Not sure what this relates to but in my experience BS546's have always been the best build quality of any mains connectors I've worked with. I have a small hire stock but have not replaced plugs or sockets in the last 10 years and I don't hold any spares, comparing that to 13A, 4343 and Shuko... I have to hold spares and take them with me for 'on job' repairs... no contest.Unsleeved pins, they say, but the article appears to say they should be sleeved. Poor standards of manufacture and compliance?
And why were the sockets unshuttered?
Are you talking about South Africa (and/or other non-UK places)? Here, both those features obviously exist (now).Yes, it does seem odd that they didn't add shutters and sleeved pins ...
Yep, and anywhere else in the UK (which is obviously what I meant!).Location: Buckinghamshire ?
Some may have done, but I personally cannot remember seeing any that did.I remember both 5A and 15A BS546 sockets having shutters in the 1960s.
2-pin sockets couldn't really be shuttered, since there's nothing other than the L&N pins themselves that could open the shutter - and that would be rather self-defeating! As above, I don't remember seeing any shuttered 'old' sockets.The old two-pin sockets (both 5A and yes-15A) were unshuttered, as were old 3-pin siclets. So shutters must have come in later.
I certainly can't remember any sleeved ones. After all, it was quite a long time after introduction of BS1363 ones that they started being sleeved.Can't remember whether the pins on the plugs were sleeved though.
SA. The switch to sleeved pins on our plug went largely un-noticed by most as it made no difference to how they were used.Are you talking about South Africa (and/or other non-UK places)?
You can shutter a 2 pin socket - some of our BS1363 ones (by MK I think) did just that. The SA socket will take 2 pin plugs.2-pin sockets couldn't really be shuttered, since there's nothing other than the L&N pins themselves that could open the shutter - and that would be rather self-defeating!
I remember both 5A and 15A BS546 sockets having shutters in the 1960s.
They were introduced and I certainly installed them, I think the late 60's may be right, this was for the front facing bakelite socketsSome may have done, but I personally cannot remember seeing any that did.
2 pin connectors in 2, 5, 15 & 30A were the predecessors and to a different standard, I'll hazard a guess at BS327 but the 546's (3 pin) kept the same diameter pins but shorter and the live pins are wider spaced making them incompatible. there was a much earlier 10A 2 pin version which I struggle to recall accurately but I think the pins were the same diameter as the 5 or 15A but longer and spaced the same as the larger sized 3 pin plug (ie the same diameter as the 5A plug but spaced like the 15A 3 pin). This meant people would try to use them in the wrong socket.The old two-pin sockets (both 5A and yes-15A) were unshuttered, as were old 3-pin siclets. So shutters must have come in later.
yes they did and the thing was both had to be pushed together otherwise they locked each other out and quite frankly they were pants.2-pin sockets couldn't really be shuttered, since there's nothing other than the L&N pins themselves that could open the shutter - and that would be rather self-defeating!
Can't
remember whether the pins on the plugs were sleeved though.
They started being sleeved at the same time as BS1363.I certainly can't remember any sleeved ones. After all, it was quite a long time after introduction of BS1363 ones that they started being sleeved.
Kind Regards, John
Ah yes - on reflection, I (once!) knew that, although I'm not sure that I've ever seen one!You can shutter a 2 pin socket ... They way they work is that both ends of the shutter lock in place - if you push something into one hole, the other end of the bar stops it opening. You have to push something into both holes as the same time - first pushing the shutter back to unlock both sides, then it either slides or pivots to uncover the contacts. It's enough to stop a single item being poked in.
As I'v just writte, now that I've been reminded I just about remember that!yes they did and the thing was both had to be pushed together otherwise they locked each other out and quite frankly they were pants.
That makes sense - although I presume that relatively (very?) few were being used (or replaced) by then?They started being sleeved at the same time as BS1363.
Are youmaware that the 15A and to a lesser extent 5A are still the mainstay for incandescent stage lighting and while we are still in this silly downlight fashion a lot of new builds include them for table lamps.As I'v just writte, now that I've been reminded I just about remember that!
That makes sense - although I presume that relatively (very?) few were being used (or replaced) by then?
Kind Regards, John
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