (BRown).
One place you won’t find a standard electrical outlet in a UK home is in the bathroom. Even the light switch is a pull chord or the light switch is on the outside of the bathroom. Some homes may come with a shaver outlet in the bathroom.
The size of British plugs is really noticeable when you have one on your laptop. They really don't fit well in slim laptop bags. Also worth noting that these plugs and sockets have been around for a long time and older examples don't always have all the features mentioned here.
Anyone who would start having to think what the issue is when a device isn't turning on, without looking to make sure it's switched on at the plug first is just an idiot.
UK also uses radial circuits. Ring circuits were introduced during the war years to reduce the amount of copper needed, as you used thinner wires. Radial circuits were still allowed though, and while Ring became common (basically the standard in the UK), they are getting gradually less so, with more radials being installed these days, as they are just simpler to install and maintain.
It's much easier to work with a 4mm radial than a 2.5mm ring. Fewer unrevealed failure modes too.
Having lived in the US and also visited Europe many time, the UK plug is by far the best. US plugs always felt wobbly to me
One great thing about the ring main system is the ease with which extra sockets can be put around a room, even if they will rarely by used. This way, you don't need extension leads trailing across the middle of the room - there are usually sockets near the sofa and the armchairs and the table and the television, and with the modern fashion for lots of low-power devices, lots of sockets are required.
Many of the features of the British system came into being in order to cope with a desperate shortage of copper after WWII - the ring circuit uses less (and thinner) wire to supply the sockets than a radial setup, and by matching the rating of the fuse in each plug to the appliance it connects to, the cable from the plug to the appliance can be made thinner for low-power stuff like table lamps. There were even some experiments in using *aluminium* wire instead of copper, but thermal expansion caused problems with screw terminals working themselves loose.
Never ever had an issue with load balancing.
Our ring mains are built so that things like cookers, washing machines and tumble dryers are on separate ring mains.
Which all runs back to individual RCB in the fuse box.
Thanks for the video and love the comparison. Living in the UK I grew up with this plug which has matured over the years.
I was taught to loop the Ground (earth) so it was a little longer. Great plug. I grew up in Germany and the two pin scorch marks made me remember something similar, UK plug is truly amazing.
That was awesome! I had no idea we had such advanced plugs. I’m finally proud to be British
Wow ONLY because of this?
I'm proud of our history [not the revised one], culture and what we brought the world = end of slavery/the industrial revolution/most of the advances [per capita]/trains/the www/most sports/and the list goes on!
@@anglosaxon5874it’s a joke lol
You don't go abroad do you?
@@malcolmhouston7932 me? I know their plugs looks different, I’ve been to a few countries. But I didn’t realise our plugs had so many safety protocols that other plugs don’t have. I’ve actually travelled a fair amount. What about you?
@@malcolmhouston7932 in general I’ve found Europe beats us in every measure in terms of housing
Great video. I've lived with these plugs all my life and have never appreciated what a good design they are. Who knew?? Thanks, Steve.... it's good finally to find out. 🙂
also our sockets have an on/off switch, as my old nan used to say, "if your not using, it turn it off at the wall". something i still do to this day, unless its hardwired into the wall like a wachine machine or electric cooker, but even they have a dedicated on/off switch.
as for stepping on the plug, that rarely never happens as we dont unplug from the socket due to sockets having said on/off switches.
in fact your more likely to step on a room filed with lego than you are stepping on a plug.
Yes, all our plugs have earth pins on them for electrical appliances. They all have fuses, they have different amps on the fuses depending on the appliance. Also most of our plugs nowadays come with the quick release access to the fuse for easy change if blown.
However all new appliances nowadays have the plug unit sealed onto the lead so that you cannot access the inside of the plug.
Another reason for the fuse in the plug is to protect the ring main circuit itself. These are typically fused at 30A, so any fault in an appliance could damage the wiring, were it not for the fuse in the plug. Beware of Chinese products that sometimes have no fuse or the fuse is present but bypassed. Also, the fuse itself is not a simple wire between two end caps inside a tube. The tube has to be filled with sand to be compliant - something often omitted in Chinese products.
It's to protect the appliance cable, not the ring. The ring can handle 30A all day, the appliance cable can't. This is a potential fire risk in the American system as you can plug a 15A rated extension lead into a 20A circuit and overload it without tripping the breaker. Doing the same in a British house would just blow the fuse in the plug
A lot of the advantages to UK plugs came about because of the higher voltage - more need for safety than with the US's puny 110V! Having the higher voltage is excellent, though - the ability to run several things at once is seriously useful.
A comment about the power circuit. So in my house we have a fuse box and it has a bunch of switches. So basically 1 switch is for the upstairs lights, 1 is for the upstairs plug, 1 for downstairs lights, 1 for downstairs plugs, since we had an extension done to our house and that was basically a kitchen we got a separate light and plug for that and 1 more just for the shed (light and plug on the same system and just 1 light and 1 plug. This means that even when something might happen to the cable going from the main power to lights for example you still have light in the the rest of the house and plugs.
