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NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2024 14:42:29 +0000
From: john larkin <jl@650pot.com>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design
Subject: Re: British (european?) kitchen counter electric outlets
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2024 07:42:29 -0700
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On Tue, 11 Jun 2024 07:30:07 -0700, Don Y
<blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:

>On 6/11/2024 3:50 AM, Martin Brown wrote:
>> On 09/06/2024 02:29, Grant Taylor wrote:
>>> On 6/8/24 19:13, john larkin wrote:
>>>> The British plugs and outlets are enormous too.
>>>
>>> I like the idea of a fuse in the plug end of the cord.
>>>
>>> I'm only aware of that for Christmas lights in the U.S.A.
>>>
>>> The Christmas lights show that small fuses can fit in a slightly larger plug 
>>> and not require anything nearly as large as European plugs that I've seen 
>>> pictures / video of.
>
>XMAS lights are fused because they can be daisy-chained; the next strand
>plugged into the end of the previous strand.  As such, the strand closest
>to the mains outlet sees the total load of all strands.  Expecting consumers
>to observe the limit of 3 strands is wishful thinking.  So, a 5A fuse in
>every plug ensures that whichever strand is "first" will open.
>
>Similarly, expecting consumers to consider each of the individual loads they
>plug into a 99c 18AWG extension cord is wishful thinking.
>
>> Fuses in plugs is a UK thing. Continental 3 pin plugs are every bit as brutal 
>> in shape as UK plugs but are unfused. Continental 2 pin is pretty similar size 
>> to US except with round pins 230vac rather than flat ones.
>
>US plugs (for consumer use) tend to be really poorly made. 

But are perfectly reliable.