3 pin socket

[plugwash]

I thought the shuttering was mandatory?

I don't think it's mandatory in BS546 itself, though BS7671 does mandate that sockets for domestic use should be shuttered.

I remember at one stage, while most 5A and 15A sockets were shuttered, a lot of 2A ones were not. Not sure if that is still the case or not.

I agree pn the pin sleeving, but it's less of a risk that the unsleeved 13amps we used to have, as they are placed out of reach of small fingers

I'm far from convinced that they always are.

 

[JohnW2]

According to Wiki: Originally published in April 1934, it was updated by a 1950 edition which is still current,.... with eight amendments up to 1999

Quite so.

... and it also says that BS1363-1:1995 and BS1363-2:1995 both remained in force (in each case with just one amendment, in 2012) until the 2016 versions of both were published - so a 21-year interval between editions with only one amendment did not make it "non-contemporary".

I really don't know what point you are trying to make. Whether you like it or not, BS456 plugs/sockets are still used and installed, and probably will be for a goodly period of time to come - and the dates of versions/amendments of the product Standard is nothing to do with anything. If nothing happens to require a Standard to be changed/updated, a version (in some cases the first/original version) can remain the 'current' one for decades.

Kind Regards, John

 

[sparkwright]

Yes, I agree. BS546 plugs and sockets are here to stay - since they are still very common and still regularly fitted, I see no reason to outlaw them.

 

[BS3036]

as detected by a cotton bud...

I thought they were illegal now!

 

[sparkwright]

I thought they were illegal now!

Yes! A plastic one as well.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I thought they were illegal now!

The ones with the plastic stick yes, but now they have moved to a rolled paper version which when they get slightly wet, become useless.

 

[BlueLoo]

Quite so.

... and it also says that BS1363-1:1995 and BS1363-2:1995 both remained in force (in each case with just one amendment, in 2012) until the 2016 versions of both were published - so a 21-year interval between editions with only one amendment did not make it "non-contemporary".

I really don't know what point you are trying to make. Whether you like it or not, BS456 plugs/sockets are still used and installed, and probably will be for a goodly period of time to come - and the dates of versions/amendments of the product Standard is nothing to do with anything. If nothing happens to require a Standard to be changed/updated, a version (in some cases the first/original version) can remain the 'current' one for decades.

Kind Regards, John

You've just repeated what i said lol.

 

[BlueLoo]

Yes, I agree. BS546 plugs and sockets are here to stay - since they are still very common and still regularly fitted, I see no reason to outlaw them.

Still regularly fitted?

That's interesting. Is this because they are not a 13a plug as per Harrys insistence or because they have some technical or practical advantage over the 13a plug?

 

[BlueLoo]

Yes! A plastic one as well.

Didn't know that!

 

[JohnW2]

You've just repeated what i said lol.

I did? I must have missed the bit where you said that you didn't know what point you were trying to make.

 

[sparkwright]

They are regularly fitted for table lamps controlled by the light switch by the door.

They don't need to be 13 amp, so 2 or 5 amp ones will do. That way people won't be plugging other appliances into them.

You don't want to turn the light switch on, and the radio turns on.

Or the electrical fire comes on (for 2 seconds).

 

[BlueLoo]

I did? I must have missed the bit where you said that you didn't know what point you were trying to make.

I don't think anyone in the thread knows what points are, or are not being made.

All seems a bit overblown for what is an old plug.

 

[sparkwright]

I don't think anyone in the thread knows what points are, or are not being made.

All seems a bit overblown for what is an old plug.

But the 13 amp plug is an 'old' plug too.

 

[BlueLoo]

They are regularly fitted for table lamps controlled by the light switch by the door.

They don't need to be 13 amp, so 2 or 5 amp ones will do. That way people won't be plugging other appliances into them.

So the pin configuration is actually a physical amp limit?

I can see that makes sense in some situations if you need to limit power access or amp draw due to cumulative power limits etc or if you want to stop people just using them.

Is that as they were originally designed? Well, yes and no probably.
Yes because the sizes specifically limit you (or should) to the current rating.
No, because these plugs were intended as a high count item for general use.

I don't think that's a water tight usage spec though. Everyone these days thinks a domestic plug socket is rated for 13 amp regardless of the fuse in the plug. I would suppose that most people don't know what they are (re OP) and may just repurpose the plug onto something that is too much for them.

"Ive some fuse wire in the shed, ill use that for this daft plug...."

An outlier case obviously.

 

[BlueLoo]

But the 13 amp plug is an 'old' plug too.

Well yes it is.
A different "old" to the round pin i think is fair to say