For those needing five more power sockets and a couple of 1A USB ports, perhaps this item may be of interest?
I just got one on spec., seeing it in the shop, and it seems to work, but any comments would be welcome.
Going purely by the picture, the criticism in the last section, "Loophole in BS 1363", of applies.
Does it have holes whereby it can be fixed in any way to a wall or board?
On 03/02/2015 21:29, Dr J R Stockton wrote: []
Yes, you can poke an appropriately sized implement into the earth to open the shutters, as you can on any UK mains socket.
I don't see any mounting holes on the rear, it's designed as a portable device.
It /is/ powering my RS power bank nicely, though, and powering my Raspberry Pi 2 through the usual power adapter. I thought it might be a useful device for Raspberry Pi enthusiasts, and it would be good to hear how well it can power an RPi directly. Or even two!
And it looks like you could put a plug in backwards as well
To be honest anyone that stupid probably needs removing from the gene pool anyway, they certainly should not be left unattended with electrical equipment.
That seems a pretty specious criticism, after all a plug the wrong way round is perhaps a safer way of opening the shutters (to shove a European plug in for example) than using a screwdriver.
I don't think you're supposed to do that, either :|
It is.
Even worse are the FatallyFlawed mob (referred to on the same page). I was neutral on their point until 2 year old Liam Boyle was killed by plugging in a cut-off appliance flex. He would be alive today if socket covers were used in his bedroom. OTOH, there are no known cases of injury or death from using socket covers, contrary to the impression you might gain from FatallyFlawed. If they want to do something useful, they should campaign for a method to lock-out the use of a socket by an infant (whether by a standardised cover, or other means).
Sure, but fixing the "loophole" isn't going to stop it happening.
-- Steve O'Hara-Smith | Directable Mirror Arrays C:>WIN | A better way to focus the sun The computer obeys and wins. | licences available see You lose and Bill collects. |
cable-20745405-pdt.html
Which makes me wonder if all I need to power a Pi is one of the USB charger sockets on my 13A twin wall socket.
The front of the one packaged to go in the hall by the front door says
2.1A (though not if this is each socket or the two combined) so it should in theory.Much neater than a wall wart.
Cheers
Dave R
No Both are bloody stupid
A screwdriver into the earth will not do you any harm (until you jab something into the live pin as well)
forcing an EU plug into the skt because you cant be arsed to get an adapter available in supermarkets for less than a pound is definitely stupid.
one would hope that anyone doing it accidentally with a plug would notice pretty quickly
Dunno about the 2.1 amp units, but the earlier two socket adapters that Maplins sold were 1000mA in total, NOT per socket.
Or if someone hadn't left a lethal electrical device lying around where a toddler could get it. If you save power leads cut off old equipment (I do, they can be handy) remove the fuse - it's not hard.
Indeed. I do many public repair events, and in the training I give, I specifically say they should not even be displosed of at these public places, as someone might retrieve one from the bin to play with.
And it also shows you cant turn your back on the little darlings for a moment (at least not until they an age where they can be trusted)
You mean 35? ;)
No by that age they are back in the cant be trusted category ;-)
lol
On the rare occasions I dispose of anything with a mains plug on, I make it safe by removing the earth pin. On moulded plugs that's usually a case of gripping it with a strong pair of pliers and twisting hard, or a few minutes with a hacksaw.
Spare leads have the fuses removed and the bare wires made safe with heatshrink tube, just in case (I knew how to change a plug at 5 YO - don't underestimate toddlers).
Crafty.
Many adults can find a suitable implement, somewhere, without much difficulty. But the important point is that with "loophole" sockets in use, any small child can easily find an implement to do it, viz. a plug.
It's a matter of opinion, using the picture, or a matter of test, using the hardware, whether the plug will go in completely with reversed earth connected or with reversed live/neutral connected. In the ones I purchased, the reversed earth is easy, with good clearance for the small pins. But with reversed live/neutral there is slightly negative earth clearance, so that with a reasonable shove one might make contact with incomplete insertion, maybe leaving exposed live metal. A good kick or stamp should achieve greater insertion, until something breaks.
If a two-pin European plug, CEE 7 IIRC, is inserted into a UK socket, contact may be poor, and there will be no suitable fuse protecting the cable.
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