NHS Bans Socket Covers

[Pete.]

I thought it was because the earth pin can break off and defeat the safety interlock.

Better throw all our three phase leads away coz all they have is a hinged cap and most of them get snapped off soon after deploying.

 

[ajlelectronics]

because they make contact with both live and neutral and the plastic cannot be guaranteed to be none conductive.

That is a reason I haven't seen yet. There are others, like they can be inserted upside down, which opens the shutters.

 

[Sidewinder]

They, are, dangerous.

There you go little words from a qualified electrician and qualified & registered professional electrical engineer, so, you don't need to look into it any further if you don't want to!

 

[normspanners]

BTW> words small enough ?

 

[the snooper]

I thought it was because the earth pin can break off and defeat the safety interlock.

.

correct thats what the pdf file states

Socket covers are not constructed to any electrical or other safety standard. The pins on the socket covers may be larger than the socket tubes which can cause damage to the socket and defeat the safety design of BS 1363.REF EFA/2016/002 In certain circumstances the insertion of socket covers, or their breakage whilst in use, can allow foreign objects to be inserted directly onto live parts within the socket, thus presenting a high risk of electric shock.

 

[brightspark]

I can't be bothered to look up the reasoning, can someone explain how the socket inserts are dangerous please?

Use little words

here. there not needed http://www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/

 

[Sidewinder]

I thought it was because the earth pin can break off and defeat the safety interlock.

Better throw all our three phase leads away coz all they have is a hinged cap and most of them get snapped off soon after deploying.

Well Pete, not that that has anything to do with BS1363 sockets and their inbuilt safety mechanisms, but, it is a good point.

So, if we can, could we please keep this to safety issues, and the one you have mentioned is also one.

If the covers are broken off, then the sockets are illegal for use, as they do not comply with the relevant safety standards.

So, you need to get them replaced.

 

[tinman123]

I can't be bothered to look up the reasoning, can someone explain how the socket inserts are dangerous please?

Use little words

to summarize it,

This Alert is issued to highlight how, in certain circumstances, the use of plastic 13A (13 amp) electrical socket inserts (sold as safety accessories) can overcome the safety features designed into socket outlets.

what safety features are designed into sockets that can be dangerous when there is a plastic insert in it?
the only one i can think of is if a liquid was spilled on it and it went live, mind you i couldnt see how one without an insert wouldnt anyways.
or if it snapped off and you went digging with a fork, but hey, youd deserve a shock if you thought that was a good idea.

 

[normspanners]

You can have "Direct Contact" if the plastic is not an adequate insulator.

Since it is not type- or production-tested, there is no proof that it is.

My beef is that it is not type- or production- tested (and there appears to be no specific legislation requiring it is, despite this being the case for other equipment).

When we design or manufacture equipment, cable, accessories, etc., (even Site Applied Insulation in BS7671), this has to be tested, so what is different about the plastic of the Socket Cover?

I can e-mail you a sketch if necessary, showing the potential risk.

There is also a potential for fire - if the plastic is inadequately specified as an electrical insulator, it may break down, allowing L-N or L-E current to pass. If the L-N flows (more probable since it is the shortest distance), the RCD wouldn't work, and it is likely that the overcurrent protection wouldn't operate until the insulation were burning. In this case, the plastic may not be flame-retardant or self-extinguishing, and the fire may perpetuate after the current is interrupted.


It is worth noting that the RCD may not protect children, as the operating currents/ times are based around the IEC479-1 curves for the "average adult".

[After reading the introduction for BS PD6519-1 (IEC479-1), this statement I made previously about RCDs not protecting children may be untrue. The standard makes a statement that the values incicated within it, are so conservative that they are likely to be true for all persons, including children of any size - GK 15/03/2003]

just a quote from a discussion.

 

[Cyberprog]

Wow, I wasn't expecting that. Finally recognition of how dangerous they are!

 

[Sidewinder]

Crap.

You can put a normal plug in upside down just as easily.

They're plastic, if they use a conductive plastic then the rcd/mcb will pop.


Ooooh.

They. Are. Not. Dangerous.

Argue away, mr. I'mtooqualifiedtojustifywhatIsay.

OK Mr Argumentative.

They are not made to any British Standard.
BS1363 sockets are ONLY meant to accept plugs to BS1363, thus, these stupid devices are not made to BS1363, thus they are not made to fit into a BS1363 socket outlet.
Is that enough for you.
You asked for simple, so you were given simple, and told that they were unsafe.
However, it seems that you are not able to accept the word of someone who knows better.

Oh, no you can not insert a "normal" BS1363 plug into a 1363 socket outlet upside down and expose live parts, end of.
So, please stop being an idiot for your own sake.

 

[the snooper]

Wow, I wasn't expecting that. Finally recognition of how dangerous they are!

think im gonna start using them, now who dont i like

 

[brightspark]

this will go on forever. il sit and watch

 

[tinman123]

just a quote from a discussion.

cant argue with that.

but there was me assuming (stupidly) that they would be made to a regulation at the minimum and not something that "ill do".

 

[WorkshopChris]

You can not put a normal plug in upside down as the L and N prevent the earth entering far enough. However the plastic covers bend so will allow the shutter to open on some sockets.

 

[Sidewinder]

to summarize it,



what safety features are designed into sockets that can be dangerous when there is a plastic insert in it?
the only one i can think of is if a liquid was spilled on it and it went live, mind you i couldnt see how one without an insert wouldnt anyways.
or if it snapped off and you went digging with a fork, but hey, youd deserve a shock if you thought that was a good idea.

The issue is that the plastic inserts are not designed to fit into the sockets, nor are they made of a material that is guaranteed not to conduct electricity.
They can easily be broken, and thus defeat the inbuilt safety mechanisms, they can be incorrectly inserted, they do not have to meet the coverage requirements of a 1363 plug.
Enough?

 

[normspanners]

I find them very useful when sticking wires directly into the sockets when I hav'nt got a plug handy

 

[Sidewinder]

this will go on forever. il sit and watch

It's been going on for over 10 years now, and we now have our first real success.

It seems that people on here think that they know better than the collective minds of the electricians, and electrical engineers that have been behind the cause from the start, and those at the NHS who have reviewed the data and agreed.
Sad is it not when people without any competence in a sphere, feel that they know better than those who really do know what they are on about.

Seems a very common theme at the moment, and not just here.

 

[the snooper]

Crap.

You can put a normal plug in upside down just as easily.

.

only if you take the other 2 pins out of the plug first

he is infact correct

 

[brightspark]

to summarize it,




or if it snapped off and you went digging with a fork, but hey, youd deserve a shock if you thought that was a good idea.

tell that to kids who know no better