• Re: Whatever became of the screwdriverless plug?

    From Andy Burns@21:1/5 to All on Thu Apr 17 13:41:24 2025
    Tim+ wrote:

    Seemed like a good idea at the time. Lower profile than most 13amp plugs
    and came with a built-in wire stripper.

    I remember the MK ones with thumbgrip terminal screws,maybe they still
    exist?

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/svFteZQG8uWzapCN9

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/c5XPDHCmhqhvDbaU9

    There must have been some design flaw that doomed it I reckon but it’s not staring me in the face.
    Isn't it a requirement that a tool should be required to open anything containing mains wiring, so the slidy-off top is a no-no?

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  • From Tim+@21:1/5 to Andy Burns on Thu Apr 17 13:08:26 2025
    Andy Burns <[email protected]> wrote:
    Tim+ wrote:

    Seemed like a good idea at the time. Lower profile than most 13amp plugs
    and came with a built-in wire stripper.

    I remember the MK ones with thumbgrip terminal screws,maybe they still
    exist?

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/svFteZQG8uWzapCN9

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/c5XPDHCmhqhvDbaU9

    There must have been some design flaw that doomed it I reckon but it’s not >> staring me in the face.
    Isn't it a requirement that a tool should be required to open anything containing mains wiring, so the slidy-off top is a no-no?


    There’s a slotted catch on the underside that latches the lid. Ideally you need a screwdriver so not technically “screwdriverless” but a teaspoon will work. ;-)

    Tim

    --
    Please don't feed the trolls

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  • From Andy Bennett@21:1/5 to All on Thu Apr 17 14:08:52 2025
    On 17/04/2025 13:36, Tim+ wrote:

    Seemed like a good idea at the time. Lower profile than most 13amp plugs
    and came with a built-in wire stripper.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/svFteZQG8uWzapCN9

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/c5XPDHCmhqhvDbaU9

    There must have been some design flaw that doomed it I reckon but it’s not staring me in the face.

    Tim


    Looks like the earth connection would pull out first - normal plug it
    stays connected until last so another safety issue.

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  • From Tim+@21:1/5 to All on Thu Apr 17 12:36:10 2025
    Seemed like a good idea at the time. Lower profile than most 13amp plugs
    and came with a built-in wire stripper.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/svFteZQG8uWzapCN9

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/c5XPDHCmhqhvDbaU9

    There must have been some design flaw that doomed it I reckon but it’s not staring me in the face.

    Tim

    --
    Please don't feed the trolls

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  • From Scott@21:1/5 to [email protected] on Thu Apr 17 14:26:09 2025
    On 17 Apr 2025 13:08:26 GMT, Tim+ <[email protected]> wrote:

    Andy Burns <[email protected]> wrote:
    Tim+ wrote:

    Seemed like a good idea at the time. Lower profile than most 13amp plugs >>> and came with a built-in wire stripper.

    I remember the MK ones with thumbgrip terminal screws,maybe they still
    exist?

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/svFteZQG8uWzapCN9

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/c5XPDHCmhqhvDbaU9

    There must have been some design flaw that doomed it I reckon but it�s not >>> staring me in the face.
    Isn't it a requirement that a tool should be required to open anything
    containing mains wiring, so the slidy-off top is a no-no?


    There�s a slotted catch on the underside that latches the lid. Ideally you >need a screwdriver so not technically �screwdriverless� but a teaspoon will >work. ;-)

    There are probably various implements that could open a standard plug
    with sufficient determination (including a hammer).

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  • From Scott@21:1/5 to All on Thu Apr 17 14:28:04 2025
    On Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:08:52 +0100, Andy Bennett <[email protected]>
    wrote:

    On 17/04/2025 13:36, Tim+ wrote:

    Seemed like a good idea at the time. Lower profile than most 13amp plugs
    and came with a built-in wire stripper.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/svFteZQG8uWzapCN9

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/c5XPDHCmhqhvDbaU9

    There must have been some design flaw that doomed it I reckon but it�s not >> staring me in the face.

    Tim

    Looks like the earth connection would pull out first - normal plug it
    stays connected until last so another safety issue.

    Would this not depend on the relative length of each wire? IIRC you
    were supposed to leave the earth wire a bit longer for this reason.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Theo@21:1/5 to [email protected] on Thu Apr 17 14:46:18 2025
    Tim+ <[email protected]> wrote:

    Seemed like a good idea at the time. Lower profile than most 13amp plugs
    and came with a built-in wire stripper.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/svFteZQG8uWzapCN9

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/c5XPDHCmhqhvDbaU9

    There must have been some design flaw that doomed it I reckon but it’s not staring me in the face.

    Perhaps the need was addressed by just making everything come with a
    pre-fitted plug? There was then no space in the market for an 'innovative' alternative.

