3 HN users recommended this explainer4 months2019–2025score 4.5
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
HN treats it as the obligatory video to share whenever plugs and sockets come up, praised for its safety reasoning.
Tom Scott explains the design of the British BS 1363 plug and socket, including fuses, shutters and safety features, and why he thinks it beats other plugs.
“There's the obligatory Tom Scott video here, which always gets shared, deservedly so” (HN, 2023)
For anyone that does not know why, as rarely as I recommend videos I very much suggest Tom Scott's video "British Plugs Are Better Than All Other Plugs, And Here's Why": [this video]
Explains why British plugs are better than other plugs.
Why Britain has the best wall sockets on earth: [this video] Sure there is bias there, but the reasoning is pretty compelling. Of course getting any country to switch is nigh-on impossible.
Argues the case for British plugs as the best sockets.
> The only real advantage of the British plug over Schuko is the fuse (a debatable feature) Could I ask why a fuse is debatable? Seems like quite a basic security feature. There's a good video[0] on the design of UK plugs if you're interested. [0]: [this video]
It is true they can sting a little, but that aside I have a strong preference for them too - almost certainly because i grew up with them! There's the obligatory Tom Scott video here, which always gets shared, deservedly so, whenever the topic of plugs and sockets comes up: [this video]
The commonly shared video on British plugs and sockets.
>metal savings.... why every UK plug is fused Metal savings is why every plug is fused ? How does that even make sense when historically fuses were all metal construct instead of the modern ceramic whatnots. And anyway, fused plugs were not a requirement until ... 1992: "That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the Plugs and Sockets Etc. (Safety) Regulations 1987 to require pre-wired plugs to be fitted to all domestic appliances by the manufacturer." (Citation: HC Deb, 29 January 1992, c955). As far as I know, the war has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with fuses in plugs. It was just introduced as part of the modernisation of UK electricity rules. If you look at historical houses, they still have/had central fuseboards with rewireable or cartridge fuses. See [1] The fuses on UK Plugs are for overload protection. Simple. See also this YouTube video for other reasons as to why UK plugs are the best[2]. Finally, if you have time on your hands, there is a 23 page treatise on the how's and why's of ring circuits. [3]. [1] [link] [this video] [3] [link]
If I had to choose a plug to use all over the world, it would actually probably be the UK one (or perhaps a slightly less bulky version of it). See [this video]
Supports choosing the UK plug as a universal standard.
As a Brit, none of these come even remotely close to the pain of treading on an upturned plug. Now you can take these plugs out of my cold, dead hands, I love those plugs with a frankly alarming passion, but $deity$ do they hurt to step on. Tom Scott [1] has all the reasons why. [1] [this video]
> It's easier to connect a European plug which has 2 round pins than it is to connect a UK plug which has 3 rectangular pins at different angles. Speaking strictly on plugs - while I agree it is simpler/easier - I disagree that EU plug is better. For the bulk and lack of directionality - significantly safer (pin lengths, shielded to tip), requires a ground pin even if dummy, carries 13A easy! The safety aspects are incredible[0]. I do not worry about my small children at all. Lived in HK where the EU (China) and UK (HK) are pretty common in one household. [0] [this video]
If they use UK plugs it should be impossible to touch that because there’s a shutter that covers it until the earth pin in put in Here’s a video by Tom Scott about why UK plugs are safer: [this video]
Explains why UK plugs are safer, including the shutter.
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