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[nickcv]

i think we can all agree that this is dumb.
more and more people buy things online or when in other countries and the need of plug adaptors to fit the socket and power adaptors it's just pure idiocy.

i do understand that would cost a fortune to move to one single system but resting on the problem is not good either.
how long do you think we will have to wait until a common standard will start showing up?

 

[Emwitus]

See all that red? Yeah. The states sure has a knack for having unique standards and regulations. I honestly don't see any major changes here tho.

 

[The_Inquisitor]

Likely forever. The issue is even more complex than you believe. That doesn't even include the different types of plugs for different current requirements.

 

[BY2K]

I thought it was going to be about these ungodly things from hell:

WE'RE IN 2012! WHY DO THESE STILL EXIST!?

 

[iapetus]

See all that red? Yeah

Yes. It's a tragedy. The worst of all the AC plug/socket solutions I've come across.

The UK solution may be over-engineered, but it's also awesome. The ideal solution would be a redesigned version of that, with the same level of solidity in a smaller package.

 

[ToxicAdam]

I never leave my country, so I don't care.

 

[nickcv]

See all that red? Yeah. The states sure has a knack for having unique standards and regulations. I honestly don't see any major changes here tho.

i actually see more blue in both charts =P but that's not the point

 

[skybaby]

IF ONLY EVERYONE WOULD FOLLOW THE IEC STANDARD

 

[nickcv]

I thought it was going to be about these ungodly things from hell:

WE'RE IN 2012! WHY DO THESE STILL EXIST!?

i'm with you brother... whoever thought that was a good idea must be sterilized

 

[Wolf Akela]

Yeah, I really hate this too. I'm planning to buy a bigger UPS. The sockets of nearly all the good ones only have IEC sockets, so I'd have to buy adapters for every one of those.

 

[Raelson]

Fun maps. Madagascar is all over the place.

 

[archnemesis]

The European Union are about to force an industry standard for mobile phone chargers. Hopefully power plugs will be next. As long as we don't end up using the flimsy American prongs I'll support any system.

 

[havok666]

Yes. It's a tragedy. The worst of all the AC plug/socket solutions I've come across.

The UK solution may be over-engineered, but it's also awesome. The ideal solution would be a redesigned version of that, with the same level of solidity in a smaller package.

What is wrong with the US/CANADIAN standard? You have a hot from the panel, a neutral and a ground on a three prong duplex style receptacle @ 120v 15Amp. The next size up is the 20A Tslot used in kitchens. It's perfectly fine.

 

[Rlan]

 

[Wolf Akela]

Philippines still uses the Japanese socket. Laptops and consoles generally use UK, some appliances use US (we break off the ground pin), some use two round prongs like that phone charger and... damn screw it

The European Union are about to force an industry standard for mobile phone chargers. Hopefully power plugs will be next. As long as we don't end up using the flimsy American prongs I'll support any system.

Why is Europe always awesome?

 

[archnemesis]

The Danish socket looks so happy!

 

[DrFunk]

What is wrong with the US/CANADIAN standard? You have a hot from the panel, a neutral and a ground on a three prong duplex style receptacle @ 120v 15Amp. The next size up is the 20A Tslot used in kitchens. It's perfectly fine.

It's not like theirs, therefore it's WRONG

 

[FyreWulff]

I like how we stole Australia's standard socket for our dryers/electric stoves

 

[nickcv]

The European Union are about to force an industry standard for mobile phone chargers. Hopefully power plugs will be next. As long as we don't end up using the flimsy American prongs I'll support any system.

let's hope so...having at least one standard among Europe would make this thing a little more bearable

added to the op, thanks!

 

[BertramCooper]

Awwww.

Denmark's is SO CUTE.

 

[chaosblade]

The Danish socket looks so happy!

North American one looks... not so happy.

I like ours just because it's pretty efficient. Also Japan's. Those huge sockets take up a ton of space.

 

[ReBurn]

Everyone should use Denmark's because it looks so happy!

 

[injurai]

I say we all adopt denmarks standard.

 

[Binabik15]

I'm biased and all, but Germany/SK socket is fantastic. It's recessed, so it'd be hard to accidentally unplug something or break off the prongs, the slits in the side tell you how to orientate the round part and you can use it "upside down", while the metal thingies provide a tight fight.


Of course, we have the round plugs and smaller, flatter plugs, which is stupid, but at least you can use the small ones in the holes for the round ones.

 

[strata8]

What is wrong with the US/CANADIAN standard? You have a hot from the panel, a neutral and a ground on a three prong duplex style receptacle @ 120v 15Amp. The next size up is the 20A Tslot used in kitchens. It's perfectly fine.

There's nothing wrong with the plug itself, but 120v is a huge limitation. It seems bizarre to me that you need a separate socket for dryers.

 

[Davedough]

http://i.imgur.com/sdFNA.png <-- un img tagged it. Might be slightly NSFW (cartoon drawing)


'Murica

 

[ToxicAdam]

The European Union are about to force an industry standard for mobile phone chargers. Hopefully power plugs will be next. As long as we don't end up using the flimsy American prongs I'll support any system.