    I wonder how many plugs are sold nowadays. Must be a fairly small number.

    Theo

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  • From Andy Bennett@21:1/5 to Scott on Thu Apr 17 14:55:22 2025
    On 17/04/2025 14:28, Scott wrote:
    On Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:08:52 +0100, Andy Bennett <[email protected]>
    wrote:

    On 17/04/2025 13:36, Tim+ wrote:

    Seemed like a good idea at the time. Lower profile than most 13amp plugs >>> and came with a built-in wire stripper.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/svFteZQG8uWzapCN9

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/c5XPDHCmhqhvDbaU9

    There must have been some design flaw that doomed it I reckon but it’s not
    staring me in the face.

    Tim

    Looks like the earth connection would pull out first - normal plug it
    stays connected until last so another safety issue.

    Would this not depend on the relative length of each wire? IIRC you
    were supposed to leave the earth wire a bit longer for this reason.

    In a normal plug, yes - plenty of room to park it.
    Where would you put the spare length of wire for the earth in this plug???

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  • From The Natural Philosopher@21:1/5 to Theo on Thu Apr 17 18:20:05 2025
    On 17/04/2025 14:46, Theo wrote:
    I wonder how many plugs are sold nowadays. Must be a fairly small number.

    Indeed. A bit like 5A sockets. Dated...but still available

    And very cheap.

    --
    Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as
    foolish, and by the rulers as useful.

    (Seneca the Younger, 65 AD)

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  • From Scott@21:1/5 to All on Thu Apr 17 18:40:35 2025
    On Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:55:22 +0100, Andy Bennett <[email protected]>
    wrote:

    On 17/04/2025 14:28, Scott wrote:
    On Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:08:52 +0100, Andy Bennett <[email protected]>
    wrote:

    On 17/04/2025 13:36, Tim+ wrote:

    Seemed like a good idea at the time. Lower profile than most 13amp plugs >>>> and came with a built-in wire stripper.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/svFteZQG8uWzapCN9

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/c5XPDHCmhqhvDbaU9

    There must have been some design flaw that doomed it I reckon but it�s not >>>> staring me in the face.

    Tim

    Looks like the earth connection would pull out first - normal plug it
    stays connected until last so another safety issue.

    Would this not depend on the relative length of each wire? IIRC you
    were supposed to leave the earth wire a bit longer for this reason.

    In a normal plug, yes - plenty of room to park it.
    Where would you put the spare length of wire for the earth in this plug???

    Is there not space in the cavity in the middle?

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  • From charles@21:1/5 to The Natural Philosopher on Thu Apr 17 17:45:02 2025
    In article <vtrd85$13uf0$[email protected]>,
    The Natural Philosopher <[email protected]d> wrote:
    On 17/04/2025 14:46, Theo wrote:
    I wonder how many plugs are sold nowadays. Must be a fairly small number.

    Indeed. A bit like 5A sockets. Dated...but still available

    And very cheap.

    for use when you donn't want difficult to accesss ring main fuses

    --
    from KT24 in Surrey, England - sent from my RISC OS 4t�
    "I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

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  • From David Wade@21:1/5 to The Natural Philosopher on Thu Apr 17 18:42:46 2025
    On 17/04/2025 18:20, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 17/04/2025 14:46, Theo wrote:
    I wonder how many plugs are sold nowadays.  Must be a fairly small
    number.

    Indeed. A bit like 5A sockets. Dated...but still available


    Well 5A sockets might be dated, but they are quite often used for
    dedicated lighting circuits so you can safely have centrally switched
    side lights, downlighters or uplighters on a 5amp lighting circuit. They
    are available in a wide range of finishes to fit in a standard back box. ScrewFix seems to have over 40 different styles available...

    This allows a low current switch and light gauge wiring to be used. I
    wonder what the alternative would be?

    And very cheap.


    Well those on Screwfix don't seem cheap....

    Dave

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  • From Scott@21:1/5 to All on Thu Apr 17 19:00:50 2025
    On Thu, 17 Apr 2025 18:42:46 +0100, David Wade <[email protected]d>
    wrote:

    On 17/04/2025 18:20, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 17/04/2025 14:46, Theo wrote:
    I wonder how many plugs are sold nowadays.� Must be a fairly small
    number.

    Indeed. A bit like 5A sockets. Dated...but still available


    Well 5A sockets might be dated, but they are quite often used for
    dedicated lighting circuits so you can safely have centrally switched
    side lights, downlighters or uplighters on a 5amp lighting circuit. They
    are available in a wide range of finishes to fit in a standard back box. >ScrewFix seems to have over 40 different styles available...

    This allows a low current switch and light gauge wiring to be used. I
    wonder what the alternative would be?

