Well I was having a think this morning, and I wondered why plug sockets still have manual switches on them.
Surely the idea of the manual switch is to turn it off before withdrawing the plug?

What I'm wondering is why haven't they made sockets which automatically cut out when you withdraw a plug/ turn on when it's fully in.
I did have a quick google but there seems to be nothing on there.

Yes they are made. The 32A three phase sockets I used with GEC large steam turbines required one to twist the plug after plugging in to make the contacts. A large red button would release the plug and open contacts before removal. Sure the make started with Ray but can't find on internet.

However using non approved sockets not complying with BS 1363. BS 546, BS 196 or BS EN 60309-2 leaves one with the question of if insurance will cover. Once one uses a socket not complying with BS7671:2008 however good it may be one has to justify it's use.

The shaver socket does normally have a micro-switch which does switch off the supply until a plug is inserted but the question must be why do you want a socket of this type?

I was just curious more than anything. See if parents would be interested in having them, stop kids electrocuting themselves and that.

Seems kind of primitive to have to flick a switch on a plug socket when you could have it switch on automatically when the right plugs inserted if you ask me.
With the design of a uk plug, I'm surprised the didn't just whack a push switch in the centre of the socket so it knows when a plugs in.

Of course theres more sophisticated ways to do it but it occured to me down the pub last night.

The sockets were designed during the second world war ready for the re-build once it was finished. There has been one small alteration since then to include insulation part way down the live pins which has also reduced the cooling and means that today's plugs struggle with a continuous 13A supply so items like a storage heater or immersion heater need to be hard wired or use the older 15A plugs which don't have a fuse.

Before the war there were loads of plugs and moving to just one plug fits all was a real benefit but some items do seem to slip the net. Shaver sockets are as the name implies for shavers (not a tooth brush) and other than the shaver all items should be fitted with a 13A plug. However it seems items which you may wish to use in a bathroom are supplies with a CEE 7/16 Europlug which 4mm thick pins instead of the 5mm thick pins of a shaver plug but will fit in many shaver outlets.

So in the UK all sockets are either shuttered or have a micro switch to power up the socket only after the plug is put in. (As with shaver socket) But there are adaptors which defeat these safety features. From the really daft plastic lumps to the slim line multi-adaptors which will allow one to plug in a plug backwards so opening the shutters. There are even non fused adaptors.

It's hard enough stopping the non complaint imports as it is without adding another product which the far east guys can produce cheap without the safety features.

It seems I have made a mistake. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1994 ... ule/1/made lists what does not need a 13A plug and a tooth brush is included in the list.

Cheers for the info, just to clarify being shuttered or having microswitches on the standard 3 port plug socket nowadays. Will when the sockets switched on not put out any power until a 3 pin plugs been put completely in and all 3 pins are in position?

I was just having a think, if little johnny can still whack a screwdriver in the socket without knowing better. Or you can catch a shock touching the pins when withdrawing a plug why has no one tried to create a 3 pin socket which doesn't do it. But if thats already the case nice one.