The state of plugs and sockets is in far worse a state than that of measurement
systems.
http://users.telenet.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm#plugs_g
gives a list of the main types, and where they are used. Unlike the metric vs imperial/colonial
argument, it is not a case of the whole world except for a couple of holdouts using a single
standard, nor is there any conclusive evidence that one system is technically superior.
The British standard plug (type G in the above list) is actually very good, and I agree with
Stephen's points in its favor. One he didn't mention is the fact that on more modern plugs, not all
the live/neutral pins are conductive - there is plastic covering about half of the pins near the
plug surface (see picture in above link). This makes it difficult to shock yourself by withdrawing
the plug incorrectly with your fingers wrapped around the plug.
Note also that wiring standards here and the UK forbid the installation of standard 3-pin sockets in
a bathroom, preventing dangerous practices such as plugging in electric heaters or hair dryers.
Only small 2-pin sockets are permitted for devices such as shavers.
What's a fuse? Seriously, though, we use circuit breakers here. The
initial cost is higher, but it's hard to run out of them.
Houses generally use breakers here too, but the type G plug has an individual fuse in it also. They
have different ratings (3, 5, 13 A commonly) depending on what type of device they are connected to.
This was because sockets are wired in a ring arrangement with a single 32 A breaker. The plug fuse
provides an additional level of safety, but I must say in my experience the breaker will always trip
first (the only time I've seen plug fuses blowing is when you put the wrong one in, e.g. a 3 A fuse
in an electric fire lead).
Remember that the Republic of Ireland has the same system.
Good for them, although I'm not sure what that proves. ;)
His point was that it was not just confined to the UK. There are no current plans here to change
this either (*).
Changing the UK/Eire plugs is probably as likely as us changing the
side we drive on ;-)
Probably so.
Here I disagree. Whereas standardization in both areas is highly desirable, the cost and disruption
involved in changing road directions is enormous compared to changing sockets and plugs. The latter
also doesn't require a simultaneous nationwide change (even within a single household, the use of
adapters can help the transition). I would certainly like to see a serious effort to come up with a
standard plug/socket design that is at least EU wide.
(note that this doesn't cover the wider area of voltage and frequency differences - having a common
plug/socket design across countries that use different voltage/frequency settings is a *bad* idea;
at least within the EU we use the same voltage (nominally) and frequency so it is a desirable goal).
* sorry - couldn't resist it (**)
** sorry again.