    A 2A socket :-)

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  • From Scott@21:1/5 to [email protected] on Thu Apr 17 18:41:18 2025
    On Thu, 17 Apr 2025 18:20:05 +0100, The Natural Philosopher <[email protected]d> wrote:

    On 17/04/2025 14:46, Theo wrote:
    I wonder how many plugs are sold nowadays. Must be a fairly small number.

    Indeed. A bit like 5A sockets. Dated...but still available

    And very cheap.

    And 7A fuses.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From The Natural Philosopher@21:1/5 to David Wade on Thu Apr 17 19:18:24 2025
    On 17/04/2025 18:42, David Wade wrote:
    On 17/04/2025 18:20, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 17/04/2025 14:46, Theo wrote:
    I wonder how many plugs are sold nowadays.  Must be a fairly small
    number.

    Indeed. A bit like 5A sockets. Dated...but still available


    Well 5A sockets might be dated, but they are quite often used for
    dedicated lighting circuits so you can safely have centrally switched
    side lights, downlighters or uplighters on a 5amp lighting circuit. They
    are available in a wide range of finishes to fit in a standard back box. ScrewFix seems to have over 40 different styles available...

    This allows a low current switch and light gauge wiring to be used. I
    wonder what the alternative would be?

    And very cheap.


    Well those on Screwfix don't seem cheap....

    less than a quid a pop - £9 something for 10...

    Dave

    --
    “Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.”

    ― Voltaire, Questions sur les Miracles à M. Claparede, Professeur de Théologie à Genève, par un Proposant: Ou Extrait de Diverses Lettres de
    M. de Voltaire

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  • From Andy Burns@21:1/5 to David Wade on Thu Apr 17 19:55:34 2025
    David Wade wrote:

    This allows a low current switch and light gauge wiring to be used. I
    wonder what the alternative would be?

    Hagar Klik or Flex7 (but I think the latter are more intended to be
    fitted above suspended ceilings than on display in your lounge).

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Tim+@21:1/5 to Andy Bennett on Thu Apr 17 20:27:04 2025
    Andy Bennett <[email protected]> wrote:
    On 17/04/2025 13:36, Tim+ wrote:

    Seemed like a good idea at the time. Lower profile than most 13amp plugs
    and came with a built-in wire stripper.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/svFteZQG8uWzapCN9

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/c5XPDHCmhqhvDbaU9

    There must have been some design flaw that doomed it I reckon but it’s not >> staring me in the face.

    Tim


    Looks like the earth connection would pull out first - normal plug it
    stays connected until last so another safety issue.


    That does indeed sound like an issue. Well spotted!

    Tim

    --
    Please don't feed the trolls

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  • From David Wade@21:1/5 to Andy Burns on Thu Apr 17 23:08:18 2025
    On 17/04/2025 19:55, Andy Burns wrote:
    David Wade wrote:

    This allows a low current switch and light gauge wiring to be used. I
    wonder what the alternative would be?

    Hagar Klik or Flex7 (but I think the latter are more intended to be
    fitted above suspended ceilings than on display in your lounge).

    Those don't seem like an alternative. Klix looks like a single spot to
    plug in several devices. With the 5amp plates you can spread them round
    the room, so have one for each seating position. They do may the 5amp
    sockets seem cheap...

    Dave

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  • From Andy Burns@21:1/5 to David Wade on Fri Apr 18 08:19:26 2025
    David Wade wrote:

    Andy Burns wrote:

    Hagar Klik or Flex7 (but I think the latter are more intended to be
    fitted above suspended ceilings than on display in your lounge).

    Those don't seem like an alternative. Klix looks like a single spot to
    plug in several devices.

    You're seeing the multiway version more for shop/office fitting, they do
    make single faceplates that fit a backbox

    <https://helecs.co.uk/?product=hager-klik-socket-outlet-white-2500068059>

    or ceiling rose (or a besa box version)

    <https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/4304043-6a-round-socket-for-klik-lighting-distribution-system-white>

    plugs

    <https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/4304931-6a-4-pin-pre-wired-plug-with-3m-cable-white>

    With the 5amp plates you can spread them round
    the room, so have one for each seating position. They do may the 5amp
    sockets seem cheap...
    Yeah, I have a couple of 5A round pins in different places in my lounge,
    switched from a common way of a 3 gang switch

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  • From Graham.@21:1/5 to All on Sat Apr 19 01:20:38 2025
    This allows a low current switch and light gauge wiring to be
    used. I wonder what the alternative would be?


    One double BS1363 in my lounge is wired via a 20A switch in the
    normal light switch position by the door. I've no idea if it's a
    radial from the CU or a spur off a ring, but the previous owners
    were an American couple and outlets switched from wall-switches
    for lamps are ubiquitous in the US.


    --

    Graham.
    %Profound_observation%

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