On 13/04/17 22:56, Dr J R Stockton wrote:
> In comp.sys.raspberry-pi message , Mon,
> 3 Apr 2017 14:56:13, The Natural Philosopher 
> posted:
>
>>
>> Uk 13A plugs are arguably the safest in the world.
>>
>> - square pins allow for better contact reducing risk of fire through
>> overheating and arcing.
>> - the earth pin is mandatory, not optional
>> - unless the earth pin is inserted the live and neutral are not accessible.
>
> Not quite true.  With the narrower multi-way adaptors (not much plastic
> outside the L N E socket area), it is possible to insert the earth pin
> of one plug upside down (to release the shutter, of course), and the
> power pins of another device upside-down.  There is then nowhere for a
> cable to exit the second device's connector in the normal manner; but if
> the second device is a cubical adaptor it will go in easily, allowing
> the supply of unearthed L-N-reversed electricity.  I have three items so
> plugged by me as I write.
>
> BS 1363 needs to specify that the mating surfaces are too wide to allow
> any pin to be inserted upside down when all three pins are present.
>
Sure and you can use a screwdriver in the earth socket to open the
shutters and shove bare wires in to live and neutral

But its hard to do that accidentally, either.

You can even unscrew the faceplate and connect to the ring main behind
by twisting bare wires together.

Idiot proof is one thing, proof against a moron bent on self destruction
with just enough know-how to achieve it, is somewhat different.

--
The biggest threat to humanity comes from socialism, which has utterly
diverted our attention away from what really matters to our existential
survival, to indulging in navel gazing and faux moral investigations
into what the world ought to be, whilst we fail utterly to deal with
what it actually is.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05