Plug vs. Plug — Which Nation's Socket Is Best?

Plug vs. Plug — Which Nation's Socket Is Best? 1174

Posted by timothy on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:04PM from the one-vote-for-three-prong-american dept.

CNETNate writes "Is the American mains socket really so much worse than the Italian design? And does the Italian socket fail at rivaling the sockets in British homes? This feature explores, in a not-at-all-parodic-and-anecdotal fashion, the designs, strengths and weaknesses of Earth's mains adapters. There is only one conclusion, and you're likely not to agree if you live in France. Or Italy. Or in fact most places." (For more plug pics and details, check out Wikipedia's list of the ones in current use.)

Plug vs. Plug — Which Nation's Socket Is Best?

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Re:PoW (Score:4, Funny)

by Kenja ( 541830 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:12PM (#29983270)

We all save on electrolysis?

Is this really front page news? (Score:4, Funny)

by jimicus ( 737525 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:14PM (#29983326)

Seriously, why don't you just post "Nothing happened today" in big letters on the front page?

Re:Depends on your criteria (Score:3, Funny)

by Ethanol-fueled ( 1125189 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:15PM (#29983376) Homepage Journal

No, this [wikimedia.org] one is the safest because the plugs screw in for a secure fit. Why it isn't already used in wall sockets is anybody's guess.

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

by fahrbot-bot ( 874524 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:27PM (#29983616)

UK plugs are about double the size, have significantly thicker pins and have a fuse built in.

Worst pick-up line ever.

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

by Threni ( 635302 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:27PM (#29983628)

Oh yes, that switch, the fuse in the plug and the protective plastic cover over the live socket must add something like 1p to each socket in whatever Chinese prison they're being made in this week. Sure, they last forever and save lives, but it's just too much of an expense for me.

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:29PM (#29983670)

And they leak oil.

Sorry, American socket takes top honors... (Score:3, Funny)

by pastafazou ( 648001 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:30PM (#29983686)

America [famouswhy.com] gave birth to the ultimate socket.

Re:Is this really front page news? (Score:3, Funny)

by whatajoke ( 1625715 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:32PM (#29983714)

Because "nothing happened today" will become dupe soonish?

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

by oldspewey ( 1303305 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:34PM (#29983754)

Man up.
If you can't handle a bit of unprotected metal carrying 110V and fake grounded adaptors you're not cut out for this continent.

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

by c_sd_m ( 995261 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:37PM (#29983820)

Yay, I've above average!

Re:No. (Score:4, Funny)

by FlyingBishop ( 1293238 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:38PM (#29983836)

"I'd rather have the option than even more regulation": how stereotypically American.
Then how is it that Americans created Mac OS X while a Finn created Linux?

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

by Dunx ( 23729 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:44PM (#29983950) Homepage

I haven't been able to read the article yet, but one thing which is definitely different between the US and UK plugs is that no US plug has a fuse in it.
Also, the US plugs are woefully inadequate for inflicting really serious injuries when stood on with bare feet.

Re:US vs UK... (Score:3, Funny)

by Kenja ( 541830 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:46PM (#29983994)

Due to the low price these days I use GFI outlets whenever I can. Worse case is it saves you a trip to the breaker box if you overload the circuit. Best case it stops you from doing the 110v mambo.

Re:US vs UK... (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @03:50PM (#29984068)

Well, maybe the ones who are still alive...

Re:No. (Score:3, Funny)

by RichardJenkins ( 1362463 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @04:03PM (#29984322)

Capital! Socket to the Yanks, dear countryman.

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

by SnarfQuest ( 469614 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @04:08PM (#29984412)

How many Americans have been killed, per year, by the 2" long plastic guns attached to those plastic GI Joe soldiers? Those are routinely confiscated at airports.
It must make you feel a great deal safer, knowing that plastic soldiers are not going to attack you during your next flight with their 2" long rifles.

Doesn't really matter anyways... (Score:2, Funny)

by PerfectionLost ( 1004287 ) writes: <ben@noSPaM.perfectresolution.com> on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @04:09PM (#29984436)

The first thing I do when I land in a foreign nation is strip all my plugs and jam the bare wires in the outlet.

Re:110 vs 220 (Score:5, Funny)

by redneckHippe ( 744945 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @04:28PM (#29984770) Homepage

As an electrician, all i can say is when I get nailed with 120v I give the wire a dirty look and when I get it from 240v I say #$%@#^%.
Lone Dragon

Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)

by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @04:35PM (#29984904)

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:No. (Score:5, Funny)

by BigBlueOx ( 1201587 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @05:09PM (#29985624)

Your sad devotion to those ancient electrical plugs hasn't given you clairvoyance enough to stop the Nazis from bombing your cities or helped you conjure up the stolen data tapes.

Hokey fuses and ancient plug designs are no match for a good American socket in your wall, kid.

If this is a news site for nerds, then why is this a flamewar about A/C plugs? Commander! Tear this site apart until you've found some nerds. And bring me the women, I want them alive!

