That’s an unusually functional fuse holder, considering they never need changing.
Yep also other great things like the ground wire having slack to it so in the event of the wires coming out itll be the last one to go.
In what way are they better than continental ones?
They’re absolutely brilliant, to be fair. It doesn’t make up for the famine, but I am glad we got these.
Fuses are largely redundant with modern fuseboxes in houses. Plus these stupid plugs cost us €10s of millions every year in more expensive goods, because we don’t use continental plugs.
We’re such pussies
The design is far superior to the continental plug (both kinds – and yes, there are two types). Much more robust, and actually fucking properly standardized. Also genuinely user serviceable, which can’t be said for the Euro styles.
The euro ones are inferior in just about every single way. They also can’t be used as caltrops.
What have the Brits ever done for us, apart from the plugs,
They’re clunky and fucking ENORMOUS, and don’t ever stand on one.
That’s an interesting ring.
Nonsense, debunked in detail long ago.
Mrs Brown puts a 13 amp fuse in her plug for her 5 amp lamp, now the damned lead is the fuse. Brilliant.
If this is the case, where are all the dead non UK/ire people from the non 3 pin plugs and not being fused and no earth. Not trying to make a point I just see all other countries don’t use it and get along grand, what gives?
I knew us Irish would dive on this post to claim fame and fortune from it
Best in terns of safety features, but worst for portability, and worst to stand on.
They also use these plugs in many other countries. Malta, Cyprus, the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, Kenya, Malaysia, quite a few others, mostly ex-empire countries.
And some of their other former colonies as well don’t forget
Are there fewer electrical fires in Ireland and Britain than in countries where the plugs are easily plugged in and out?
Do they actually reduce accidents statistically? I lived some years in a country without them and I honestly don’t mind the reduced size. Stuff like multi plug power strips are way more compact too. It was kinda handy. The ones at home feel like medieval maces to me now on the end of the wire, like they could do some real damage swinging one around.
It’s not even close. I live in the middle east and when I got here they had a mix of every type of plug and outlet in the house I lived in and a few houses since. Now every new project is to the British standard for outlets. The American outlets and plugs are absolutely terrible.
Also the bolts are flat not round – better connectivity. I like it.
Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t the rest of Europe on 110 volt and we have 220 volt. Could that be the reason that they get away with not having to earth their plugs?
Our plugs are terrible big clunky yokes. Is this a joke?
Also Hong Kong
Our system is about as safe as the European system, we both just achieve it in different ways.
Eg. Our pins have insulation on them, whereas they have deep sockets. End result is that on both systems you can’t touch the metal pins when half-plugged in and get a shock.
Both systems connect ground-first, ours with a longer pin, the European system by having the connection springs in the socket deeper inset than the ground ones.
Basically, we just moved the safety features inherent in their sockets to our plugs, and vice versa.
They don’t need fuses, as all outlets are rated the same in their radial system vs our ring (ours can vary, hence the backup fuse). Radial systems are used more and more in Ireland now, they’re more expensive to setup but are safer… And make those fuses redundant.
28 comments
> Ireland has British plugs and they’re the best
That’s an unusually functional fuse holder, considering they never need changing.
Yep also other great things like the ground wire having slack to it so in the event of the wires coming out itll be the last one to go.
In what way are they better than continental ones?
They’re absolutely brilliant, to be fair. It doesn’t make up for the famine, but I am glad we got these.
Fuses are largely redundant with modern fuseboxes in houses. Plus these stupid plugs cost us €10s of millions every year in more expensive goods, because we don’t use continental plugs.
We’re such pussies
The design is far superior to the continental plug (both kinds – and yes, there are two types). Much more robust, and actually fucking properly standardized. Also genuinely user serviceable, which can’t be said for the Euro styles.
The euro ones are inferior in just about every single way. They also can’t be used as caltrops.
What have the Brits ever done for us, apart from the plugs,
They’re clunky and fucking ENORMOUS, and don’t ever stand on one.
That’s an interesting ring.
Nonsense, debunked in detail long ago.
Mrs Brown puts a 13 amp fuse in her plug for her 5 amp lamp, now the damned lead is the fuse. Brilliant.
For the longer story, see here:
https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/22572/are-british-plugs-safer-than-all-other-plugs
If this is the case, where are all the dead non UK/ire people from the non 3 pin plugs and not being fused and no earth. Not trying to make a point I just see all other countries don’t use it and get along grand, what gives?
Tom Scott agrees https://youtu.be/UEfP1OKKz_Q
I knew us Irish would dive on this post to claim fame and fortune from it
Best in terns of safety features, but worst for portability, and worst to stand on.
They also use these plugs in many other countries. Malta, Cyprus, the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, Kenya, Malaysia, quite a few others, mostly ex-empire countries.
And some of their other former colonies as well don’t forget
Are there fewer electrical fires in Ireland and Britain than in countries where the plugs are easily plugged in and out?
Do they actually reduce accidents statistically? I lived some years in a country without them and I honestly don’t mind the reduced size. Stuff like multi plug power strips are way more compact too. It was kinda handy. The ones at home feel like medieval maces to me now on the end of the wire, like they could do some real damage swinging one around.
It’s not even close. I live in the middle east and when I got here they had a mix of every type of plug and outlet in the house I lived in and a few houses since. Now every new project is to the British standard for outlets. The American outlets and plugs are absolutely terrible.
Also the bolts are flat not round – better connectivity. I like it.
Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t the rest of Europe on 110 volt and we have 220 volt. Could that be the reason that they get away with not having to earth their plugs?
Our plugs are terrible big clunky yokes. Is this a joke?
Also Hong Kong
Our system is about as safe as the European system, we both just achieve it in different ways.
Eg. Our pins have insulation on them, whereas they have deep sockets. End result is that on both systems you can’t touch the metal pins when half-plugged in and get a shock.
Both systems connect ground-first, ours with a longer pin, the European system by having the connection springs in the socket deeper inset than the ground ones.
Basically, we just moved the safety features inherent in their sockets to our plugs, and vice versa.
They don’t need fuses, as all outlets are rated the same in their radial system vs our ring (ours can vary, hence the backup fuse). Radial systems are used more and more in Ireland now, they’re more expensive to setup but are safer… And make those fuses redundant.
Our plug has quite a few advantages in safety.
And Hong Kong.