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Comment on Why do so many UK electrical sockets have an on/off switch next to them?

Allows you to remove power from the plugged in device without unplugging it. This provides convenience to easily and quickly turn things on and off and prevents arcing when unplugging.

That’s exactly what I do, because it’s more convenient than unplugging everything.

I live in South Africa, where we had rolling blackouts (called loadshedding) for a few years. It’s easier to switch everything back on when the power comes back than to plug it back into a socket without a switch, especially with my fucked up spine.

The electricity in the place I live was done poorly, so having something plugged in “live” risks a surge or something and then the appliance gets fucked and then everything smells like burnt plastic.

And that’s the best case scenario. Others have had housefires.

Also, the South African plugs aren’t pleasant accidentally to step on. It won’t pierce your foot, but it can still hurt like a motherfucker for a few seconds if you step on it in the wrong way.

Those UK plugs do look a lot more nasty to step on. I shudder at the thought.

I like the EU and US two prong cables ( 🔌?) where the prongs are parallel to the cable, but not the cables with the orthogonal prongs.

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grue@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

I like the EU and US two prong cables ( 🔌?) where the prongs are parallel to the cable, but not the cables with the orthogonal prongs.

Non-grounded plugs aren’t that great, though, and once you add the third prong the plug gets much less flat. Compare:

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Maybe Italy and Chile have the best idea in terms of slim grounded plugs, although the lack of polarity might be a problem?

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Also, IMO right-angle plugs are often better than straight ones because you can put furniture closer up against them and do so without stressing the cable.

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- tourist@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  
  right-angle plugs are often better than straight ones because you can put furniture closer up against them and do so without stressing the cable.
  
  Yeah that is definitely a huge bonus. I’ve taken it for granted.
  
  We’re slowly adopting three pronged Italian/Chilean-type plugs that will be “backwards-compatible” with the EU plugs. I have no clue about polarity or anything like that.
  
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  New sockets include em. The original three pronged socket is kind of a hazard. Kids can stick their fingers in there. Not sure how that got approved.
  
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  - WhatYouNeed@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Wait until you step on with bare feet an upturned UK plug. Worse than stepping on Lego
    
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- Sidyctism2@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  why would the lack of polarity be a problem? the outlets only deliver AC, and everything plugged into them are made for AC.
  
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  - grue@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    I gotta admit I don’t entirely understand it either, but people claim it matters. ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯
    
    physicsforums.com/…/why-is-the-correct-polarity-i…
    
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