XPost: uk.tech.broadcast, uk.tech.digital-tv, uk.rec.audio   
   XPost: sci.electronics.repair   
   From: mapson.scarts@btinternet.INVALID   
      
   "Jim Lesurf"  wrote in message   
   news:524bd4a560noise@audiomisc.co.uk...   
   : In article , Jerry   
   :  wrote:   
   :   
   : > "David Looser"  wrote in message   
   : > news:9mg4nvF2fdU1@mid.individual.net...   
   : > : "Jerry"  wrote   
   : > :   
   : > : > : Just ask any toddler who has tried to poke a   
   screwdriver   
   : > into   
   : > : > an outlet.   
   : > : >   
   : > : > A toddler in the UK "Yeah! This game of sticking things   
   in to these   
   : > : > plastic shapes in the wall is fun, lets do it again!"   
   : > : >   
   : > : > A toddler in the USA (120v) "That tingles, not sure that   
   I   
   : > like   
   : > : > that..."   
   : > : >   
   : > : > A toddler in the EU (240v) *flash, bang, wallop* "That   
   hurt daddy,   
   : > : > why is my finger throbbing, why has the TV (or what   
   : > ever   
   : > : > else is on the circuit) stopped working?"   
   : > : >   
   : > : UK mains sockets have shutters, have you not noticed?   
   :   
   : > Duh, never! In any case, what happens when this shutter   
   fails, as can   
   : > happen,   
   :   
   : Almost anything "can" happen. But in reality how often does it?   
   I can't   
      
   Not very often, just as kids in areas that do not use the UK's   
   BS1363 plug/socket don't tend to poke things into other types of   
   sockets, why because they are *taught* not to whilst being   
   supervised, of course that is to hard for average UK parents to   
   manage so the state has to hold their hands so to speak!   
      
      
   : recall ever having the shutters on a UK standard mains socket   
   fail open on   
   : any I've used. What statistics do you have for how often they   
   fail?   
      
   None, just personal experience of having to change such sockets,   
   either fixed or trailing (the same safety concerns exist with   
   both).   
      
   :   
   : > : Have you any data to suggest that deaths or injuries are   
   any   
   : > worse here than   
   : > : in countries that don't use BS1363 outlets?   
   :   
   : > But then people know that, in the UK appliances could   
   actually be   
   : > protected at 30A (with old slow-blow fuse wire) but the   
   person using   
   : > the appliance believes that it is protected at the correct   
   3A.   
   :   
   : How often is that the case? I've not come across anyone using   
   fuse wire (of   
   : any rating) to replace the fuse cart in a mains plug for   
   decades. is that   
   : what you are referring to?   
      
   No, think metal bolt/rod or similar, that is the same diameter as   
   the BS fuse and you might get the idea. If an unthinking idiot   
   can do it, they probably will, I have seen many silly things done   
   to BS1363 plugs that I have rarely seen/heard happening to a   
   fuse/breaker panel because even such idiots tend to draw the line   
   if they need to get more than a (pen-)knife from the kitchen   
   draw.   
      
   Again, what is the statistical evidence for this   
   : being a significant problem?   
   :   
      
   Why do you think the law was changed in the UK so that all (non   
   wholesale) domestic, free standing, electrical equipment has to   
   now come pre-fitted with a BS1363 plug and correct fuse? Clue, it   
   wasn't for the purchasers convenience...   
   --   
   Regards, Jerry.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)