Path: ...!news.mixmin.net!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail From: Martin Brown <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design Subject: Re: British (european?) kitchen counter electric outlets Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2024 10:16:41 +0100 Organization: A noiseless patient Spider Lines: 59 Message-ID: References: <1quvk5k.dbn40q1ggrom8N%liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Injection-Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2024 11:16:42 +0200 (CEST) Injection-Info: dont-email.me; posting-host="151e811e6e95cd7b2ea8a77b54b302ce"; logging-data="353792"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org"; posting-account="U2FsdGVkX1/6X0ZECZRNEbdJ5hT8/dbTb9ZE1UDpu6Rj6/eVADrObw==" User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird Cancel-Lock: sha1:B0lEqzl00VT4/uzFN1bRMBIlBvY= In-Reply-To: Content-Language: en-GB Bytes: 4018 On 10/06/2024 01:41, Don Y wrote: > On 6/9/2024 3:50 PM, TTman wrote: >>> Yes, I've seen that.  And, they are *huge* (comparatively speaking; >>> a duplex receptacle, here, is a ~1x~3 inch device about an inch thick). >>> >>> Ours also reside *in* the wall; I seem to remember the ones in England >>> were "on" the wall (?) >> >> In the UK we have slim sockets now.... protruding maybe 2mm from the >> wall. > > So, they fit *into* the wall?  Is the wiring concealed in the wall and > routed to the outlet(s) from within? Remember that in the UK most older houses are brick built with plastered walls so there is a fair amount of effort chasing a socket box into the wall. Historically a lot of ring mains wiring also ran behind the skirting board at the base of the wall and sockets were let into that. > > There is a product here called "Wiremold" that can be entirely surface > mounted (junction boxes as well as cable runs).  But, it would typically > not be found in most homes (kitchens).  A "Plugmold" product provides > similarly (permanently) mounted "outlet strips" Surface mounted boxes are generally used in garages and utility rooms or in positions that are out of sight (like under counters behind fridges). > Basements/garages/exteriors will often have surface mounted junction boxes > with cable runs in EMT or rigid conduit, usually required by local code > (to protect the wiring).  E.g., I run all of my exterior network cabling > in EMT with water-tight fittings as it makes for a cleaner looking > installation > and affords some protections against physical damage. > >> Earlier types protruded around 10mm and before that ( we called them >> surface mount) they protruded 25mm-40 mm.Our duplex sockets measure 6" >> wide x 3"high > > As I said, a duplex receptacle would be about 1"x3" and sell for as > little as 77c or as much as ~$10 (QTY 1 -- though most would be purchased > in much larger quantities) depending on the features desired (ampacity, > cosmetics, tamper resistance, etc.) You can get flush surface mount units but you have to chase that much further into brickwork to fit the it in. The old way with ~10mm protruding was the least worst option and is still common. New build with a lot of stud walling tends to have more modern flush mount. > You can (just barely -- and with many qualifications) install one into > a Jbox of ~10 cu in internal volume.  A single gang device typically > exposes a 2x4" opening, covered by a 3.5x5" decorative plate It takes a while with a chisel to knock a hole big enough for a UK mains socket out of a wall which is why most remain 10mm out to this day. The plaster tends to fall off nearby so it is always messy to install one. -- Martin Brown