OT: That UK square pin mains plug

[N_Cook]

My quibble is he should have added some swept faring to the flex
gland/protector to project out over the pins so you can pull a lead through
a nest of wires without it jamming - my pet hate about them. Perhaps he can
turn his attention to how to eliminate rat's nests of cables.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/mar/16/choi-folding-plug-design


Praise for a god of small things

As sensible as it is pretty, could the folding plug be the first in a line
of simple revolutions from Min-Kyu Choi?

In another time and another society, Min-Kyu Choi might have been worshipped
as a god of small things. The art school graduate's design for a super-slim,
folding three-point plug is the stuff of design miracles. Quite why no one
has beaten him to it is a mystery.

Although as safe as houses, the sturdy British three-pin plug is incongruous
next to the latest digital gizmos, and when travelling it is an encumbrance
and a danger to other, more delicate things. It's also downright ugly.

The folding plug isn't just sensible, it's a surprisingly pretty thing to
look at. Unfolded, it resembles a butterfly as seen by some happily abstract
artist. It is also easy to use, needing just two smooth movements to fold or
unfold.

The choice of the plug as the winner of this year's Brit Insurance design of
the year is a particularly happy one as popular taste has begun to recoil
from the over-the-top, "iconic" design excesses of the past decade

 

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article <hnqk3j$gtp$1@news.eternal-september.org>,
N_Cook <diverse@tcp.co.uk> wrote:

Although as safe as houses, the sturdy British three-pin plug is
incongruous next to the latest digital gizmos, and when travelling it is
an encumbrance and a danger to other, more delicate things. It's also
downright ugly.

It's designed to handle 3kW. Of course it could be more delicate - but
then no use for kettles, heaters, etc.

The folding plug isn't just sensible, it's a surprisingly pretty thing
to look at. Unfolded, it resembles a butterfly as seen by some happily
abstract artist. It is also easy to use, needing just two smooth
movements to fold or unfold.

And I'm willing to bet it can't handle 3 kW. And won't last as long as a
good make standard one.

The choice of the plug as the winner of this year's Brit Insurance
design of the year is a particularly happy one as popular taste has
begun to recoil from the over-the-top, "iconic" design excesses of the
past decade

Perhaps 'Brit Insurance' would be better served giving awards to those who
improve their own industry - it's much needed.

--
*Preserve wildlife - Go pickle a squirrel*

Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

 

[b]

On Mar 17, 2:07 pm, "N_Cook" <dive...@tcp.co.uk> wrote:

My quibble is he should have added some swept faring to the flex
gland/protector to project out over the pins so you can pull a lead through
a nest of wires without it jamming - my pet hate about them. Perhaps he can
turn his attention to how to eliminate rat's nests of cables.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/mar/16/choi-folding-plug-...

Praise for a god of small things

As sensible as it is pretty, could the folding plug be the first in a line
of simple revolutions from Min-Kyu Choi?

In another time and another society, Min-Kyu Choi might have been worshipped
as a god of small things. The art school graduate's design for a super-slim,
folding three-point plug is the stuff of design miracles. Quite why no one
has beaten him to it is a mystery.

Although as safe as houses, the sturdy British three-pin plug is incongruous
next to the latest digital gizmos, and when travelling it is an encumbrance
and a danger to other, more delicate things. It's also downright ugly.

The folding plug isn't just sensible, it's a surprisingly pretty thing to
look at. Unfolded, it resembles a butterfly as seen by some happily abstract
artist. It is also easy to use, needing just two smooth movements to fold or
unfold.

The choice of the plug as the winner of this year's Brit Insurance design of
the year is a particularly happy one as popular taste has begun to recoil
from the over-the-top, "iconic" design excesses of the past decade

big discussion on this here:
http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=51347

 

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article <50f97cb92ddave@davenoise.co.uk>, Dave Plowman (News)
<dave@davenoise.co.uk> writes

And I'm willing to bet it can't handle 3 kW.

I agree. I think, if it does appear, it'll only be on low-current
devices, things like laptop power adapters.

Wonder how the rotating connection is done inside? Contact on a
rotating ring, or a super-flexible bit of wire?

--
(\__/)
(='.'=) Bunny says Windows 7 is Vi$ta reloaded.
(")_(") http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/windows_7.png

 

[Ron]

On 18/03/2010 10:13, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

As regards the standard 13 amp plug being too large - I'm old enough to
remember when we had 2, 5 and 15 amp outlets in the UK - and in both 2 and
three pin. Total nightmare. I suppose you could add a low current outlet
to a 13 amp socket which used a smaller plug - but it would take many many
years before this became universally in use.

And the Wylex, a good design and possibly the first fused plugtop.
We still use 15 amp round pin plugs and sockets and rubber cable in
theatre lighting, tho the three pin plugs are slowly being phased out in
favour of 16amp Cee form.
Ron(UK)

 

[N_Cook]

Dave Plowman (News) <dave@davenoise.co.uk> wrote in message
news:50f9e02beedave@davenoise.co.uk...

