On: The humble USB cable is part of an electrical revolution

[rubyfox]

You'll take BS1363 from our cold dead hands. Or we'll leave them upturned for you to step on.

[lgeek → rubyfox]

As a continental who has moved to the UK, I have to agree. BS1363 seems to be the best design:

* it's mechanically sound, as opposed to Europlug which tends to wiggle and Schuko which is sometimes difficult to plug and especially unplug

* earthing is mandatory and the earth pin is guaranteed to connect before the others

* the sockets have shutters which only open after the earth pin has been plugged (good for child safety for example)

* the live and neutral line are shrouded to avoid shocks and the coin problem [0] when the pins are only partially plugged in

* it is polarised, so devices can have the fuse on the live line

* the plug is fused

[0] http://www.trademe.co.nz/media/23333/cpin-insulation-plug-sh...

[mahyarm → lgeek]

I think it's still a design that is far larger than it needs to be. You could reconfigure the plug to use blades like the US and be in parallel like the italian plug. Then you can add shutters, shrouded pins, polarized pins and fuses and still be incredibly more compact. On top of it, the design will work well with folding plugs like many camera battery chargers yet still be grounded. That combination seems like the best.

[ars → lgeek]

Most of that is good except for the fuse. The only reason for the fuse is because of the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_circuit which was only used during copper shortages.

The fuse makes the plug much much larger than it needs to be.

The American size, with some shrouding, would be better. Newer American plugs already have shutters and everything else you mentioned.

[mcguire → lgeek]

Plus, the thing's the size of a grapefruit and usable as an impromptu flail.