US is going to more 2 pronged non-grounded equipment. Because the US plug is so evidently inferior, lets focus on the British plug and why its superior.
Earth/Ground
-Earth(ground) is located on the top - Always This is beneficial if something conductive falls between the plug and the socket because it will be grounded first. In general this is not needed because of the design of the plug
-The grround plug is longer making ground well before the current conductors
-The ground opens the sliding cover that protects the power from prying objects from children. This is on almost all the plugs in the UK and I believe is the standard now.
The Conductors
-Shielded half way - Because the conductors are shielded half way this protects children and others from shorting out the plug see "located on top" above
-Fused- every plug is fused(just amazing)
- Not only are they insulated there solid. The US ones will bend and flex, and break, the British plug will take tons of work and keep on going
The Socket
-The ground guarantee's that it is the first and the last making contact.
-Wall switch - Located on almost all sockets this is just another line of safety
General
-The plug wire comes from the bottom - This prevents children or adults from pulling out the plug inadvertently.
-All plugs have to be ground
What else
-110 in Bathroom low current fast trip over sink
-pull cord for light in toilet/bathroom
Thus one can easily tell that the British System is the safest in the world and thus shows the US system as totally inadequate. The safest in the US are medical grade plugs and the average household plug in the UK is at least twice as safe.
Though I do not know for sure, in the UK there probably is no medical grade. Why have a medical grade plug, I am sure there are something's that could be changed, but not of any significant manner. Maybe gas proofing or water proofing that's ok. Impede the plug in the wall might make it a bit safer still. All in all its fabulous and reveals how weak the US System is.
Why all the fuss though, how many house fires or electrocutions have been caused because of this. I have a toddler running around and it worries me regularly.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
The American Electric Plug
Most of my thoughts on this blog are about manufacturers, but this blog is a about a (sub) national standard. To put it quite simply the US plug is outdated and totally unsafe. Britain switch plugs in 1965 a full 40 years ago, and chose the safest plug in the world as far as I can tell. Around the same time as the UK switched the US added a ground plug as normal, but not standard or required. In fact it seems a though the 
US is going to more 2 pronged non-grounded equipment. Because the US plug is so evidently inferior, lets focus on the British plug and why its superior.
Earth/Ground
-Earth(ground) is located on the top - Always This is beneficial if something conductive falls between the plug and the socket because it will be grounded first. In general this is not needed because of the design of the plug
-The grround plug is longer making ground well before the current conductors
-The ground opens the sliding cover that protects the power from prying objects from children. This is on almost all the plugs in the UK and I believe is the standard now.
The Conductors
-Shielded half way - Because the conductors are shielded half way this protects children and others from shorting out the plug see "located on top" above
-Fused- every plug is fused(just amazing)
- Not only are they insulated there solid. The US ones will bend and flex, and break, the British plug will take tons of work and keep on going
The Socket
-The ground guarantee's that it is the first and the last making contact.
-Wall switch - Located on almost all sockets this is just another line of safety
General
-The plug wire comes from the bottom - This prevents children or adults from pulling out the plug inadvertently.
-All plugs have to be ground
What else
-110 in Bathroom low current fast trip over sink
-pull cord for light in toilet/bathroom
Thus one can easily tell that the British System is the safest in the world and thus shows the US system as totally inadequate. The safest in the US are medical grade plugs and the average household plug in the UK is at least twice as safe.
Though I do not know for sure, in the UK there probably is no medical grade. Why have a medical grade plug, I am sure there are something's that could be changed, but not of any significant manner. Maybe gas proofing or water proofing that's ok. Impede the plug in the wall might make it a bit safer still. All in all its fabulous and reveals how weak the US System is.
Why all the fuss though, how many house fires or electrocutions have been caused because of this. I have a toddler running around and it worries me regularly.
US is going to more 2 pronged non-grounded equipment. Because the US plug is so evidently inferior, lets focus on the British plug and why its superior.
Earth/Ground
-Earth(ground) is located on the top - Always This is beneficial if something conductive falls between the plug and the socket because it will be grounded first. In general this is not needed because of the design of the plug
-The grround plug is longer making ground well before the current conductors
-The ground opens the sliding cover that protects the power from prying objects from children. This is on almost all the plugs in the UK and I believe is the standard now.
The Conductors
-Shielded half way - Because the conductors are shielded half way this protects children and others from shorting out the plug see "located on top" above
-Fused- every plug is fused(just amazing)
- Not only are they insulated there solid. The US ones will bend and flex, and break, the British plug will take tons of work and keep on going
The Socket
-The ground guarantee's that it is the first and the last making contact.
-Wall switch - Located on almost all sockets this is just another line of safety
General
-The plug wire comes from the bottom - This prevents children or adults from pulling out the plug inadvertently.
-All plugs have to be ground
What else
-110 in Bathroom low current fast trip over sink
-pull cord for light in toilet/bathroom
Thus one can easily tell that the British System is the safest in the world and thus shows the US system as totally inadequate. The safest in the US are medical grade plugs and the average household plug in the UK is at least twice as safe.
Though I do not know for sure, in the UK there probably is no medical grade. Why have a medical grade plug, I am sure there are something's that could be changed, but not of any significant manner. Maybe gas proofing or water proofing that's ok. Impede the plug in the wall might make it a bit safer still. All in all its fabulous and reveals how weak the US System is.
Why all the fuss though, how many house fires or electrocutions have been caused because of this. I have a toddler running around and it worries me regularly.
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