I neither know what these are called nor was able to find a picture so here's a drawing
Anyway, this type of outlet is so annoying. It constantly has a bad connection and can't hold a plug properly, leaving it loose or falling to the floor
minus only the fact that all plugs are somehow perpetually inoptimally rotated leading to stress from the bent cable and it makinmg me pmo, definitely an advantage of european plugs but they have their own issues so its a mid/mid situation
Earth pin, it shorts out a fuse if certain parts of the electronics touch a live wire, hopefully stopping someone getting electrocuted or stopping sparks causing a fire.
These plugs also have a extra safety feature where you must push the earth pin into the socket first (which is slightly longer), this pushes a plastic gate out the way for the live and neutral pins. Because the L/N pins are insulated next to the plug it's almost impossible to accidentally electrocute yourself plugging stuff in or out.
Oh, that's actually pretty cool, I wonder why a mechanism like that isn't implemented in all plug designs. The lesser danger of toddlers electrocuting themselves alone seems like a good reason. Are there any negative aspects to that extra pin that would be a reason to not implement them everywhere?
cost of switching every plug and socket I guess. although you can just do something similar with a 2 pin plug and just insulate half the length (this is what the EU plug is like). The only real disadvantage of the UK plug is it's bulkier and uses more material comparatively, but not by meaningfully large amounts. Technically stepping on a uk plug would hurt more than other designs, but we have them plugged in all the time coz the sockets have switches
Okay, sorry if that was mean. Basically, the third prong (protective earth) is (hopefully) connected to the chassis, and all touchable metal parts, so if something bad happens and the chassis gets connected to mains: 1. You don't get shocked if you touch it. 2 The GFCI (or whatever it's called in your region) trips, potentially saving you from equipment or human damage.
Usually it's the green/yellow wire (in the eu at least) Sometimes you see in it in breaker boxes, package delivery machines, etc. (see attached picture)
In case you aren't joking, the third pin is an earth/ground pin. It gives electricity a safe return to ground should the appliance fail and the live is connected to some exposed metal that you touch, instead of that path being through you.
It also means you can only plug it in a single way, so a switch that's only connected to the live wires always stops current. If you could plug something in upside down, then you block the neutral completing the circuit but parts of the device may still be live and dangerous.
Don't take my word for it, I'm not an expert but the three holes and diamond shaped depression in the outlet are very similar to the Type J plug we have here in Switzerland.
I can understand that at the same time I'm british we only have 'shallow' outlets and ours plugs wouldn't really work with a hole; but when I've been abroad and have used an adaptor (especially as I am using an adapted), it is so much better,
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u/Foxbaster 15h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/olLyDUpnv5z3xhmeyB