How not to wire a 13-amp. plug!

[Terry]

Interesting - I always assumed that the reason the French avoided the side contact earthing of the SCHUKO plug and introduced a pin instead was to ensure the correct connection of live and neutral - as we do in the UK.

But it appears to be just the French doing what they always do - something different!*

I'm sure the French must have cursed these sockets when they first appeared as, although there is nothing to stop an earthed appliance being used with an unearthed socket, an unearthed plug will not fit an earthed socket!

I can just imagine a French family moving into a new house back in the 70s and finding that not one electrical appliance could be used until they changed all the plugs! Amazingly, I've noticed over the years that unearthed plugs were still on sale without even a hole to permit them to be used in any socket.

These days, of course, virtually every appliance sold has a moulded plug which very cleverly fits both SCHUKO and French sockets.

* For example, SECAM: System Essentially Contrary to the American Method which works a bit better than the french version: Suprême Effort Contre AMérique (Supreme effort against America).

[spot-wobble]

'Flat' two pin plugs common on many appliances - I guess usually class two types like my new Bosch electric drill.

Poland uses the French system of earthed sockets. The new table lamp in our rented apartment here only has a flat two pin plug on it as does the TV. Both the microwave and kettle have earthed pugs.

I think they were common on many items employing standard insulation, for example an old metal cased electric fire I found in the attic has only a two pin plug on it and will fit new and old style sockets.

All the original sockets (one per room) in our house are two pin - no earth!
I have just rewired our guest room and fitted 4 double sockets with earth.

Although the earth is just a local earth not PME as in the UK. The protective devices (RCDs) work differently here as regards the earthing system which is a long spike in the ground!

On the subject of RCDs it is a requirement of the Norm - (French wiring regulations) that devices that control power via mains chopping i.e. washing machines, tumbles driers etc. have their own supply and are protected by a special type of RCD.

Andy

[ppppenguin]

I don't see how RCDs can work differently due to earthing arrangements. Provided the supply isn't totally floating an RCD works even in the absence of any formal earthing system.

Surely the French don't still use voltage opearted ELCBs? These do depend on the earthing spike.

[spot-wobble]

Jeffrey,

what I meant about RCDs was they how they operate in conjunction with the unit fitted on the mains distribution transformer. That is explained in the book I have on how to do French style wiring according to the Norm.

Andy

[Valvebloke]

... how to do French style wiring according to the Norm.

He seems like a nice guy, but is he really an authority on electrical wiring ?



VB

[AlanBeckett]

Anybody who holds a Half-pint Jug by its Handle is probably a Politician.
I've got two which I keep specially for such visits

Alan

[Ed_Dinning]

Hi Gents, if you want to see more electrical horrors have a look at the IET magazine E&T.
There have been several horror pictures over the preceding months, including some from France and one of a shower unit in an Indian hotel supplied from a 3 pin 15A socket directly above the shower itself.

Ed

[spot-wobble]

OK so I missed off the 'e' on Norm!
By the way error 404 page not found when looking for Norm!

Andy

[ppppenguin]

I've been following the electrical horror photos in the IEE magazine too. Scary stuff.

This is an interesting story from Hong King:
http://cityofdarkness.co.uk/category/the_city/#post1207

[Valvebloke]

By the way error 404 page not found when looking for Norm

Do you mean you can't see the picture Andy ? If so then it's a still of Norm Peterson from the sit-com Cheers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_Peterson. In this one he's holding a small beer by the handle, as Alan pointed out, and looking slightly quizzically upwards.

VB