Which of these sockets are in the right place? (If any)

[Harry Bloomfield]

Some folks had their evening meal at 6pm some at 5:30 some at 7 etc etc and you might ask them to have it ten minutes earlier or later than the normal time and you would believe they thought that the Earth would stop rotating if they changed their habits. some would have the same meal everyday of the week , it was often Fish and Chips on Friday, whether by religion or because most folk got paid cash on Thursdays for last weeks work. So every day was mapped out what the meal that day was. I worked with some folk who had that mindset.

We don't have any set meals on any particular days, except for a while we got into the habit of F&C's on a Saturday, just to avoid the massive queues on a Friday. With often a roast on a Sunday. Other than that, the discussion, the night before, is always, 'what are we having for dinner tomorrow?'

 

[JohnW2]

Kitchen surfaces are usually 880mm plus top so 910-930mm. If the bottom of the backbox (my typical measurement reference) were at 1000mm the bottom of the socket would be around 990mm and the L/N pins at 1010mm, a typical moulded plug requires around 60mm below the pins to avoid severe bending or 950mm leaving only 20-40mm of clearance. Try a Masterplug with 2.5mm² cable and that becomes next to no clearance.

Exactly. That's why I said that I thought that around 1000 mm was probably about the 'absolute minimum', and that 1200 mm did not see 'far off' for those sorts of situations.

 

[SUNRAY]

During my working life I have noted a few changes to the mindset of what Electricians and/or the gen public expect of things.

In my teenage years sockets were often immediately above skirting boards or indeed in the mid of the skirting board itself. This was very common - I guess folk did not like seeing sockets (and switches too sometimes) and ease of use took second place.
Many were at the bottom of a skirting board and considerable strain on plug flexes in some instances. Indeed it was not unknown to see some mounted at 90 degrees from the floor or even upside down.

In the days of the old BS546 china or bakelite sockets with the switch on front and socket 'oles up'ards,

on the skirting board was totally normal and apart from being very low there were no disadvantages but the massive advantage, as Harry mentioned simple to drill the skirting and fiddle the wire through the gap behind to the floor void below.

Regarding lights...

Pendants were often not fitted centrally in bedrooms but rather very biased towards the window, even if thick dark curtains, to avoid casting shadows whilst getting undressed.

I've heard strongly conflicting versions of that, t'other being having the light by the window simulated the natural light coming in through the window.

Another which I really don't believe was to let the ustairs light illuminate the footpath leading to the front door

 

[JohnW2]

I've heard strongly conflicting versions of that,

I've certainly often heard ebee's version (to avoid silhouettes of undressed/undressing people being seen through curtains, and it seems fairly credible. Similar with bathrooms that had sizeable windows, even if of non-see-through glass.

t'other being having the light by the window simulated the natural light coming in through the window.

That sounds rather less credible to me. People primarily go into bedrooms at night, primarily to sleep, and I doubt that they really want to 'simulate daylight'. In fact, would not the argument for that be stronger in almost any room other than a bedroom (or bathroom)?

 

[morqthana]

I'd always vote for sockets in kitchens to be just below the wall units.

 

[JohnW2]

I'd always vote for sockets in kitchens to be just below the wall units.

Agreed, which I would have thought will usually be around 1,200 mm - so why did you write (in relation to 1,200 mm):

Never seen sockets that high.

?? Were you perhaps not thinking of kitchens/workshops etc.?

 

[SUNRAY]

I'd always vote for sockets in kitchens to be just below the wall units.

So do I

 

[morqthana]

Just beware the possibility of "upside down" wall-warts.

 

[SUNRAY]

Just beware the possibility of "upside down" wall-warts.

View attachment 385779

No problem, I regularly plug my walkie talkie type radio chargers in.

 

[morqthana]

Yeah but are they built upside down?

 

[morqthana]

Agreed, which I would have thought will usually be around 1,200 mm - so why did you write (in relation to 1,200 mm):

?? Were you perhaps not thinking of kitchens/workshops etc.?

No, I was thinking of sockets on walls other than kitchen ones.

The tops of my light switches (new ones in the parts of the house extensively "re-modelled" a few years ago) are at about 1380mm

The sockets are about 460mm.

 

[SUNRAY]

Yeah but are they built upside down?

Nahhhh, mine are all the right way up

 

[JohnW2]

Nahhhh, mine are all the right way up

I think morqthana would call that 'upside down' :-1)

 

[ebee]

I've heard strongly conflicting versions of that, t'other being having the light by the window simulated the natural light coming in through the window.

Another which I really don't believe was to let the ustairs light illuminate the footpath leading to the front door

Interesting thoughts there Sunray, I must admit I`d never heard those.

 

[JohnW2]

Interesting thoughts there Sunray, I must admit I`d never heard those.

Same here - but,as I wrote, I've often heard the 'explanation' you suggested (silhouettes/shadows on curtains)