5.0L V8 in commuter car? Bad Information!!! (Score:3, Funny)

by Virtucon ( 127420 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @05:17PM (#29985788)

This twit is annoying and incorrect! I have a 6.3L V8 in my daily driver. My wife has a 7.3L Turbo Diesel in her Excursion.
Damn Brits! Get it right and drive on the Right as well!!

Re:Oh yeah? (Score:4, Funny)

by Interoperable ( 1651953 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @05:38PM (#29986214)

True, it looks (and is) identical but somehow it's just friendlier. It also has better healthcare.

Re:No. (Score:2, Funny)

by operagost ( 62405 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @05:59PM (#29986546) Homepage Journal

I didn't realize that Apple was an arm of the government. Well, I guess we can expect compulsory vegetarianism and black turtlenecks in the future! I can't wait!

Re:This is so true - the UK plug is ridiculous (Score:3, Funny)

by clone53421 ( 1310749 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @06:02PM (#29986584) Journal

If you take a few inches of the super-fine wire that's found in the coils of small speakers (close to hair-thickness) and scrape enough of the insulation off to make decent contact, you can wrap about two turns of it around the pins on a standard US plug. Almost invisible, even if you look, but when you plug it in it goes off like a firecracker – a bang and a bright flash. Best part is, the wire vaporizes, so other than perhaps a bit of black reside there's nothing left to indicate what just happened...
P.S. Not responsible for stupid people trying this and managing to somehow hurt themselves in what should be a simple and relatively non-dangerous process.

Re:um no (Score:4, Funny)

by jaavaaguru ( 261551 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @06:11PM (#29986738) Homepage

And they missed out this fantastic example [twitpic.com] which I saw in a shopping mall in Abu Dhabi.

Re:OMG Ponies! (Score:5, Funny)

by Menkhaf ( 627996 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @06:25PM (#29986922)

Cuter than the Danish smiley? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:K_plug.jpg [wikipedia.org] ...didn't think so.

Re:US vs UK... (Score:2, Funny)

by Tillmann ( 859300 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @06:29PM (#29986984)

Sockets don't kill people, electricity does!

Re:No. (Score:5, Funny)

by Chuq ( 8564 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @06:57PM (#29987446) Journal

Americans bagging Brits. As an Australian, I'm torn as to which side to take. I guess I'll just have to bag the New Zealanders instead.

australian plugs. (Score:3, Funny)

by Tomfrh ( 719891 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @07:19PM (#29987792)

I like the switch on Aussie sockets, but you have to be real careful to switch off unused sockets or a lot of electricity leaks out costing you $$$.

Re:US vs UK... (Score:2, Funny)

by Sehnsucht ( 17643 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @08:50PM (#29988912)

So, we're all in agreement then?

Comment removed (Score:3, Funny)

by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) writes: on Wednesday November 04, 2009 @10:41PM (#29989976)

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:No. (Score:3, Funny)

by anon mouse-cow-aard ( 443646 ) writes: on Thursday November 05, 2009 @12:11AM (#29990722) Journal

American's invented the martini, the Altair and the light bulb
everything you need for an all night hack! Thanks America!

Re:Article summary (Score:3, Funny)

by bar-agent ( 698856 ) writes: on Thursday November 05, 2009 @02:31AM (#29991606)

That's because Aussie plugs are for real men.

Re:Price of safety (Score:3, Funny)

by strikethree ( 811449 ) writes: on Thursday November 05, 2009 @03:48AM (#29991994) Journal

"The classic "baby sticking a fork in the socket and dying a sizzly death" scenario seems remarkably thin on the ground."
At the age of two, my son became infatuated with wall sockets (American). Despite putting plastic adapters and other security precautions, he managed to stick tweezers into a wall socket. He did not die but he never played with wall sockets again. :)
strike

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Plug vs. Plug — Which Nation's Socket Is Best? 1174

Plug vs. Plug — Which Nation's Socket Is Best? More Login

Plug vs. Plug — Which Nation's Socket Is Best?

Re:PoW (Score:4, Funny)

Is this really front page news? (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Depends on your criteria (Score:3, Funny)

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

Sorry, American socket takes top honors... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Is this really front page news? (Score:3, Funny)

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:No. (Score:4, Funny)

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:US vs UK... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:US vs UK... (Score:1, Funny)

Re:No. (Score:3, Funny)

Re:US vs UK... (Score:5, Funny)

Doesn't really matter anyways... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:110 vs 220 (Score:5, Funny)

Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)

Re:No. (Score:5, Funny)

5.0L V8 in commuter car? Bad Information!!! (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Oh yeah? (Score:4, Funny)

Re:No. (Score:2, Funny)

Re:This is so true - the UK plug is ridiculous (Score:3, Funny)

Re:um no (Score:4, Funny)

Re:OMG Ponies! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:US vs UK... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:No. (Score:5, Funny)

australian plugs. (Score:3, Funny)

Re:US vs UK... (Score:2, Funny)

Comment removed (Score:3, Funny)

Re:No. (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Article summary (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Price of safety (Score:3, Funny)

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