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The Mu - Folding UK 3-pin → USB plug

themu.co.uk

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Re: The Mu - Folding UK 3-pin → USB plug

#31

Post by FreeFull »

andyking wrote: post #18
mootothemax wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd argue that the really good thing about the UK plug is 1) the switches in the sockets and 2) that the devices are all well-grounded There are quite a lot of safety features built in to UK plugs. Other ones I'm aware of are the holes being shuttered until a plug is inserted, and the internal design meaning that if you pull hard enough on the external wire, pulling it out, the internal wires will disconnect in a saf…

At an old workplace, we had a piece of equipment with a European plug that we regularly had to shoehorn into a UK socket. It was a case of shoving a screwdriver or a pencil into the earth hole on the socket to simulate that pin being inserted and unlock the others, then fumble the EU plug into the live and neutral holes. (All while the socket was powered down, of course.) Not particularly safe, and the result of some…

Why didn't you just buy a converter? One side is the UK plug, other side allows you to plug in a variety of different plugs (including the continental one) and they are very cheap.

Re: The Mu - Folding UK 3-pin → USB plug

#32

Post by excuse-me »

mootothemax wrote: post #9
archivator wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had a plug disintegrate inside the socket. (the metal prongs somehow detached from the plug). So, don't do this! I'd argue that the really good thing about the UK plug is 1) the switches in the sockets and 2) that the devices are all well-grounded. The EU one is usually just 2 contacts, with an optional 3rd one for ground. That's bad, anyway I look at it.

I'd argue that the really good thing about the UK plug is 1) the switches in the sockets and 2) that the devices are all well-grounded There are quite a lot of safety features built in to UK plugs. Other ones I'm aware of are the holes being shuttered until a plug is inserted, and the internal design meaning that if you pull hard enough on the external wire, pulling it out, the internal wires will disconnect in a saf…

Isn't it easier to just stick the bare wires into the socket with matches?

There used to be a 1970s government training film showing you how.

Re: The Mu - Folding UK 3-pin → USB plug

#33

Post by alexchamberlain »

celticninja wrote: post #29
alexchamberlain wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've just checked 2 phone chargers and a tablet charger. All of them have plastic earth pins. Earth != Ground...

you dont need to earth it when the power consumption is so low. The plastic pin is essentially to open the covers for the lower 2 pins.

Correct. I was pointing out to the parent comment that the earth pin isn't used to form the usual circuit.

Re: The Mu - Folding UK 3-pin → USB plug

#34

Post by dalore »

andyking wrote: post #18
mootothemax wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd argue that the really good thing about the UK plug is 1) the switches in the sockets and 2) that the devices are all well-grounded There are quite a lot of safety features built in to UK plugs. Other ones I'm aware of are the holes being shuttered until a plug is inserted, and the internal design meaning that if you pull hard enough on the external wire, pulling it out, the internal wires will disconnect in a saf…

At an old workplace, we had a piece of equipment with a European plug that we regularly had to shoehorn into a UK socket. It was a case of shoving a screwdriver or a pencil into the earth hole on the socket to simulate that pin being inserted and unlock the others, then fumble the EU plug into the live and neutral holes. (All while the socket was powered down, of course.) Not particularly safe, and the result of some…

You could have used an adaptor?

Re: The Mu - Folding UK 3-pin → USB plug

#35

Post by klodolph »

excuse-me wrote: post #28
tomgallard wrote: post #21

In the UK one of the first things most people with any sort of interest in DIY or technology learn is how to 'wire a plug'. Is this a UK specific thing, or is it common in other countries as well?

In the US it's almost impossible to get a re-wireable plug except for industrial extension leads. Most Americans have no idea which pin is 'live'

There's no need for Americans to know which pin is live. (The correct answer is "both", by the way.)

Americans who do DIY electronics / electrical systems all know that black is hot and white is neutral, bare or green is ground. Plugs come with cables, so there is no need to know which pin is which, and I'm not sure what the benefit of rewiring a plug is except in the very rare case that the plug is damaged.

For the record, the bigger prong is neutral, which is exactly what you'd expect.

Re: The Mu - Folding UK 3-pin → USB plug

#36

Post by dalore »

gioele wrote: post #17

It is a (design-wise) shame that the UK plug design forces adapters to be so big. Europlug USB adapters are much more slicker http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/339903558/_Euro_Plug_USB_T... .

I wonder if the Mu and your plug have the same complicated insides as an Apple iPhone charger. This article was recently posted here: http://www.arcfn.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-q...

Re: The Mu - Folding UK 3-pin → USB plug

#37

Post by gouranga »

mmcnickle wrote: post #23
gouranga wrote: post #11

To quote: "Yes – the Mu® USB Adapter has been tested by recognised certification organisations and has the full pre-requisite approvals for CE certification." What approvals and organisations? Sounds like bullshit. That's the most evasive paragraph ever in the history of time. Proper UK mains plugs are incredibly over-engineered for a good reason. Excellent mechanical stability, no arcing likely, touch-safety, earth…

Class II (double insulated) appliances don't require an conducting earth pin. It's only needed at all to open the shutters that cover the live/neutral holes in the socket. >>> That thing is flimsy, requires manual twiddling Have you tried the product yet? >>> I very much doubt it's been tested or approved They've stated that it's been independently tested, which is sufficient for self-certification for the CE mark. W…

I've never worked with appliances so please excuse my ignorance on the subject. I retract that part of the rant. You are correct and I've upvoted you accordingly.

My comment regarding the flimsy nature of it will be proven. A rotating mechanical joint which needs to be pulled HARD (UK plus need to be pulled very hard) will fail rapidly and expose live wires. Not only that, the profile of the unit is very narrow and a small knock on the side of the device will most likely weaken the rotating joint resulting in complete failure.

With respect to the testing, similar devices have appeared in the past and have not been approved. I don't have a reference at hand but there was one around 2003 which was removed from the market rapidly after they lied over testing.

I was an electronics engineer until 2002 (specialist VLSI/FPGA/Avionics equipment).

Re: The Mu - Folding UK 3-pin → USB plug

#38

Post by gouranga »

__alexs wrote: post #22
gouranga wrote: post #11

To quote: "Yes – the Mu® USB Adapter has been tested by recognised certification organisations and has the full pre-requisite approvals for CE certification." What approvals and organisations? Sounds like bullshit. That's the most evasive paragraph ever in the history of time. Proper UK mains plugs are incredibly over-engineered for a good reason. Excellent mechanical stability, no arcing likely, touch-safety, earth…

Class II appliances do not require a metal earth pin, it's there so that you can't electrocute yourself by touching the case. You should also have an RCD or something on your circuits at home anyway which will cut the power very fast if anything bad happens.

Agreed - excuse my ignorance on the matter. I have upvoted you accordingly.

Re: The Mu - Folding UK 3-pin → USB plug

#39

Post by oliwarner »

Regardless of the pros and cons with this and UK plugs in general, £25 for one 1A USB socket is £20 too much. And that's allowing £4 for the gimmick-factor.

It's not even that much smaller than the newer micro-USB chargers that Nokia and Samsung have.

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