They've both been around over 70 years, and have only had subtle changes.
All the plugs before that though, and there were many of them, they were never seen again, and a good job too.
3 pin socket
- Thread starter David Sarbutts
- Start date
They've both been around over 70 years, and have only had subtle changes.
All the plugs before that though, and there were many of them, they were never seen again, and a good job too.
That's correct, there is an online museum somewhere, showing some of the variety of plugs and sockets since electricity began to be installed, some of them were quite deadly. Dorman even offered a round pin version of the fused plug for a time. The live pin forming the fuse, which in use could unscrew leaving the fuse in the socket and still live. Hospitals were fond of those, through to the 1960's.
Not sure what you mean by this. You'll have to explain that.
Generally, you can use a 2 amp plug on a 5 or 6 amp circuit, as it is assumed the plug will be used for something under 2 amps like a table lamp.
It could actually be argued there is no need for a 2 amp plug and socket, we might just as well use 5 amp plugs and sockets.
By that token, it could also be argued the 15 amp plug and socket could be discontinued - it's not something regularly fitted by me, I have to say.
On reflection, you do raise a valid point about these plugs being old fashioned and not needed, but I think the 5 amp one should at least be allowed to remain.
I don't think anyone is pretending that 'every house has some', but there are certainly many in service, and still being installed - but it could be that you just don't notice them.
I would think that the most common use is for 'remotely switched' lights, particularly table lamps, standard lamps and floor-standing uplighters etc - the advantage being that (although it should be no great disaster if they did) it removes the risk that someone will plug a 'high power' appliance (e.g. vacuum cleaner) into a lighting circuit (if a 13A plug/socket were used for the light).
I installed a couple in my house, for such a purpose, earlier this year - so they are certainly not ancient history.
Kind
Regards, John
It would be a disaster if that socket was on a dimmer circuit. Whether it is a ‘great’ disaster is a matter of opinion.
But I’ve always said 13 amp sockets should not be on a lighting circuit anyway to avoid such disasters.
Just for Winston1
It could be, in terms of (only) the dimmer.
You have certainly often commented on 13A sockets on lighting circuits, far more times that I wish to remember. However, I don't recall you having made those comments "to avoid such disasters". Indeed, the only thing I can recall you saying was to be 'avoided' was the possibility of being 'plunged into darkness' (usually in an attic) if the plugging in of a high-power load resulted in the lighting circuit's OPD operating.
Edit: I suppose I should have added that, because of the issue you mention, I would never dream of installing a 13A socket (on any circuit) which was controlled by a dimmer, nor one controlled controlled by any other electronic gizmo unless it was explicitly designed to handle at least a 13A load.
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Just to add to the 'three pin socket' discussion, I know of three large hotels in Nottingham (built in the 1970s) which utilise them throughout. Mt first job was in one of the smaller 6 floor ones, and they were (and still are) used to power the multitude of table lamps in the bars and public areas. I think the night porter is very grateful for them!
I don't know whether it is still the case, but that used to be a common situation in puepose-built student accommodation (but there was a thriving 'local market' in 3/5A to 13A 'conversion leads'
).Kind Regards, John
I agree with you on 2 amp plugs - I don't really see any point to installing them, and I'm not entirely sure what the point of them was in the first place, seeing as they would always be installed on 5 amp protection.
I do think there still is a place for 15 amp though, maybe for high current appliances, where portability is a factor, that might not fair too well on a BS1363 plug and socket and where CEEFORM would be too bulky/intrusive.
In my place of work, there are standard looking Uk plugs but with a "horizontal" earth pin - used to denote an 110V essential supply. Tried duckduckgo for an image but could find none.
Nozzle
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They served the same purpose as 5amp ones do now - they limited the 2amp socket, to only being able to plug a table light in or similar, when many things back then had 5amp plugs on the end of their flex. They were also small and neat.
MK "T Bar" socket
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