On Fri, 14 Apr 2017 08:00:19 +0100, Folderol wrote:

> On Fri, 14 Apr 2017 03:09:54 +0100 The Natural Philosopher
>  wrote:
>
>> 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.
>>
>>
> Quite agree. The unfortunate thing is that such people often end up
> killing others :(

seen in a shop by a friend of mine whilst working as a field service
engineer:-

4 gang Extn. skt with no attached cable. connected to the mains by a
cable with a plug on each end. & just for final nail in the coffin the
cable was TV Coax!

needles to say he chopped this into tiny pieces & gave the store manager
a serious ticking off.





--
I love ROCK 'N ROLL!  I memorized the all WORDS to "WIPE-OUT" in
1965!!

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