21 replies to this topic

[BeefJeRKy]

A very interesting article I found
I'll quote a part of it here:

Quote

Ok, maybe not every country, but with at least 12 different sockets in widespread use it sure as hell feels like it to anyone who's ever traveled. So why in the world, literally, are there so many? Funny story!

The more you look at the writhing orgy of plugs in the world, the sillier it seems. If you buy a phone charger at the airport in Florida, you won't be able to use it when your flight lands in France. If you buy a three-pronged adapter for le portable in Paris, you might not be able to plug it in when your train drops you off in Germany. And when your flight finally bounces to a stop on the runway in London, get ready to buy a comically large adapter to tap into the grid there. But that's cool! You can take the same adapter to Singapore with you! And parts of Nigeria! Oh yeah, and if said charger doesn't support 240v power natively, make sure you buy a converter, or else it might explode.

And aside from a few oases, like the fledgling standardization of the Type C Europlug in the European Union, this is the picture all across the world.

I'd hesitate to refer to power sockets as a part of a country's culture, because they're plugs—they don't really mean anything. But in the sense that they're probably not going to change until they're forcefully replaced with something wildly new, it's kind of what they are.

Rest of the article is here

[WNxMastrefubu]

true, hard to believe what could replace it though, its used so widly

[RaiDK]

Someone would have to make a new standard with some sort of clear advantage over what everyone else already uses.

[CodeCat]

I like how the socket at the top speaks Dutch and the American plug goes WTF?

Edited by CodeCat, 02 November 2009 - 09:37.

[Brad]

If all the plugs were replaced by a universal plug, it would have to be a comprimise between the two main power supplies aswell.

[BeefJeRKy]

Actually it would be easier to choose one voltage standard over the other that way a good number or appliances/products still function. If we moved to something weird like 150V EVERYTHINg would have to be changed.

[CodeCat]

Also, I believe the article said that they later realised 120V was a mistake. So most likely the standard will be 230V.

[General]

Lol, which country is that using H - Type ? Jordan ? or a part of it ? XD

[BeefJeRKy]

Israel actually

[H4mm3r]

I withdraw my previous comment.



Huh, doesn't look much different than from the ones i use in america

Edited by H4mm3r, 03 November 2009 - 23:12.

[Libains]

Gabriel Angelos, on 3 Nov 2009, 21:22, said:

Lol, which country is that using H - Type ? Jordan ? or a part of it ? XD

You called?

Honestly, I like the chunkiness of British plugs - they're a little unwieldy, but they do get the job done, and it's almost impossible to break one, something I've done to many an American/Brazillian plug.

H4mm3r, on 3 Nov 2009, 21:32, said:

*explodes*

Damn i forgot my charger for my uranium rod cooler, oh sh-

This isn't in the SYD mate. You need to be very careful where you spam - you've done it once of twice outside of SYD before iirc. Consider this a verbal warning to keep spam where spam should be.

[JJ]

Nice read.

And yea, British plugs are good, but then they're the only plugs I ever use anyway.

[Destiny]

JJ, on 6 Nov 2009, 22:25, said:

Nice read.

And yea, British plugs are good, but then they're the only plugs I ever use anyway.

Because we got colonized by the Brits.

[Kris]

The philippines uses Type A&B plugs as standard and Type G as a brother and we pretty much mix and match everything

Edited by Kris, 06 November 2009 - 19:20.

[JJ]

Destiny, on 7 Nov 2009, 3:09, said:

JJ, on 6 Nov 2009, 22:25, said:

Nice read.

And yea, British plugs are good, but then they're the only plugs I ever use anyway.

Because we got colonized by the Brits.

Well duh, we wouldn't be using American plugs now would we?

()

[Destiny]

Why not? I have a couple of stuff with American plugs and a Type D/M plug for my broken/never used air conditioner.

[BeefJeRKy]

Tbh, I just think the EU plug is simplest. And a weird thing I discovered is an Israeli plug (type H) at school which is funny considering how much of a big deal it would be to find such a thing here. I think it's a pre-war relic as the Physics building is in desperate need of renovation.

[CodeCat]

I've seen US plugs a few times. Each time I was amazed by how tiny those things are.

Edited by CodeCat, 08 November 2009 - 22:29.

[Destiny]

Well smaller is better, right? From what I can see you need to find something to poke the top slot/hole in British plugs to allow American plugs to be inserted in the bottom two slots...I did that once and the entire house lost power. But yeah, adapters are there for something.

[The Wandering Jew]

Destiny, on 9 Nov 2009, 9:24, said:

Well smaller is better, right? From what I can see you need to find something to poke the top slot/hole in British plugs to allow American plugs to be inserted in the bottom two slots...I did that once and the entire house lost power. But yeah, adapters are there for something.

For plugging reasons, I guess. Smaller plugs can accomodate more than two in-line.


Others:

Correct me if I'm right...

Japan=120V, single phase
ASEAN region=220V, single phase
US=230-240V, single phase

Is there a power plant that supply 3-phase for homes? Because if it were, then the plug would be impossible. You'll need a no-fuse breaker for that.

[BeefJeRKy]

The Wandering Jew, on 9 Nov 2009, 6:55, said:

Destiny, on 9 Nov 2009, 9:24, said:

Well smaller is better, right? From what I can see you need to find something to poke the top slot/hole in British plugs to allow American plugs to be inserted in the bottom two slots...I did that once and the entire house lost power. But yeah, adapters are there for something.

For plugging reasons, I guess. Smaller plugs can accomodate more than two in-line.


Others:

Correct me if I'm right...

Japan=120V, single phase
ASEAN region=220V, single phase
US=110V, single phase

Is there a power plant that supply 3-phase for homes? Because if it were, then the plug would be impossible. You'll need a no-fuse breaker for that.

Fixed. And you can install tri-phase plugs at home (usually for washing machines, boilers, etc...) But these tend to be hidden from view.

[Destiny]

JRK, on 9 Nov 2009, 17:36, said:

But these tend to be hidden from view.

How come? They're not going to used to power miniguns or missile silos...