?? Do you get a running start before you plug something in?

 

[DiegoXJ]

you need to realize that there are different voltages / current / frequency between those receptacles and making things standard without changing all the electrical grids to match would be a big ole mess waiting to happen. You ever plug a 120v appliance into a 240v circuit. Well it's kinda fun to watch.

 

[Septimius]

I thought it was going to be about these ungodly things from hell:

WE'RE IN 2012! WHY DO THESE STILL EXIST!?

I.. don't get the problem? What should they be instead?

 

[Souldriver]

Everyone should use Denmark's because it looks so happy!

Was about to say the same thing.

: D

 

[wenis]

Oh, you mean the holes!

 

[Angelus Errare]

China/Australia's socket looks like the mask from Scary Movie/I Know What You Did Last Summer.

 

[nickcv]

you need to realize that there are different voltages / current / frequency between those receptacles and making things standard without changing all the electrical grids to match would be a big ole mess waiting to happen. You ever plug a 120v appliance into a 240v circuit. Well it's kinda fun to watch.

i know that, the first map is about votalges =P

but in the current situation for world wide products (ie: gaming consoles, televisions, etc...) they need to produce different power adaptors to overcome this kind of differences. in the long run many industries would save a lot of money. still the initial investment would be astronomical, but the switch will have to happen someday hopefully

 

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

The US should flip the outlet like we had it in England. Ground/Neutral on the top is safer if the plug were to become loose and you drop something conductive on top of it.

 

[JordanKZ]

I thought the reason we have grounding here on our plugs in the UK was because our houses aren't grounded? I may be completely wrong about this one... :-/

 

[Sethos]

I.. don't get the problem? What should they be instead?

Well, they shouldn't block out 2-3 neighbour plugs.

 

[strata8]

The US should flip the outlet like we had it in England. Ground/Neutral on the top is safer if the plug were to become loose and you drop something conductive on top of it.

Eh, doesn't really make a difference anymore since most plugs have insulation.

 

[archnemesis]

?? Do you get a running start before you plug something in?

They're a lot easier to accidentally bend than some of the other standards.

chaosblade does bring up a valid point about size though. A new standard with smaller power plugs would save a lot of material and money.

 

[gogogow]

South Korea uses the same plugs as Europe? Never knew that, pretty cool if you import Korean electronics.

 

[Stet]

The US should flip the outlet like we had it in England. Ground/Neutral on the top is safer if the plug were to become loose and you drop something conductive on top of it.

Before anyone says you're crazy, I've seen this happen with a coin landing directly on top of the prongs. It was like the fourth of July.

 

[Loonz]

I'm biased and all, but Germany/SK socket is fantastic. It's recessed, so it'd be hard to accidentally unplug something or break off the prongs, the slits in the side tell you how to orientate the round part and you can use it "upside down", while the metal thingies provide a tight fight.


Of course, we have the round plugs and smaller, flatter plugs, which is stupid, but at least you can use the small ones in the holes for the round ones.

It's also the same one we use here in Spain. I believe it's an standard across most continental EU countries. And yes, it is the best solution I've encountered across.

Until recently I've been living in the UK for some time and well, the sockets they use there aren't bad by any means but they're not the same. And you're forced to use the plug only one way, whereas the European one is reversible.

They also use those buttons to activate / deactivate electric current through the socket that I find quite ridiculous xD. Not that they become a problem beyond the occasional annoyance, but still to this moment I wonder: why? what for?.

 

[krae_man]

The Danish socket looks so happy!

Was just going to say the same thing.

Op, you should fight for this. Be the Sandford Flemming of our time!

 

[TommyT]

I like how we stole Australia's standard socket for our dryers/electric stoves

Pretty sure it's for anything more than 110v. Quite a few things beyond those use these outlets as well.

 

[ektoll]

The French one is a fighter, it's the only one who stabs back.

 

[Tallshortman]

North American supremacy.

 

[cvxfreak]

Have a small pouch full of adapters for various countries.

Luckily, the countries I visited most frequently (US, Japan, Philippines) use similar, easily-convertible or cross-compatible plugs.

 

[Caramello]

Is the Australian standard the only one with an on/off switch!?

 

[Stet]

It's also the same one we use here in Spain. I believe it's an standard across most continental EU countries. And yes, it is the best solution I've encountered across.

Until recently I've been living in the UK for some time and well, the sockets they use there aren't bad by any means but they're not the same. And you're forced to use the plug only one way, whereas the European one is reversible.

They also use those buttons to activate / deactivate electric current through the socket that I find quite ridiculous xD. Not that they become a problem beyond the occasional annoyance, but still to this moment I wonder: why? what for?.

In North America, those buttons are on bathroom plugs because they're mini breakers for the socket.

 

[ektoll]

Also...

Hei!

 

[R2D4]

They also use those buttons to activate / deactivate electric current through the socket that I find quite ridiculous xD. Not that they become a problem beyond the occasional annoyance, but still to this moment I wonder: why? what for?.

It is for safety. Sorry your country does not believe in it!

http://home.howstuffworks.com/question117.htm