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The folding plug.

Bungle73 said:
I don't understand why the live and neutral pins have to be wired a certain way. Surely with AC it shouldn't make any difference? :confused:
Click to expand...
It does make a difference if you're earthing things.

When they generate electricity, they generate it in 3 phases - 3 "lives", effectively, all at 415V (RMS - if you need to ask, you don't need to know :) ) PD with each other. There is a "virtual" neutral which is the null point between all the phases, which happens to pan out at 220V between each phase and that neutral.

So, from the point of view of your house, what you have is a "live" conductor (which is actually one of those phases), whose voltage oscillates either side of the "neutral" conductor. The neutral conductor isn't actually tied to earth (except in some installations) at your house, but is near enough at earth potential.

So a neutral-to-earth short would not represent a significant hazard (though still a fault), while a live-to-earth one would.

It's less of an issue now, since many appliances are double-insulated, and thus don't need earths, and you can in practice wire most things either way around. But it's a bad habit to get into, since appliances which do need earths, such as metal-cased ones, do need to be wired up the correct way around.
 
Lazy Llama said:
Doesn't look 'user serviceable' in that the connectors inside for the wires are hidden in injection moulded plastic.
So how would you fit one of these onto the end of an existing mains cable?
Click to expand...

I imagine there will be a version that clips together and similarly unclips.
 
Quartz said:
I imagine there will be a version that clips together and similarly unclips.
Click to expand...

Given the trend against user-rewireable plugs, and the cost implications for making a dismantlable version of this, I'd be very surprised to see a user-wirable version. Far more likely would be that they are manufactured with a pre-fitted "tail" to whatever length, and you wire it into an appliance at the other end. I imagine there will be a trend for Europlug versions, too, and probably a variety that doesn't open out, but is designed only for use in the multiplug arrangement.

At least, that's what *I'd* be doing if I were in charge :)
 
I very much doubt these plugs will be sold direct to the public. Instead they'll sell them (or the licence to make them) to manufacturers who think that having a flat plug will add an extra desirability factor to their portable product.
 
Gromit said:
I very much doubt these plugs will be sold direct to the public. Instead they'll sell them (or the licence to make them) to manufacturers who think that having a flat plug will add an extra desirability factor to their portable product.
Click to expand...

Oh, I agree - in the same way that all new appliances these days come with moulded-on plugs, and Joe Public isn't expected to trouble his pretty little head with the niceties of plug-wiring.

But I'd confidently expect to see folding-plugs-with-tails making their way into CPC, or the Radiospares catalogue, quite quickly...
 
Gromit said:
I very much doubt these plugs will be sold direct to the public. Instead they'll sell them (or the licence to make them) to manufacturers who think that having a flat plug will add an extra desirability factor to their portable product.
Click to expand...

It's not just desirability.

Take new super-slim devices - If the packaging of your product's thinner, you reduce cost.

You can also fit more units into the lorry/boat/etc that carries it to market, again reducing cost.

Plus, the retailer can fit more units into their storeroom/shop floor (or use up less room, which can be filled with more profit-making items), making it more desirable for them to stock it.
 
ATOMIC SUPLEX said:
Looks fine to me, plus once it's in the wall it is essentially locked in place.
Click to expand...

It's intended for thing like laptops and other portable devices so will be plugged in and unplugged possibly several times a day. I wonder how long it will last with all the folding and unfolding.

The pivot mechanism also needs to be very strong to ensure it doesn't break on unplugging so you're not left with live (and neutral) pins sticking out of the socket. :eek:
 
dogmatique said:
It's finally here! Quite a compromise from the original design, initially only available as a single USB charger, pricey - but hey - it's actually come to market!

http://www.themu.co.uk/
Click to expand...

So he's fitted a transformer in there too. Clever guy. And I think he's very sensible going after a small initial target market. Once he demonstrates that the product is successful, he'll be able to license it and make squillions.
 
I wonder if people stepping on plug accidents will go down? :D

I've just been whacked by a plug on Henry hoover whilst reeling the cable in :mad:
 
Why use a plug? They can hurt you when you stand on them. Now on the other hand you won't hurt your feet if you use this method, no nasty plugs here:

SuperStock_1566-450667.jpg
 
TitanSound said:
Damn, I made a similar comment but you beat me because I'm a tool who gets excited at my possibly witty remarks and doesn't bother reading the rest of the thread.
Click to expand...

With Dess, it never hurts to re-state these things to him, so think of your post as useful reinforcement! :)
 
Gromit said:
An Apple adapter is 26 notes and they are potentially lethal with their non foldyness.
Click to expand...

Well, £3 or £4 for a compact mains USB adaptor if you don't feel the need to make a donation to the cult of the fruit. I've yet to injure myself on one as well, but I guess that's because I tend to stick one in a bag or coat pocket.

Don't get me wrong, the Mu is [obviously] a very neat piece of design. Unfortunately it's not going to get a lot further than being a USB adapter since it doesn't appear to be fused?
 
On Tomorrow's World in the 90s they showed a system with "plugs" that you simply stuck anywhere on a wall and which then drew current, although the wall was safe to touch.

I want one of those.
 
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