What is the best style electrical outlet?

3 years ago by JusticeForPorygon to c/asklemmy

This is a debate, not an argument, let's be adults about this. [Insert political joke]

DoYouNot 55 points 3 years ago

The Brits have undoubtedly the best outlets from a safety perspective, despite their size. North American outlets are garbage by basically all measures. European plugs are weirdly round, but very functional.

My two (€/100)s

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user224 13 points 3 years ago

I'll just throw in one good thing for US outlets. The option of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets. I think it is required in bathrooms (or elsewhere 6 feet from water source), but you can probably install those anywhere you wish. It cuts off the power during a ground fault, which means that some current (more than regular leakage) is flowing to ground, perhaps through a human. It should cut off at just 5mA.
There's something similar in Europe, called RCD (Residual Current Device). It is the same thing, it's just that in US it's generally called GFCI and RCD in Europe. The difference with RCD is that it's not in the outlets, but the breaker box, and generally protects the whole home. But you can also wire GFCI to multiple outlets. The problem is, that trip ground fault current for RCD can be up to 30mA as opposed to GFCI's 5mA. And with 10mA and above, you may not be able to "let go" of the item shocking you, which isn't nice even if it won't yet kill you (probably).
Why is that? Leakage current. That could very well exceed 5mA when you have stuff like a desktop PC, fridge and other stuff connected, resulting in unwanted tripping while everything functions just fine. It also means that perhaps, one day, your fridge may save you by preloading the RCD as it wouldn't trip without it.

OK, now something negative about (some) EU plugs.

Type C:

This should only work for devices that don't require ground due to pin thickness. But you can still get it to make a terrible contact and hold it in. But perhaps you could even force it into some. I dislike this.

Type F:

Oh well. You can probably still force in older plugs that require ground pin yet don't have the contacts for type F sockets like modern plugs. It is also reversible which I hate. Sockets should be polarized. You shouldn't be allowed to just plug in the device other way around. If there is a switch, it definitely should disconnect live wire, not neutral leaving the device live but not functional. That's unsafe. I hate this.

Type E:

This is nice. I like it. It would also be cool if there was a fuse inside the plugs cough cough UK plugs.

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Iron_Lynx 8 points 3 years ago

Re: GFCI's

At least in my country, GFCI's are required to be fitted in the fuse box, to protect the entire building. Not just rooms which are prone to ground faults. In the American type, the protection is optional.

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azertyfun 8 points 3 years ago

Regarding Type F:

If you have a monopolar switch in your appliance, you dun fucked up real bad.

Reason is here in Belgium (and a bit of France apparently) and especially around Brussels, it's very common for houses to be wired with two phases (+115/-115V). This was done post-war for copper-saving reasons, and we call this 3x230V. So any device that cuts the brown wire only will still have 115VAC to ground, which is obviously unsafe.

Also more generally there is no guarantee that the live wire is on either side. From what I understand each electrician has their preference, and as long as the wiring is consistent then it's up to code.

So wherever there is an outlet, nothing can be safely assumed by the appliance besides that the total voltage is around 230V AC. Even assuming that there is a ground is incorrect due to old houses still having Type C (which incidentally means that even Type E also is not polarized when plugged into a Type C receptacle!).

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MrStetson 7 points 3 years ago

There are appliances with only live wire switch? If that is the case it's horrible design, should always cut live and neutral for European reversible plugs

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Damage 4 points 3 years ago

In Italy we have our own version of the type F, the Schuko Bipasso and it's so fucking convenient. (number 2)

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r00ty 3 points 3 years ago

You can get RCD sockets if you want in the UK (and mainland Europe too). But we generally at the minimum have sockets protected by an RCD (which is the same thing) and in more modern installations all circuits are protected by one.

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schteph 2 points 3 years ago

Regarding RCD, where I live they're allowed to be 30mA for wires that do not include outlets, but if an outlet is connected to the switch, the switch must cut off at 3mA..

Regarding the outlets, the type C is old, I haven't seen those installed or sold since at least the early nineties (probably even earlier). I don't understand why it being reversible is bad. I think switches can just cut of both wires, and you're left with the ability to plug it in any way you like. I don't really know whether the switches actually do that or not (or, if they're required to do that). Can this be tested somehow?

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r00ty 11 points 3 years ago

I'm biased, from the UK. But it's pretty much the order I'd do it too. UK first, the round Europe ones only very slightly behind (maybe even on par, I have just a slight issue with the fact that polarity isn't assured).

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MrStetson 3 points 3 years ago

With single phase AC there is no polarity, when you plug something in you don't need to know which plug is live, it will work either way.

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icanwatermyplants 6 points 3 years ago

My biggest beef with the NA outlets is that they wear out fast, causing plugs to not hold securely. Plugs with round prongs secure a lot better in their socket. Outlets with a shaped/ recessed (non-flat) faceplate also do a much better job at keeping the plug in.

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HootinNHollerin 2 points 3 years ago

Those things are enormous lol

It’s the oversized truck of the plug world

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