It’s so the live wire disconnects first if you pull the cable out - it’s the shortest, then neutral, then ground. Whoever designed this really thought of everything.
Few things make me proud to be British, but the ingenious design of our plug sockets is one of them. TBF though we do need those safety features. Mains power here is 240v as opposed to 120v like a lot of countries. One mistake with a live wire would be the last one you’d ever make.
I doubt it.
Tripping over a cable is as likely to damage the socket as it is to rip the cable out of the plug.
Any appliance that increases risk by being unplugged should probably not be using a consumer connection…
I think the 3 pin layout caused a lot of headaches, and the integrated fuse required a user-servicable plug.
So it would have to be a split-shell design of some type, where the appliance cable would have to be cable-gripped to the same part as the plug/socket pins.
Thus, a bottom-entry (heh) cable grip and a removable back plate that can only be unscrewed when it’s unplugged.
This was all in a time of bakelite. Plastic wasn’t flexible.
But no, I think tripping over an early bakelite g-type (I think it’s officially a g-type) plug cable would likely shatter the plug and pull the pins out of the socket… If it didn’t also damage the socket.
The type G was designed when things were designed to do their jobs. Any pain inflicted by user error was considered a learning opportunity.
The cord coming out the bottom means the plug can’t pull out. Combined with the big, chunky plug and pins, means the cable will likely fail first if pulled. It will also fail at the live core first, leaving a safe plug in the wall.
But yes, the foot pain is… impressive. It’s just blunt enough to not generally penetrate the skin, but it can happen.
Is it normal for there to be no cord attached to these? That would stop them from facing this way on the floor
No, the cable comes out perpendicular to the pins (ie parallel to the wall).
Which pretty much guarantees foot-pain orientation
Is this another safety factor, i.e. you can’t easily rip appliances out by accident?
It’s so the live wire disconnects first if you pull the cable out - it’s the shortest, then neutral, then ground. Whoever designed this really thought of everything.
Everything except my foot
Don’t unplug them, use the socket switch, and don’t leave them where you might walk if you do.
Few things make me proud to be British, but the ingenious design of our plug sockets is one of them. TBF though we do need those safety features. Mains power here is 240v as opposed to 120v like a lot of countries. One mistake with a live wire would be the last one you’d ever make.
The majority of Europe survives.
Although their sockets are recessed.
I thought that’s achieved by the different wiring lengths inside and the blue wire having to loop up and round to go into the top of the neutral leg.
A little bit of that im sure but L plugs are much better at being plugged in behind furniture
I doubt it.
Tripping over a cable is as likely to damage the socket as it is to rip the cable out of the plug.
Any appliance that increases risk by being unplugged should probably not be using a consumer connection…
I think the 3 pin layout caused a lot of headaches, and the integrated fuse required a user-servicable plug.
So it would have to be a split-shell design of some type, where the appliance cable would have to be cable-gripped to the same part as the plug/socket pins.
Thus, a bottom-entry (heh) cable grip and a removable back plate that can only be unscrewed when it’s unplugged.
This was all in a time of bakelite. Plastic wasn’t flexible.
But no, I think tripping over an early bakelite g-type (I think it’s officially a g-type) plug cable would likely shatter the plug and pull the pins out of the socket… If it didn’t also damage the socket.
Far more likely to move the appliance than damage the plug. I’ve got a couple of spare old bakelite plugs in my garage, and that shit is strong.
The type G was designed when things were designed to do their jobs. Any pain inflicted by user error was considered a learning opportunity.
The cord coming out the bottom means the plug can’t pull out. Combined with the big, chunky plug and pins, means the cable will likely fail first if pulled. It will also fail at the live core first, leaving a safe plug in the wall.
But yes, the foot pain is… impressive. It’s just blunt enough to not generally penetrate the skin, but it can happen.
That’s from a power brick that came with attachments for different regions.
I’ve handled normal plugs as well and they tend to orient themselves prongs up too.