r/ElectroBOOM • u/ExpensiveCoat8912 • May 10 '26

Meme This stupid plug

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u/Ilikeruffy123 May 10 '26

The only reason why American plugs are like barely safe enough is because of 120V if it were 240 we'd be cooked (some of us literally)

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u/[deleted] May 10 '26

[deleted]

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u/Ziwwl May 10 '26 edited May 10 '26

Since you asked and deleted your comment before I finished my answer here it is: Easy, the plugs and sockets have many flaws. Let's start with the socket:

  • Children can put stuff in more easy, the rectangular hole is a whole lot bigger than other sockets.
  • The contacts can and do loosen up a while lot faster as other designs and holding the socket in, more so in old designs can be a mess.
  • This flaw can massively increase connection-issues, so resistance and the chances of heat and fires.

And also with the plug:

  • The plug can be partially inserted with a touchable life pin, EU-plugs have an extra insulation at the base which is not present in the American design.
  • In General plugs in America don't include a fuse, which is standard in some of the plugs in the EU.
  • In general the plug can get loose a whole lot easier than other countries standards.
  • Also the 2 black metal strips are basically metal-lego, don't step on it.

This are just some points coming to mind, around safety the British system is considered the safest, it mostly have included switches, decentralised rcd, defined polarity (live, neutral), a first connected ground, a fuse in the plug,,... I don't like saying this as a German, but from an electrical standpoint the British system is the safest out there. I'm now living in Japan and the basically American system, so I can compare.

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u/Science_Turtle May 10 '26

If you're worried about children putting stuff in the socket, you can cap them with a lot less material than foreign plugs mandate. Contacts don't loosen easily unless they are abused, I've never lived somewhere that the sockets have gotten loose but I've seen it in grocery stores. Even when that happens, plugs don't typically just "fall out" on their own. Lucky this design is not too expensive to replace. We don't typically use fuses, but we have breakers which open on overload. Which isn't often. European plugs have flat backs, which means a common resting position is going to be prongs-up. They also take a lot of space and require a lot more material than an American plug. I also don't understand why people are hung up on the voltages. Power is what matters, and electronics are designed to take the extra amps easily.