Extension cables and BS1363

[ericmark]

The old Bakelite plug

had a gap so you could have an earth wire without it coming out at the bottom. Today

the earth strap

does not connect direct to earth, it has a 1 Megohm resistance, just as well with a TN-C-S earth, as loss of PEN could be quite shocking.

There is no need to allow on to open the shutters, putting the plug in wrong way around,

I have questioned fitting sockets upside down,

as if the cable entry faces up, then with some plugs, items could be dropped into the cable aperture, it would not comply with IP rating for hole at the top. One shown designed for a floor box, so not a problem, but

Looking at the "Wall-mountable" bit, would not this mean some sockets are upside down, and the hole for cable for reusable plug would not comply with IP rating?

 

[plugwash]

The Looking at the "Wall-mountable" bit, would not this mean some sockets are upside down,

Indeed, if you wall-mounted it horizontally, half the sockets would be "upside down".

A possible solution to this would be to wall-mount it vertically, so all the plugs are sideways,

and the hole for cable for reusable plug would not comply with IP rating?

Is there a requirement for them to? I presume you are referring to the BS7671 requirement for "top surfaces of enclosures" but does that apply to a plug?

Lots of portable equipment can be placed in any orientation and doesn't meet IP4x on every surface.