They're like that in this apartment we're renting and I keep seeing them elsewhere. I don't get it.

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[–] 11 points 2 years ago (8 children)

I too am relatively envious of the UK's outlet design, I only hate how bulky and foot destroying they are.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    Tom Scott has a video all about the UK power outlet plug and socket and it's an engineering marvel. The switch is just one feature.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    The switch isn't really a a feature of the UK plug, rather just something they seem to have started doing with their sockets.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago (1 child)

    Well, the design of the plug also implies the design of the socket. I was born in the eighties, and I've never seen an electrical socket without a switch, except for the appliance socket used for the cooker, which is behind where you install the appliance - the switch is higher up, above the countertop where it is accessible.

    Basic extension trailing sockets don't, most of the time unless you buy a snazzy one. But it's by no means a recent development.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago

    Plug and socket obviously go together but I just mean that you could have the switches for any plug, it's not tied to the plug but just rather what socket plate (or what's the term) design is adopted. Schuko could have those switches, I think Yanks have them in newer plug plates and so on. It's just that the UK has adopted (in a standard or just commonly for some other reason) the switches.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago

    Maybe, but with the switches on the sockets, I hardly ever unplug anything at all unless I'm moving it. Why would I?

    So pretty much every time something's unplugged, it's in my hand or away in a cupboard, never lying on the floor.

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