In article <BreD+AGzqcoLFwUo@jasper.org.uk>,
Mike Tomlinson <mike@jasper.org.uk> wrote:
In article <50f97cb92ddave@davenoise.co.uk>, Dave Plowman (News)
dave@davenoise.co.uk> writes

And I'm willing to bet it can't handle 3 kW.

I agree. I think, if it does appear, it'll only be on low-current
devices, things like laptop power adapters.

And of course not much saving if those things become small enough to be a
wall wart.

Wonder how the rotating connection is done inside? Contact on a
rotating ring, or a super-flexible bit of wire?

One thing you can be certain of - it *will* break. All these sort of
things with moving parts do.

As regards the standard 13 amp plug being too large - I'm old enough to
remember when we had 2, 5 and 15 amp outlets in the UK - and in both 2 and
three pin. Total nightmare. I suppose you could add a low current outlet
to a 13 amp socket which used a smaller plug - but it would take many many
years before this became universally in use.

--
*When you've seen one shopping centre you've seen a mall*

Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

How high a power transfer can you go with inductive coupling if the coils
can be in the body of the unit and laid straight next to the source, doing
away with plugs and sockets all together.

 

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article <BreD+AGzqcoLFwUo@jasper.org.uk>,
Mike Tomlinson <mike@jasper.org.uk> wrote:

In article <50f97cb92ddave@davenoise.co.uk>, Dave Plowman (News)
dave@davenoise.co.uk> writes

And I'm willing to bet it can't handle 3 kW.

I agree. I think, if it does appear, it'll only be on low-current
devices, things like laptop power adapters.

And of course not much saving if those things become small enough to be a
wall wart.

Wonder how the rotating connection is done inside? Contact on a
rotating ring, or a super-flexible bit of wire?

One thing you can be certain of - it *will* break. All these sort of
things with moving parts do.

As regards the standard 13 amp plug being too large - I'm old enough to
remember when we had 2, 5 and 15 amp outlets in the UK - and in both 2 and
three pin. Total nightmare. I suppose you could add a low current outlet
to a 13 amp socket which used a smaller plug - but it would take many many
years before this became universally in use.

--
*When you've seen one shopping centre you've seen a mall*

Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

 

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article <N_ydnXaUNPLvmz_WnZ2dnUVZ8hadnZ2d@bt.com>, Ron
<ron@lunevalleyaudio.com> writes

And the Wylex, a good design and possibly the first fused plugtop.

Are you _sure_ about that? The fuse was the live pin. Under some
circumstances it could be become detached and leave a pin sticking out
of the live on the socket.

--
(\__/)
(='.'=) Bunny says Windows 7 is Vi$ta reloaded.
(")_(") http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/windows_7.png

 

[Martin Crossley]

Mike Tomlinson wrote:

In article <N_ydnXaUNPLvmz_WnZ2dnUVZ8hadnZ2d@bt.com>, Ron
ron@lunevalleyaudio.com> writes

And the Wylex, a good design and possibly the first fused plugtop.

Are you _sure_ about that? The fuse was the live pin. Under some
circumstances it could be become detached and leave a pin sticking out
of the live on the socket.

That was the Dorman-Smith.
The Wylex ones were -o-

 

[Ron]

On 19/03/2010 19:46, Mike Tomlinson wrote:

In article<N_ydnXaUNPLvmz_WnZ2dnUVZ8hadnZ2d@bt.com>, Ron
ron@lunevalleyaudio.com> writes

And the Wylex, a good design and possibly the first fused plugtop.

Are you _sure_ about that? The fuse was the live pin. Under some
circumstances it could be become detached and leave a pin sticking out
of the live on the socket.

Not the Wylex, the fuse was internal and a slightly smaller size then
the modern 20mm

Ron(UK)_

 

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article <nIidnRHwSp8Oez7WnZ2dnUVZ7ridnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, Martin
Crossley <Martin@g8uwm.NOSPAMabelgratis.net> writes

That was the Dorman-Smith.
The Wylex ones were -o-

Thanks for the correction.

--
(\__/)
(='.'=) Bunny says Windows 7 is Vi$ta reloaded.
(")_(") http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/windows_7.png

 

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article <nIidnRHwSp8Oez7WnZ2dnUVZ7ridnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>,
Martin Crossley <Martin@g8uwm.NOSPAMabelgratis.net> wrote:

Mike Tomlinson wrote:
In article <N_ydnXaUNPLvmz_WnZ2dnUVZ8hadnZ2d@bt.com>, Ron
ron@lunevalleyaudio.com> writes

And the Wylex, a good design and possibly the first fused plugtop.

Are you _sure_ about that? The fuse was the live pin. Under some
circumstances it could be become detached and leave a pin sticking out
of the live on the socket.

That was the Dorman-Smith.
The Wylex ones were -o-

Spawn of Satan those D&S plugs. Apart from the fuse coming off the cord
grip was just a rubber washer which didn't hold smaller cables. And
dropping them often broke off the fuse...

--
*And don't start a sentence with a conjunction *

Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.