EU sockets from the past 30 years also have little rubber flaps that only open if they’re pressed both at the same time
This looks like BS.
US required TR plugs starting in 2008, and it looks like a EU directive in 2001 recommended them but left it up to individual countries and says there’s still no eu-wide mandate. Unless the search ai is lying, US and EU did this at about the same time but US had a larger mandate
Anecdotally I haven’t seen a plug in Belgium that didn’t have them that also wasn’t ancient. Dunno if the RGIE requires it, I can’t be arsed to find out, but the risk/reward for manufacturers considering lawsuits probably tips it in favor of safety given how inexpensive the mechanism is.
Also it is worth noting that the plug hole is much smaller on EU outlets than NEMA, and recessed. Even with exposed conductors it would take a determined toddler to find something small enough to reach inside (basically a needle or small screwdriver which they should not be playing with to begin with).
I can see the recessed shape being a nice safety improvement, although I’m used to what I’ve lived with and haven’t killed myself that way yet, so I’d still probably err on the side of convenience, less bulk.
An interesting consequence of the flat faced outlet is so many shapes and sizes of plugs around the same standard prongs, and now I do nt want to do without them
This looks like BS.
US required TR plugs starting in 2008, and it looks like a EU directive in 2001 recommended them but left it up to individual countries and says there’s still no eu-wide mandate. Unless the search ai is lying, US and EU did this at about the same time but US had a larger mandate
Anecdotally I haven’t seen a plug in Belgium that didn’t have them that also wasn’t ancient. Dunno if the RGIE requires it, I can’t be arsed to find out, but the risk/reward for manufacturers considering lawsuits probably tips it in favor of safety given how inexpensive the mechanism is.
Also it is worth noting that the plug hole is much smaller on EU outlets than NEMA, and recessed. Even with exposed conductors it would take a determined toddler to find something small enough to reach inside (basically a needle or small screwdriver which they should not be playing with to begin with).
I can see the recessed shape being a nice safety improvement, although I’m used to what I’ve lived with and haven’t killed myself that way yet, so I’d still probably err on the side of convenience, less bulk.
An interesting consequence of the flat faced outlet is so many shapes and sizes of plugs around the same standard prongs, and now I do nt want to do without them