Discussion»Questions»Electronics» Do you ever plug things into an outlet when it's dark? Is there that one second when you think you might get zapped? ;)
How do blind people manage to get their stuff plugged in? I don't think you can get zapped by trying to plug something in in any normal circumstances. .
This post was edited by Kittigate at March 14, 2019 8:58 PM MDT
You'd have to do something wilfully dangerous and actually very difficult, to receive a shock from a plug and socket in proper, intact condition, at least those made to UK standards. I don't know about other countries' standards.
The 240V 13A mains plugs and sockets sold in the UK have these precautionary design features making them intrinsically safe even if you handle them in the dark (or blind) :
1) The plug's two conductor pins are insulated for half their lengths.
2) The earth pin is uninsulated for its full length and...
3)... is longer than the others so it contacts the wiring earth before the conductor contacts are made.
4) The socket has a mechanical shutter that closes the live and neutral apertures until the inserted earth pin opens it to allow the L and N pins entry.
5) By the time the L & N pins make contact their insulation sleeves are just within the socket fascia, and the gap between plug and socket is now too small for fingers.
I think in some other national standards, the socket fascia is surrounded by a wall that covers the gap, but I do not know if the socket also has that gate arrangement.