Date   : Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:50:40 +0100
From   : rs423@... (Mick Champion)
Subject: Leccy @ Acorn World '09

AlembicPrs@... wrote:
> Hmmm...  just what are all the electricity regs trying to do? Why have 
> socket outlets half way up a wall, where the flex can then trail 
> around the place and trip people up.
I think there are a number of advantages of having elevated sockets. You 
are less likely to bash or kick them for one. Usually the wires feed the 
socket from behind the skirting board. A dug out in the plaster behind. 
Conduit is used where the cable is above the skirting.



> And why bother with 13mp fused plugs, if the consumer unit has RCB/MCB 
> etc and trips at the slightest surge. And the square pin plugs, in my 
> experience, are much more likely to arc with constant connection/ 
> disconnection, than are round pin ones. And they are bigger and 
> clumsier than 2amp and 5amp round pin plugs.
I honestly don't think round sockets are any less safe than square 
sockets in providing power.. As Phil pointed out, they are still allowed 
for in the regulations.  Square plugs do have do have some extras though 
such as a fuse and live / neutral shutters unlike Euro plugs that would 
have a job seeing as the earth pin is attached to the socket. Who 
thought that up? I know some UK round sockets do have shutters too. I 
think the main concern is where they are mounted, not the socket type. 
Personally, I'd rather my sockets mounted on plaster, rather than 
combustible wood skirting regardless of any regulation.


 I'd have to argue against there being more arcing on square pinned 
plugs though.  All the Euro sockets I've seen haven't had an on/off 
switch unlike most square sockets, Euro sockets have round pins and boy 
do they arc well. :-)  




>  
> We have a mixture because that is what the house had before the 
> re-wire, and it saved having to get a lot of new plugs. And I like the 
> old-fashioned brown outlets, especially as they blend in better (we 
> are a listed building). And I have a large collection of round pin 
> plugs, and indeed adaptors from 2 to 13, 13 to 2, 15 to 13, etc.
Fair enough. You've got rid of your rubber cable for modern PVC so why 
not keep round sockts if you want to. I wonder if it would be a selling 
point or hindrance if you came to selling the house?




>  
> I seem to remember that Australia, as well as Europe, has socket 
> outlets, and normal wall light switches, in bathrooms. None of this 
> pull-cord business. And the outlets are not shielded (or switched).
You don't have to have a pull-cord, you can mount your wall switch 
outside the bathroom. ;-)  Why do you want a socket in your bathroom?




>  
> I suspect a big con by the manufacturers, to get everyone to 
> re-equip/re-wire.
I'm normally the first to shout about all the nannying controls in the 
name of safety, but I do thing the electrical regulations (for the most 
part) are there to protect.



> Rather like the great digital TV saga.
Yes digital switch over was wonderful for parts of Cumbria wasn't it???? 
You had 4 Channels, now you got none!



Mick