Also side note if you are unplugging something then normally you put it away and not just leave the plug in the middle of the floor. Even if you dont step on the plug you can just trip on the wire.
A few notes:
The 9mm insulation on the live and neutral pins isn't always present, older devices tend to have three solid brass pins.
It's also law in the UK that any electrical items purchased with a pre-connected power cable must have a plug that cannot be taken apart. Much like your own plugs, they're solid moulded (the fuses are still replaceable though), of course this doesn't stop you from cutting them off and fitting serviceable plugs, but that would invalidate any warranty.
Outlets in the UK use alternating current, so even if the socket switch is turned off it only disconnects the live cable, but the neutral is still connected. If you disassemble a device with the power cable plugged in and with the socket off, you can still get shocked if you touch the neutral and you're grounded. I made this mistake with a light fitting when I was a kid and even with the socket turned off I got kicked across the room by the shock I got. Always electrically isolate anything that you plan on taking apart.
Most switched outlets are double pole.
The insulated section on the L and N was added in the 1980's due to a few incidents with partially inserted plugs and metallic blind cords sneaking into the gap.....ouch.
The depth of a plug isn't usually a major issue since most walls in the UK have skirting boards so you can't generally push things right up against the wall anyway. As for switches on sockets, not all sockets have switches, you can replace them with unswitched sockets if you want. I prefer switched sockets and you can even buy them with built-in USB charger sockets now.
All plugs have the ground pin, but not all devices actually use the pin. The pin has to be on the plug to open the shutter. Some plugs even have a plastic ground pin.
Not all plugs.
Shavers, for instance are 2 pin.
@@johndelaney5889 They are special plugs that can't be plugged in to a normal socket anyway.
@handsolo1209 my point is your original comment is false and misleading. Not all plugs have a ground.
@@johndelaney5889 ALL type G plugs have a ground pin. The video was about type G plugs and the sockets for them.
UK does have a round-plug system. it is just not so popular. It is used for domestic low-current (1.5 sq mm) lighting circuits for "mood" lighting from standalone lamps.
And 15A round pin as well for high load appliances - generally only seen it used for an immersion heater
AHH the pain of stepping on our British plugs is great indeed
You can also buy sockets without on/off switches for things like freezers and fridges so you can't accidently turn off by mistake.
And sticky notes when the office didn't do that. 🙂
@@vickymc9695 Yes, but sticky notes fall off, especially when they are near a steaming kettle believe me I know from past experience 🤣
I'm not sure if this only happens in the UK but if an electrical plug or switch starts to overheat it emits a strong stale fish odour. I've had this happen very recently when my shower main switch went bad. The smell was awful but it alerted me and saved my property from a fire. The electrician who fixed the issue told me that it is designed that way.
never heard of this - thank you.
@@andyrfit That is a myth, any electrical outlet/switch will smell when overheated no matter what country it is in.
This is interesting and funny and I’m British. Never realised this was so amazing to others outside the uk.😂😂😂
Yes. All plugs made for the uk have a ground/Earth pin, even if they aren’t wired in it’s still there to open the shutter system.
We can get the faux ground which is just a plastic prong to activate the shutter.
Also the blue brown correlates to the way you’re wiring it. Blue = Bottom left (BL)ue brown = bottom right (BR)own
Load balancing isn't a problem on a ring main, the ring is fed from a 30amp fuse and where ever the sockets are on the circuit the length cable feeding them is the same.
The cons are pretty weak. Load balancing is not an issue, not in my lifetime. And I have an 8-plug extension all plugged in to just the one socket. Yes you might stand on one once but the benefits far outweigh any hypothetical. And because of the individual switches on the sockets, why would you ever have one unplugged laying on the floor anyway? just leave it plugged in with the off switch... An easy way to remember which way round the wires go is remember the second letter - bLue (L=left) and bRown (R=right) :)
I've never encountered load balancing of a ring main being an issue. A house would usually have several different rings e.g. downstairs lighting, upstairs lighting, downstairs sockets, upstairs sockets etc. You put a fuse in the plug that's appropriately rated for the appliance e.g. 3A, 5A, 13A
One other safety feature on a UK plug is the wiring colours, when installing the 3 core flex, you take the first two letters and they tell you where to connect them.
Brown = bottom right
Blue = bottom left and then green / yellow goes in the only terminal left (top)
ALL UK plugs MUST have an Earth pin !
Our plugs have to be that size to include all the safety features. So NOT a bad thing !
The on /off switches on the wall sockets are only a "problem" for Americans !
Our plugs are usually BEHIND furniture etc and NOT lying in the middle of the floor. We would just turn them off with the switch and leave the plug in the socket anyway !
You don't say " a LEGO". You say a "PEICE of LEGO".
