How are your appliances connected

[retro-man]

Thank you everyone from all over the world. Most interesting reading and certainly have learned alot. I guess it's what you are used to seeing and dealing with in the coutry your in that makes perfect sense to you and systems. Again thanks for all the info.
Jon

 

[mrboilwash]

This one is a nice example of a non grounded plug. The Schuko patent dates back to 1926 but I estimate this non grounded version was used untill the 1950s.

 

[mrboilwash]

And here`s an example of an old appliance plug, which have been used for irons and so on.
Not much difference to the American counterpart except that it is a bit bigger and has a grounding clip.

 

[toggleswitch]

~What are the diameters of the tubes in the US? Here standard diameters for copper tubing in domestic set ups are 12, 15 and 22 mm. Oddly enough when threaded connectors are used we still have inch sizes: 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" etc.

Here is what my house has (a one-family residence) which I believe to be fairly typical.

Using 2.54cm per inch, & rounded.

1.00 inch service main (25mm)
0.75 inch "main branch" (19 mm) and outdoor hose-cock for watering.
0.50 inch branch (13mm) where all three bathroom fixtures- (we don't do bidets here, usually) feed from a 0.50inch pipe that feeds from the 0.75 inch main branch.

Drain piping is typically:

1.25 inches (32mm)for a bathroom drain
1.50 inches (38mm) for a kitchen drain
2.00 inches (51mm)for a steam-supply pipe (home heating)
4.00 inches (102mm) for a water closet and also a dryer vent hose.

Diameters shown are all I.D. (inside diameter) thickness of pipe is determined by "Schedule 10" and "Schedule 40" an explanation for which I am lacking right now.

Do fluorescent tube in metric lands run:
2 feet (24 inches) 61cm?
4 feet (48 inches) 122cm? (1.22m)?
8 feet (96 inches) 244cm? (2.44m)?

~Oddly enough when threaded connectors are used we still have inch sizes: 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" etc.

Speakign of which, our light-bulbs (lamps) use a "standard" Edison-base threaded connection. I'm sure it's sized using the English system. Light-bulbs by GE (and perhaps Philips) fit, but the "international" imitations that are probably metric in size but very close-- go in but shatter on their way out. I personally won't use anything but GE!

 

[mielabor]

Older plugs?

Ungrounded plugs and sockets are still very common here. Ungrounded sockets were installed until a few years ago in new installations and are still widely available for use in existing installations.

 

[mielabor]

These are commonly used to increase the number of available sockets:

 

[mielabor]

Old model appliance plug in my iron:

 

[toggleswitch]

Really? *LOL*

 

[toggleswitch]

This one converts two outlets (a standard duplex) to six outlets.

The top row is fed from one plug, and the bottom row from the other.

Our wall sockets usually have two outlets and can be wired as one or two circuits.

 

[toggleswitch]

other side (male)

 

[mielabor]

Various plugs:
A Europlug (ungrounded)
B Plug for appliances with double insulation (ungrounded)
C Grounded plug
All will fit in both grounded and ungrounded sockets.

 

[toggleswitch]

Duplex (two) outlets/power-points

Left: British- switched
Middle: U.S. unswitched (without cover plate
Rght: Australia (switched)

Aussie one is polarized by design even without a ground prong

 

[mielabor]

Europlugs and power adapters will fit in grounded Schuko sockets, but the connection is usually a bit wobbly. To remedy this there are inserts to stabilise the plugs.

A insert
B Europlug in insert

 

[toggleswitch]

The US outlet shown is a typical installation ("D" shaped ground prong "down" on its back.)

The law had been recenlty changed such that the "D" had to be up. No one liked it. "D" down looks like a face. The other way just looks ridiculous.

The theory was that if a metal cover plate were to become unscrewed the ground prong would hold it up and prevent contact with the hot and neutral prongs.

I dont know if that decision was reversed by popular demand. Plugs (male part) are made with ground prong down most of the time for typical smaller appliances.

220v appliances tend to have the plug made with the gournd prong on top. (i.e. and the cord trailing down). See pic of my cooker cord and plug, above. The groun prong is up.

 

[toggleswitch]

sorry didnt; realize you were still "speaking"

 

[mielabor]

Just a selection of plug types that I have in stock:

A Converter standard ungrounded socket or Schuko socket to 2x socket for Europlug
B Grounded plug with two pole switch
C Standard female ungrounded plug
D Ungrounded plug for double insulated appliances (not available separately)
E Standard ungrounded plug
F Appliance plug
G Converter standard ungrounded socket to 2x standard ungrounded socket
H Europlug
I Grounded plug with hole for French grounded socket
J Grounded plug without hole for French grounded socket

 

[toggleswitch]

Theo:

Is that ZIP-cord (lamp-cord) in the power-strip photo with three outlets? (with a "line" in the middle rather than round).

I thought that stuff was banned in Europe (or parts of Europe) as being unsafe. I was under the impression that wires and cords had to have an addtional sheath over the insulation.

Of course that stuff is everywehre here and anything else seems odd to me!

 

[gadgetgary]

We even have zip cord

for use with 30a 220v heavy-duty dryer flex cord.

 

[mielabor]

Toggleswitch:
Sorry for the mix-up, but I had no idea that you were also uploading. I have to think of so many things that I forget to check. Also, being a non native English writer, it can take some time before I have made the appropriate description so there can be a considerable time between uploads even when I am continually working on it.

 

[mielabor]

Zip cord...

Yes that is what you call zip cord. I have no idea if it's banned or not. You could be right as I haven't seen it lately. I bought this in the 1970s and haven't bought it since.