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[–] 22 points 3 months ago (8 children)

US voltages are stupid and pathetically inefficient (kinda a metaphor...)

Japan has a double-whammy of a stupidly low 100 VAC, and to make it worse, half the country is 50Hz and half is 60Hz

The UK has a good voltage and great plugs, but silly earthing arrangements. Their use of ring-circuits is also problematic

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  • [–] 6 points 3 months ago (5 children)

    I had to google the Japan frequency thing. I had no idea!

    Feel like elaborating on the UK issues/ why they’re problematic?

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  • [–] 8 points 3 months ago

    If the earth conductor fails, then it's difficult to tell, and painful to repair

    The Australasian system where each installation is earthed at the switchboard is far superior

    With ring circuits, a broken conductor doesn't become apparent until the remaining part of the circuit burns because it is carrying the entire load

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago* (3 children)

    As a Brit, I'm guessing their issues with earthing is that we make everything earthed and fused, even when it's not needed on a device, but the longer prong that is the earth post on our 3-pin plugs is a security feature of our plug/socket and makes any item that requires earthing to be earthed before it is even powered.

    Couldn't say why they have issues with ring mains though. It became the norm in a post-war Britain when copper was still scarce.

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  • [–] 12 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    ring-mains are the reason everything needs to be fused, because a short in one appliance could otherwise take out an entire building. they're not used in new construction, and afaik are also being taken out of older buildings.

    also schuko is the better plug because it has the same security feature as the british one but it's reversible, recessed, and you can't step on an upturned one in the middle of the night.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (1 child)

    I can't agree on Schuko because I always found them to be awkward to plug in, sometimes needing to wiggle them while applying an uncomfortable amount of force.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago

    that's interesting because i had the exact same reaction during my recent trip to the uk. maybe it's just a matter of the force being applied differently than we're used to.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    I do love me a good ring main when I’m in the UK - never heard them described as problematic though.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago

    Yeah not a problem if you just plan it correctly, I use 4mm t&e on all socket circuits, in trunking and just use a 25A or 30A MCB, that way even if there is a break in the ring it’s still within spec. Modern homes just don’t have the power draw to worry about overloading sockets, especially when I can get a 30A.

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