Date   : Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:25:05 +0100
From   : rs423@... (Mick Champion)
Subject: Leccy @ Acorn World '09

Phil Blundell wrote:
> On Fri, 2009-09-11 at 00:05 +0100, Mick Champion wrote:
>   
>> ...I never understood why 13amp plugs were sold with 13 amp fuses as the 
>> norm. ....
>>     
>
> It probably would have been slightly better for plugs to be sold with
> small fuses, or no fuses at all, but I suspect the difference is fairly
> marginal.  If everyone takes away the message that whenever a fuse
> blows, you should just swap it with a larger one, you won't be all that
> much better off than if everything was just fused at 13A to start with.
>   

True. It makes having fused plugs rather pointless don't you think? Most 
people I know will reach for the nearest fuse whatever it's value to 
replace a dud.



> In practice of course this is more or less irrelevant now since all new
> appliances are required to have an appropriately-fused plug pre-fitted.
>   
Yes. This is quite a good thing until it comes a time the consumer needs 
to change the fuse.



>   
>> Square 13 amp fused plugs are what? 35 to 40 years old now???
>>     
>
> Wikipedia says 1946.  Crumbs.
>   
What!?!!! My Lords!!!



>   
>> Are round pinned plugs still used in lighting?
>>     
>
> Sometimes.  .... 
>
> Theatre lighting traditionally uses the 15A plugs, as well.  In that
> case I think it's mostly a desire to eliminate unnecessary fuses in
> hard-to-reach locations, plus again to avoid having other appliances
> plugged into the dimmed circuits by mistake.
>   
That is a good argument. I'll go with that. Next time I end up in the 
Questors theatre in Ealing, I shall have a closer look at their wiring 
arrangements with interest. Once again I do wonder why we have fuses in 
our plugs. While nobody could argue it's another form of protection if 
the correct fuse is installed, but Europe and the US of A don't bother. 
I wonder if any other nation uses fused plugs.




>   
>>> Funnily enough, the current regulations do in fact permit socket outlets
>>> in bathrooms (though still subject to some constraints).  The blanket
>>> prohibition on such outlets was abolished in the 17th edition.
>>>   
>>>       
>> Aside from a shaver socket, is their any real need for sockets in the 
>> bathroom? I wonder why this has been accepted even with constraints. 
>> Something to do with Europe perhaps???
>>     
>
> It's certainly true that the general trend has been to harmonise the
> regs with the rest of Europe as far as possible.  For example the 17th
> edition also introduced mandatory RCD protection for all sockets, which
> has been standard in Europe for a while but wasn't previously required
> here.
I presume the RCD would be installed at the consumer unit rather than 
one built into the socket?



Mick