Euro Grounding Plug Question

[Joerg]

Paul Hovnanian P.E. wrote:




This is the Schuko (Schutzkontakt, = protection (ground) contact).

In most places it can because the wall outlets have the side contacts.

Also, even if there was a polarity plus a standard I would never ever
rely on it. Even in the US it's done wrong at times. When we bought our
house we sent an inspector through and, whoopdidou, sure enough he found
one that had been wrong polarity sind 25 years, hot on the wide contact.

Of course it can. It can't be reversed with the outlets that have the ground
sticking out at 12 o'clock (possibly French), but those aren't called
Schuko. Virtually all modern Schuko plugs have that extra receptacle,
though, because it's compatible with the Schuko geometry.

Yep, it's to reduce parts variety in the stock room because this plug
fits in countries with the single prongs as well as those with side
contacts.

 

[Joerg]

Joerg wrote:

[snip]

This has the country lists for either. It's in German but just scroll down:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko

So countries where your kludge most likely will not work would be the UK
and Ireland (they got some really weird monster plugs), Denmark, Italy
and Switzerland.

I have a multi-way (British, Continental, US, Australian) input/output
plug adapter. But it only handles one plug, so I'm making a short
extension cord with a triple receptacle head to accomodate my entire
menagerie of gizmos.

As for polarity I don't know, I lived mostly in countries with the
external contacts so no polarity there.

And don't forget to turn stuff to 230V. I once did with a razor. Phssst
... BANG.

Everything I have has a SMPS with a 100-240V range, no switching
required.

Be careful in the UK and Ireland. In some places there it can peak a lot
higher than that.

 

[Robert Latest]

I believe since the early 90's everything new is made with earth.
Our plugs look like the french but with three prongs, so a schuco plug
will fit a danish socket but won't get earthed.
A danish plug with earth won't fit in a socket without earth (unless
you saw off the extra prong which I'm sure happens alot )

Is that the same system that the Swiss use? I like the Swiss system -- it's
both safe and compact.

robert

 

[Eeyore]

Be careful in the UK and Ireland. In some places there it can peak a lot
higher than that.

I've seen it at 248V. 243V is quite normal. I put this down to the politically
inspired (Conservative in origin would you believe) de-industrialisation of the
UK. There's not enough industrial load to keep the volts down any more.

The regs say it can go to 253.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

Is that the same system that the Swiss use? I like the Swiss system -- it's
both safe and compact.

It does appear to have some things going for it but the UK system makes for the
best wall warts. No other mains connector makes such a rugged physical platform.

Graham

 

[David Collier]

In Europe, domestic, office and very light industrial power is

distributed as
230V single phase with the neutral conductor potential close to
ground. There is
no centre tapped 240V as you have.

not so. Belgium, for instance uses a delta distribution with 2 hot lines.

The UK uses a star, with one neutral and a live.


David

 

[Eeyore]

not so. Belgium, for instance uses a delta distribution with 2 hot lines.

So, both neutral and live are 'hot' ?

Graham

 

[Rene Tschaggelar]

Is that the same system that the Swiss use? I like the Swiss system -- it's
both safe and compact.

No, it is not the same.

Rene

 

[Joerg]

John B wrote:

[snip]

You'll find the English language version here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko

From this description, the Schuko is the reversible plug/socket with
side ground contacts and must be non-polarized. What I have is a hybrid
Schuko/French plug (bottom photo).

Those have become more popular in Europe because they work in more
countries and thus reduce inventory.

 

[Nico Coesel]

Paul Hovnanian P.E. wrote:



This has the country lists for either. It's in German but just scroll down:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko

So countries where your kludge most likely will not work would be the UK
and Ireland (they got some really weird monster plugs), Denmark, Italy
and Switzerland.

As for polarity I don't know, I lived mostly in countries with the
external contacts so no polarity there.

And don't forget to turn stuff to 230V. I once did with a razor. Phssst
... BANG.

Try a 1900VA PSU from a logic analyser )

 

[Nico Coesel]

I've seen it at 248V. 243V is quite normal. I put this down to the politically
inspired (Conservative in origin would you believe) de-industrialisation of the
UK. There's not enough industrial load to keep the volts down any more.

The regs say it can go to 253.

Wasn't it -10 +15%? In other words 207V to 265V? Most switchers are
designed to work up to 265V AC.

 

[Eeyore]

Wasn't it -10 +15%? In other words 207V to 265V? Most switchers are
designed to work up to 265V AC.

230V -6 +10% IIRC.

Graham