Even if you unplug it, the socket is still live at more than 200 V.
Comment on Why do so many UK electrical sockets have an on/off switch next to them?
polarpear11@lemmy.world 5 days agoWhy can’t you just unplug it? If you have to go to the socket anyway… maybe I don’t understand because I’ve never lived with the convenience?
reddit_sux@lemmy.world 5 days ago
Nibodhika@lemmy.world 5 days ago
Maybe this was meant to be a joke, but that’s not how it works. If it were the switch would also not do anything, because what the switch does is exactly the same as unplugging the thing, i.e. cut a piece of the wire out.
reddit_sux@lemmy.world 5 days ago
A switch shuts the supply to the socket. Even after unplugging the socket does have electric supply, i.e. it is live. If any metallic object is inserted into the live socket it can give you a worse shock. Since the voltage supply in UK is 220V not 110V.
Shutter inside is much safer than button but is slightly costlier.
rarbg@lemmy.zip 5 days ago
Lots of wall warts suck down 5w unused. I could see this being nice
Blackmist@feddit.uk 5 days ago
Depends on the device.
Something like a vacuum, sure. You’re probably going to move it around anyway.
But I used to have a Spectrum computer, and it had no power switch. If you plugged it in then it was just on. Much simpler to power off at the switch than unplug it and risk the plug falling down the back of the table into a rats nest of cables.
Plus I guess it’s one more step a toddler needs to do to electrocute themselves…
gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 days ago
But I used to have a Spectrum computer, and it had no power switch. If you plugged it in then it was just on
Something I’ve learned talking to my bri’ish friends online over the years: this happens to you guys because you have those switches. I cannot think of anything I’ve bought in the US that didn’t have its own power control for when it’s plugged into the wall (unless it’s something silly that I made or, for whatever fucking reason, Christmas lights and ONLY Christmas lights as every other decorative string light I own has a switch)
Blackmist@feddit.uk 4 days ago
Nvidia Shield has no switch either. If it crashes (and Disney+ is the main culprit causing that, along with full 4K Blu-ray rips on Jellyfin) you have to pull the power cable on it.
Michal@programming.dev 5 days ago
It’s easier to flip the switch to turn it back on than to fumble with the plug. You can get a variant without the switches if you don’t like, or simply leave the switch always on.