British Plugs Are Better Than All Other Plugs, And Here's Why - General

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEfP1OKKz_Q[/media] Well shit I didn't know any of this

Yeah british plugs are the shit. They are also really secure in the wall, something I don't like about how loose european plugs are.

Uhhh, none of that is really innovative or has anything to do with the British plug design itself, I guess the fuse is a nice addition, but still. Most new sockets and extension cords over here have that plastic safety thing, and many plugs also have plastic covering half the pins, too. [editline]7th July 2014[/editline] Also those plugs are massive, why

Except we've had this design from 1947

I knew all of this except for the shutters on the extensions, cant believe I have never noticed that, have a cheap rubbish one next to me and even that has them in that you can see open when you put a plug in upside down. I have always thought two prong plugs look really puny and ugly as well, but maybe I'm biased after growing up with meaty British plugs.

Having used both British and European plugs I can really say I do prefer ours, European ones tend to be really fucking loose on their connectors, like they can rattle up and down something terrible which kinda worries me in a way because that's meant to be a solid connection, not something that can move with little effort. That and European plugs have no earth, sure the house is earthed on it's circuit but I'd honestly prefer there to be some fallback that is much closer to the appliance encase something goes wrong.

[QUOTE=Reagy;45319117]That and European plugs have no earth, sure the house is earthed on it's circuit but I'd honestly prefer there to be some fallback that is much closer to the appliance encase something goes wrong.[/QUOTE] [img]http://www.asia.ru/images/target/photo/51643741/AC_European_Standard_Power_Supply_Cord_and_Plug.jpg[/img] The hole is the ground, and there's a pin in the socket, it's only the devices with a plastic chassis that use the small two pin plugs because there's no point in grounding them

The safety features are largely moot though by today's standards. Unless you buy a really fucking cheap surge protector, you'll mostly likely buy a saftey one or even newer plugs built into homes which have the shutter system.

[QUOTE=Thunderbolt;45319166][img]http://www.asia.ru/images/target/photo/51643741/AC_European_Standard_Power_Supply_Cord_and_Plug.jpg[/img] The hole is the ground, and there's a pin in the socket, it's only the devices with a plastic chassis that use the small two pin plugs because there's no point in grounding them[/QUOTE] Pretty much fucking all of the European sockets I've used didn't have that earth pin.

[QUOTE=Thunderbolt;45318943]Also those plugs are massive, why[/QUOTE] everywhere i've gone that doesn't use british plugs the plugs are always half hanging out of the wall by the weight of just the cord

BITCH HAVE YOU EVER STEPPED ON ONE OF THOSE THINGS and they always lie upright too like a fucking caltrop

[QUOTE=Thunderbolt;45319166][img]http://www.asia.ru/images/target/photo/51643741/AC_European_Standard_Power_Supply_Cord_and_Plug.jpg[/img] The hole is the ground, and there's a pin in the socket, it's only the devices with a plastic chassis that use the small two pin plugs because there's no point in grounding them[/QUOTE] yeah but the reason it's like that is because it's so rare to actually find a grounding pin so they have to make do with their old design

[QUOTE=Kondor;45319195]everywhere i've gone that doesn't use british plugs the plugs are always half hanging out of the wall by the weight of just the cord[/QUOTE] How? Shitty outlets maybe? Been using european plugs all my life and hanging plugs was never a thing. On the other hand european plugs are bi-directional which means if you have bullshit like this [url]http://acryan.com/sg/26-154-thickbox/playon-series-replacement-ac-adapter.jpg[/url] you can turn it around if it won't fit one way. With british ones you are left on mercy of the plug.

British plugs remind me of communism.

[QUOTE=Kondor;45319216]yeah but the reason it's like that is because it's so rare to actually find a grounding pin so they have to make do with their old design[/QUOTE] I don't know what european countries you've been visiting, but every modern house I've been to had grounding pins in all sockets, and most old ones have had their wiring upgraded to include a grounding system

[QUOTE=Dermock;45319210]BITCH HAVE YOU EVER STEPPED ON ONE OF THOSE THINGS and they always lie upright too like a fucking caltrop[/QUOTE] They make perfect room traps to keep people out when you're finished with stuff. Trust me. [B][I]They work.[/I][/B]

In the US, depending on the condition of the socket and the plug itself, you either get one that's firmly implanted into the wall or it just comes right out.

