What is the best Power Outlet, and why?
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Well the answer is obviously the UK plug some of those others are just plain bad. The question is are they all made largely obsolete by USB C ? and is that the closest we are likely to get to a universal plug and socket?
Wait, China uses the AU plug?
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A useful source:
https://worldofsockets.comThe UK plug is over engineered and looks like something from a steampunk universe, but I think it’s the best plug overall.
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The UK plug is over engineered and looks like something from a steampunk universe, but I think it’s the best plug overall.
It's got the fuse right there, which is a bit weird but why not.
We have the same in Ireland. They could've put the flag in their graph. -
Still trying to figure out why Germany is listed separately from the EU.
Yeah, I think they just wanted to illustrate the variety within Europe.
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I have a strong preference for the German and Swiss types, but I think we can all agree that Japan massively fucked up. They took the already shitty American plug and just forgot about the ground.
Japan also has 2 incompatible power grids, with the north running on 50Hz and the south running on 60Hz
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Well the answer is obviously the UK plug some of those others are just plain bad. The question is are they all made largely obsolete by USB C ? and is that the closest we are likely to get to a universal plug and socket?
You going to put 240VAC through USB-C?
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The breakers aren't on the actual outlets. We just have everything on breakers in the power box. So I think the Australian system is good, but it's not inherently because of the outlets. Other types have the same safety benefits.
Also to add: all lighting and power circuits are required to be on RCBO's or breaker+RCD unless they are extremely old switchboards that havent had any modifications done since the law was introduced (as modifying the switchboard would trigger an rewuired upgrade in most cases).
Any device that is in a common area that can be touched by a non-licenced person (ie non-electrician) should also be on a RCBO, but this isnt as well enforced.So even if you do manage to youch live parts on the Aus socket/plugs, you will be protected by the RCD/RCBO instantly.
The downside to the Aus socket is that it can be a little tricky/annoying plugging something in when you are reaching behind an object (like a couch or cupboard) and cant see the socket to line it up.
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I think I would like Australia's over the rest.
The recessed circles I feel like they would gather dust and grime in there if you don't use it often and be tough to clean out.
I like the angles prongs as well as the switch to turn it off and on.
wrote last edited by [email protected]You dont have the exposed plate screws like the north american switchplates, Australian ones have a shroud that clips on/off and covers up the mounting screws for a neater finish. (Mounting screws are all flat/posidrive combo heads, so you can use a drill to take them on and off.)
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Well the answer is obviously the UK plug some of those others are just plain bad. The question is are they all made largely obsolete by USB C ? and is that the closest we are likely to get to a universal plug and socket?
No. They are not.
Kitchen appliances like blenders and mixers are going to draw more power than USB-C is capable of delivering even at their lowest settings.
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In fairness the Americans don't use the ground.
I'm always amazed at how many of my friends' houses that were built in the 50s-80s have outlets with the ground hole, but no actual route to ground. One day that's going to bite somebody.
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IEC 60906-1
That is not a reversible plug which is annoying at times.It takes less force to plug in. Above 2.5A, Schuko plugs require a lot of force to plug in and pull out. To some extent, this is actually good for safety, but I would argue that, in the case of Schuko plugs at least, it’s too much
Hmm, I get what you mean and this can be an issue and it's probably the reason why plugs without grounding exist since they are easier to pull out.It is also easier to plug in without seeing the plug since it isn’t round. Everyone who has tried to plug in a Schuko plug without seeing the holes knows how difficult it is
Never had this issueI didn't even know there are different three-phase power plugs, but then again you rarely need those compared to the normal plugs
wrote last edited by [email protected]Rarely? You don't have a stove, an oven, a dishwasher?
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Rarely? You don't have a stove, an oven, a dishwasher?
My microwave/oven and my dishwasher are on 2 fase power ..... 3 fase is rarely needed in a home, we just have it for our cooking plate plus extractor hood which is built in.
So I have only seen one plug once because in previous houses I have lived in (or been in) with decent power 3 phases wasn't needed and often not supported since it is a different plug than the default plug. I just dind't know that they had different options for 3 phase as well.
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My microwave/oven and my dishwasher are on 2 fase power ..... 3 fase is rarely needed in a home, we just have it for our cooking plate plus extractor hood which is built in.
So I have only seen one plug once because in previous houses I have lived in (or been in) with decent power 3 phases wasn't needed and often not supported since it is a different plug than the default plug. I just dind't know that they had different options for 3 phase as well.
I see. In my country ovens and stoves are on three phase power. Otherwise people couldn't use all four cooking fields of the stove simultaneously. And the oven would take forever to reach 250°
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I see. In my country ovens and stoves are on three phase power. Otherwise people couldn't use all four cooking fields of the stove simultaneously. And the oven would take forever to reach 250°
Are you on 110 volt or something like that?
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The French outlets are actually awful, for some reason you really have to force them in there because while the socket is round the plug itself is always a weird rectangle shape it just definitely doesn't want to go in there.
However much force you feel is too much force times that by 2 and use that much force. That is the correct amount of force necessary to plug something in.
I've only been to Iceland but I really liked how the plug actually locks into the socket. Also not having live voltage with prongs partially exposed is a nice safety feature.
