uk 13A 3-pin plugs

[SUNRAY]

I don’t like to be pedantic, but wouldn’t connecting a plug to a lighting circuit supply be very dangerous

Not if the plug is how the lighting circuit is being energised

 

[Jackrae]

I wonder why some go on about 13A sockets being connected to lighting circuits being "dangerous" as the lights might go out if the socket is 'mis-used'. The incoming mains probably 'goes out' with the loss of all lights, more often than inadvertant insertion of a vacuum cleaner into a lighting socket, but no-one seems to winge on about that.

 

[SUNRAY]

I wonder why some go on about 13A sockets being connected to lighting circuits being "dangerous" as the lights might go out if the socket is 'mis-used'. The incoming mains probably 'goes out' with the loss of all lights, more often than inadvertant insertion of a vacuum cleaner into a lighting socket, but no-one seems to winge on about that.

You know that, I know that, everyone one this forum knows that, all except for one silly person who insists on cleaning his loft insulation on a regular basis.

 

[securespark]

Would that be with a vacuum cleaner plugged into a socket in the loft fed from the lighting circuit?

 

[JohnW2]

I wonder why some go on about 13A sockets being connected to lighting circuits being "dangerous" as the lights might go out if the socket is 'mis-used'. The incoming mains probably 'goes out' with the loss of all lights, more often than inadvertant insertion of a vacuum cleaner into a lighting socket, but no-one seems to winge on about that.

Indeed. As you're probably aware, I'm always making a similar point in relation to people's concerns about being 'plunged into darkness' as a result of a fault on one circuit tripping an RCD which also protects a lighting circuit. As I say, in my house, over the past 36 years, situations in which I could have been 'plunged into darkness' have far more commonly been due to (often very brief) power cuts than to RCDs tripping, and the same would be even more true of people plugging vacuum cleaners into sockets (on lighting circuits) in my roof spaces (which has never happened, even though I do have some such sockets).

The only solution is emergency lighting (which, since I have it, is why I never have actually been plunged into darkness by power cuts) - and, in the case of a roof space, I would never go into one without a torch in my pocket (even if I were carrying a vacuum cleaner

Kind Regards, John

 

[boringoldcodger]

I could be wrong, but I THINK that MK were doing plugs with insulated pins slightly before 1984 - I expect someone will bec able to tell us.

They were certainly making them in the early 70s, I'd reckon no later than 73.

 

[Taylortwocities]

They were certainly making them in the early 70s, I'd reckon no later than 73.

The patent for the insulated pins wasn’t lodged until 1970.

Espacenet - Original document

worldwide.espacenet.com

The requirement for insulated pins in BS1363 was not until included until 1984 although they were maybe available for some time before that.

 

[SUNRAY]

Indeed. As you're probably aware, I'm always making a similar point in relation to people's concerns about being 'plunged into darkness' as a result of a fault on one circuit tripping an RCD which also protects a lighting circuit. As I say, in my house, over the past 36 years, situations in which I could have been 'plunged into darkness' have far more commonly been due to (often very brief) power cuts than to RCDs tripping, and the same would be even more true of people plugging vacuum cleaners into sockets (on lighting circuits) in my roof spaces (which has never happened, even though I do have some such sockets).


Kind Regards, John

I agree with this, from memory my only RCD tripping at home has been the faulty mains filter in the dishwasher (which took a fair bit of searching) chewed lighting cable in the loft tripped MCB.

 

[JohnW2]

I agree with this, from memory my only RCD tripping at home has been the faulty mains filter in the dishwasher (which took a fair bit of searching) chewed lighting cable in the loft tripped MCB.

Maybe I've just been lucky but, seemingly unlike some (particularly eric), I have virtually (perhaps literally) never suffered a 'nuisance' RCD trip (i.e. a trip 'for no good reason').

I have certainly suffered some ('legitimate') trips, albeit very few. The great majority have been due to water ingress - either outdoors or indoors due to plumbing or roof leaks, and at least a couple due to the 'death' of a fridge or freezer - as well, of course, as the (quite a few!) occasions when I have allowed N and E to touch whilst working on a SP-isolated circuit!

That tiny number of RCD trips fades into total insignificance in comparison with the number of (as I said, often very brief) power cuts during the 35+ years I have been living with RCDs.

Kind Regards, John