Also It's probably because I'm used to them but I think the EU plugs look miles better than the British ones. EU look so slick, solid and futuristic, British look kinda shoddy last century tech.

[QUOTE=Swilly;45319265]In the US, depending on the condition of the socket and the plug itself, you either get one that's firmly implanted into the wall or it just comes right out.[/QUOTE] There's really no safety measures involved in US plugs, but I've never actually had a problem with them

[QUOTE=Swilly;45319265]In the US, depending on the condition of the socket and the plug itself, you either get one that's firmly implanted into the wall or it just comes right out.[/QUOTE] That's mostly the outlet though than the actual plug. newer outlets tend to be very secure compared to older ones. imo British plugs are way too fucking big, I get annoyed when an adapter has a massive plug end, having every plug being like that seems annoying. hell, most surge protectors here have sliders to block out outlets anyway.

[QUOTE=proch;45319294]Also It's probably because I'm used to them but I think the EU plugs look miles better than the British ones. EU look so slick, solid and futuristic, British look kinda shoddy last century tech.[/QUOTE] Probably because I've grown up with them, but there's a satisfying feeling when you put a UK plug in a socket. It feels like it's got a good weight behind it, and goes in nicely and firmly, every time. (even with those weird ones you get where you pop out the ground) They're really easy to open up too, which is a plus, though it seems to be becoming less common these days, they aren't always open-able.

[QUOTE=proch;45319294]Also It's probably because I'm used to them but I think the EU plugs look miles better than the British ones. EU look so slick, solid and futuristic, British look kinda shoddy last century tech.[/QUOTE] British plugs remind me of those ancient things, might have something to do with that :v: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_plug#National_standards[/url]

I honestly cannot stress enough how painful it is to step on one of these plugs though, people on the internet like to joke about how much it hurts to stand on Lego blocks and stuff but seriously the British plug is the one that truly takes no prisoners.

You'll be hobbling for a week if you step on one.

[QUOTE=proch;45319294]Also It's probably because I'm used to them but I think the EU plugs look miles better than the British ones. EU look so slick, solid and futuristic, British look kinda shoddy last century tech.[/QUOTE] Shoddy? You could beat someone to death with one of our plugs and it would still work fine. I'm also not a fan of European plugs not having a ground as standard, sure it isn't necessary but you can never be too careful with electricity.

You may be stunned now but you cant actually open european plugs and point screwdrivers in them

[QUOTE=Janus Vesta;45319460]Shoddy? You could beat someone to death with one of our plugs and it would still work fine. I'm also not a fan of European plugs not having a ground as standard, sure it isn't necessary but you can never be too careful with electricity.[/QUOTE] The plugs here have ground as standard. [t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Stikkontakt.jpg[/t] [t]http://www.ljudia.no/images/products/size-10/padding-00/stikkontakt-jordet-pro-p6118.jpg[/t] The pins on the top and the bottom is ground. They slide on to either side of the plug itself. [editline]7th July 2014[/editline] I've only ever seen tiny appliances to not have ground on the cable. Things that use next to no power at all

[QUOTE=Thunderbolt;45319166][img]http://www.asia.ru/images/target/photo/51643741/AC_European_Standard_Power_Supply_Cord_and_Plug.jpg[/img] The hole is the ground, and there's a pin in the socket, it's only the devices with a plastic chassis that use the small two pin plugs because there's no point in grounding them[/QUOTE] Sweden uses the same kind of plug and we do not use the hole with a pin in the socket. Instead we have the clips at the top and bottom, like this: [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Schuko_plug_and_socket_annotated.png[/img]

I like the concept of how the European plug has the ground on the socket, and not the plug. That means if you need to be grounded you can just touch the pin and you're set.

[QUOTE=Reagy;45319185]Pretty much fucking all of the European sockets I've used didn't have that earth pin.[/QUOTE] Yeah, in most older houses only the kitchens and bathrooms have earthed sockets.