Dude, no need to be confrontational. But you do have a point. Hehe
They may be bigger plugs than yours, but yours stick out way further, so we can push furniture up against them with no problem. The standing on the plug thing as a negative was ridiculous. I'm in my 50s and haven't ever trodden on an upturned plug - they're always in the socket cos you can switch the appliance off with the switch instead of having to take it out of the socket. I didn't even realise you had a problem with loading and using multiple appliances on the same system. It's never occurred to me as it just isn't an issue here. You can keep your rubbish plugs 😉
i am in my 50's and stood on it once or twice.. it was late at night
I've stepped on them a couple of times especially years ago, maybe not as many outlets back then? Or maybe I eventually learned my lesson 😂
I believe there are 90 degree adaptors available to alleviate the issue with sticking out plugs, no idea how commonly they're used though.
I have a scar on my knee from kneeling on a plug as a child! 😄
Also, we use r.c.d. consumer units. Residual current device, so they are very sensitive fuses which trip out in one tenth of a second.
We do use radial circuits but are devoted to one appliance !
For example, a cooker that runs on a 6 ml cable or an electric shower, both of which have a fused switch spur a shower, typically runs on a 10 ml cable dedicated to that !
I can honestly say that in all 55 years of my life i have only stepped on an upturned plug once or at most twice. If on the rare occasions you unplug a normally fixed appliance like a tv, video or fridge etc the plug is left close to the socket not lying out in the middle of the room waiting to be stepped on.
As for size, the benfits in function and saftey far outweigh any minor gripes regarding size.
Never heard of anyone having problems with load balancing , a house usually has two ring main and lighting circuits . Appliances drawing more than 30 amps are wired separately but it's easy to identify the breakers.If you do unplug something it's common sense to stow it and the plug safely.
An American finding out the lamp doesn't work: "Now what's wrong? is it the the bulb? the fuse, what's wrong? I can't find the problem"
A British person finding out the lamp doesn't work: "Hmm, is it switched on at the wall? Nope, okay now it works"
As for fuses: AS 13Amp fuse is for anything that goes over 10Amps basically while most things use 3Am,ps as they never go over that.
Simple equation: Watts \ Volts = Amps
so 650 Watts \ 230 = 2.82 so they say use a 3Amp fuse
700 \ 230 = 3.04 so they say use a 13Amp fuse, I would use a 5Amp though.
However, and here's the thing. You can still buy packs of fuses that have 3Amp, 5Amp, 10Amp and 13Amp mix or non-mixed (packs of 3Amp, or packs of 5Amp and so on) for pennies.
13Amp for cookers, hairdryers, microwaves etc.
Not sure what fuse to use? just remember the equation above. I have seen appliances that have =blown because people just se FUSE without any regard to the Amperage of that fuse so they stick in 13Amp fuses for something that should have a 3Amp fuse and wonder why the circuitry of the device has blown components and fried the board.
The first set of plugs we had in the UK actually used the light bulb fitting, seen as dangerous because IT WAS. Imagine screwing in a plug socket to your light fitting then wonder why things happened that cost lives.
The size of the plug is due to a couple of things, easy to grab and also the amount of material used as insulation. The US plug barely has any insulation as the actual plug but the UK or Type G has loads to help insulate it.
As has been mentioned, there are different circuits for downstairs and upstairs, plug circuits downstairs then plugs upstairs, bathroom at times has it's own, oven is on a separate circuit and fridge freezer tends to have it's own also, the lights upstairs separate to downstairs. It's not hard.
We also have timers that can plug in so we can leave the socket for lamps for example for when we are away to make it look like we are home. (hence why we may leave that wall socket switch on)
Extension cables (like a 4 socket as an example) tend to have fuses (may have a 13Amp in due to many devices that could be plugged in to it) in also so at least one of the fuses in the extension or plug will blow and devices can have internal fuses also, so there are many failure points and the last one in the device itself like a TV.
All UK plugs have a ground pin - apart from maybe in the bathroom, where 'normal plugs' aren't allowed. They have lower voltage 2 pin connections
As a Brit, never had any problems at all with load balancing, if an appliance doesn't come on, the FIRST thing you check is if it's switched on at the socket, and those plugs are so big that you're highly unlikely to tread on one unless your being a bit careless. Also the flat design, with the cable coning from underneath means UK plugs are much less of a pain behind cupboards, wardrobes and sofas than plugs where the wire essentially comes out of the wall at a right angle
The argument about having switches on the outlets making it difficult to troubleshoot things only really makes sense if you're not used to it.
As someone who has spent their whole life around these outlets, my first thought if something isn't turning on is "Have I remembered to switch this on at the wall?".
One of the only times you'd regularly unplug something from the socket here, is if its plugged into an extension lead/cord that you can't easily access the wall socket to flip the power off.
Trouble shooting a faulty lamp really isn't an issue, almost all switches at the socket have some kind of indicator to show they are on so you know if it is the lamp or not.