On Tue, 24 Nov 2015 08:28:49 +0000, Neil Williams
wrote:

On 2015-11-24 00:51:39 +0000, Charles Ellson said:

It turns out that while the same name is used (which effectively only
describes the general style of the plug body) there are variations
across Europe of how such plugs and outlets are required to be
configured WRT earthing and polarisation. In some cases (Netherlands)
a polarised and earthed plug (CEE 7/7 as sometimes delivered with
computers supplied with two "kettle" leads) will still fit a socket
(CEE 7/1) which has neither polarisation nor earthing.
That would suggest that for use in the UK a socket would have to
comply with CEE 7/5 if I'm reading the above article correctly.

The most significant issue in the UK with regard to European style
sockets is the lack of plug fuses, which are required because socket
circuits in the UK are normally fused to 30A/32A at the distribution
board, while the flexes of appliances (nor the appliances themselves)
are not required to have this rating. So a Schuko socket (or any other
non-fused type) could only be fitted on a fused spur or a socket
circuit with a smaller fuse.

There is a strong argument for the UK to move to a larger number of
radial socket circuits fused at 15A/16A, which would AIUI solve this
issue.

As regards sockets, I've seen sockets in India that accept UK, European
2-pin and US plugs on the same faceplate, though the shutter mechanism
would be interesting.

Neil

At a tangent, but a related one. Back in the 1970s, when we bought
our first house in Basingstoke, GB. I was able to purchase a UK
standard double faceplate that had a thirteen amp outlet on one side,
and a fuse holder and two three amp round pin outlets on the other.

This was very useful. For example in ones living room one could use
it for a standard lamp, a table lamp, and still have somewhere in
which to plug one's vacuum cleaner.

Nowadays, I cannot find theses faceplates.

On Thu, 26 Nov 2015 12:37:16 +0000, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , at 12:20:44 on
Thu, 26 Nov 2015, Recliner remarked:

At a tangent, but a related one. Back in the 1970s, when we bought
our first house in Basingstoke, GB. I was able to purchase a UK
standard double faceplate that had a thirteen amp outlet on one side,
and a fuse holder and two three amp round pin outlets on the other.

*Three amp* round pin sockets? I don't recall those.

Often used in more recent times on lighting circuits, so you can plug
floor-standing lights in and have them controlled from the light
switches.

Roland, Nigel has it right. They are in fact rated at 2 amps. My
mistake. It has been a while since I saw one. Would love to locate a
couple of those faceplates though.

In message , at 12:55:21 on
Thu, 26 Nov 2015, e27002 aurora remarked:

At a tangent, but a related one. Back in the 1970s, when we bought
our first house in Basingstoke, GB. I was able to purchase a UK
standard double faceplate that had a thirteen amp outlet on one side,
and a fuse holder and two three amp round pin outlets on the other.

*Three amp* round pin sockets? I don't recall those.

Often used in more recent times on lighting circuits, so you can plug
floor-standing lights in and have them controlled from the light
switches.

Roland, Nigel has it right. They are in fact rated at 2 amps. My
mistake. It has been a while since I saw one. Would love to locate a
couple of those faceplates though.

Indeed. I kind of tuned out the difference between two and three amps.

Then there were 5amp versions for power distribution where 15amps wasn't
needed.
--
Roland Perry

On Thu, 26 Nov 2015 13:36:37 +0000, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , at 12:55:21 on
Thu, 26 Nov 2015, e27002 aurora remarked:

At a tangent, but a related one. Back in the 1970s, when we bought
our first house in Basingstoke, GB. I was able to purchase a UK
standard double faceplate that had a thirteen amp outlet on one side,
and a fuse holder and two three amp round pin outlets on the other.

Possibly too non-standard for modern use when much the same can be
achieved with currently available boxes designed to take two single
faceplates, e.g.:-
http://app.nventree.co.uk/media/img/.../Custom800.jpg

(to be distinguished from boxes for double faceplates :-
http://cpc.farnell.com/productimages...0986307-40.jpg )

*Three amp* round pin sockets? I don't recall those.

Often used in more recent times on lighting circuits, so you can plug
floor-standing lights in and have them controlled from the light
switches.

Use for domestic lighting seems to have been something of a revival
possibly enabled by continued use in e.g. theatres and non-domestic
lighting, maybe also aided by continued availability from India.

Roland, Nigel has it right. They are in fact rated at 2 amps. My
mistake. It has been a while since I saw one. Would love to locate a
couple of those faceplates though.

Indeed. I kind of tuned out the difference between two and three amps.

Then there were 5amp versions for power distribution where 15amps wasn't
needed.

On Fri, 27 Nov 2015 00:19:57 +0000, wrote:

On Thu, 26 Nov 2015 22:58:12 +0000, Charles Ellson
wrote:


*Three amp* round pin sockets? I don't recall those.


Then there were 5amp versions for power distribution where 15amps wasn't
needed.


And a 30 amp one for when more was needed,,it would be rare to find
one in most domestic houses but were found in commercial premisis.
The weather protected version is still available from the one
electrical factor but most applications where it would be used are
more likely use the 32 amp plug from the BS4343 range.

The price might be a factor as well :-
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Product...slash3PAM.html

In message , e27002 aurora
wrote:
*Three amp* round pin sockets? I don't recall those.
Often used in more recent times on lighting circuits, so you can plug
floor-standing lights in and have them controlled from the light
switches.
Roland, Nigel has it right. They are in fact rated at 2 amps.

My boarding school was an old building with lots of different socket
types. I'm sure I saw those round pins in 2A, 3A, 5A, and 15A sizes as
well as the modern 13A ones.

--
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