Which direction is "correct" for a single-throw switch?

[Antonio]

Originally Posted by chalsall

You know, that's the first explanation for why "Down" would be considered "On" that makes sense to me.

As do the HUGE plugs used (sometimes with fuses built in).

ALWAYS with fuse holders and fuses built in. It would be illegal to fit or sell any other sort. Very sensible if you ask me, who wants 30A continuous at 230V (that's almost 7KW) being dumped into a faulty piece of kit? Something would soon catch fire.

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by Antonio

ALWAYS with fuse holders and fuses built in. It would be illegal to fit or sell any other sort. Very sensible if you ask me, who wants 30A continuous at 230V (that's almost 7KW) being dumped into a faulty piece of kit? Something would soon catch fire.

Thank you for that. Sincerely.

In "my world" this is what circuit breakers are for -- back at the panel, rather than at the plug.

In places where water (or water bags (read: humans)) may be present (e.g. bathrooms, kitchens, outside) GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets are used.

To speak to you question directly, very few want 7KW being dumped into anything unless it is planned for. But, it has been a /very/ long time since most people use fuses rather than breakers.

[Antonio]

Originally Posted by chalsall

Thank you for that. Sincerely.

In "my world" this is what circuit breakers are for -- back at the panel, rather than at the plug.

In places where water (or water bags (read: humans)) may be present (e.g. bathrooms, kitchens, outside) GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets are used.

To speak to you question directly, very few want 7KW being dumped into anything unless it is planned for. But, it has been a /very/ long time since most people use fuses rather than breakers.

Just to clear things up, there are circuit breakers to protect the house wiring the UK standard ring main has a 30A circuit breaker fitted.

This, however, is not much protection for a lead plugged into the main which is only capable of carrying 13A continuous, as in the case of most heavy domestic equipment (washing machines, kettles etc.) or 6A (sometimes only 3A) for electronic equipment ( TV, stereo, computer, table lamp etc.).
The theory is that the fuse in the plug protects the power lead from faulty equipment (or full/partial short circuit from mechanical damage) so that it doesn't overheat and cause a fire. The equipment that the lead is attached to should have it's own fuse system to prevent it from becoming a hazard should it develop a fault.

We just don't trust this new fangled electrickery stuff

[science_man_88]

Originally Posted by Antonio

ALWAYS with fuse holders and fuses built in. It would be illegal to fit or sell any other sort. Very sensible if you ask me, who wants 30A continuous at 230V (that's almost 7KW) being dumped into a faulty piece of kit? Something would soon catch fire.

not to mention even if not electrical I don't think people want the roughly 1.5 Calories ( nutrition) these days. edit: sorry 1.5 Calories per second.

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by Antonio

We just don't trust this new fangled electrickery stuff

Thank you for the clarification...

As a child I used to enjoy plugging in wires into the outlets and watch them melt.

"Snap, crackle, pop!

My physics teacher, after I had demonstrated that a capacitor still had charge to my friends using my tongue exclaimed "What do you do during Chemistry class -- lick frogs?!?!?!?

[Antonio]

Originally Posted by science_man_88

not to mention even if not electrical I don't think people want the roughly 1.5 Calories ( nutrition) these days. edit: sorry 1.5 Calories per second.

130,000 calories per day, that would certainly pile on the pounds/kilograms.

[sdbardwick]

Only one way here...

[xilman]

Originally Posted by Antonio

Just to clear things up, there are circuit breakers to protect the house wiring the UK standard ring main has a 30A circuit breaker fitted.

Further, on new installations each circuit is now required to have a 30mA max RCD fitted. For those new to the jargon, a residual current device measures the current imbalance between live and neutral, the difference presumably leaking to earth. Earth leakage currents >30mA at 230V are easily capable of killing you directly or indirectly.

Newly installed outdoor power sockets are also required to be protected with a 30mA RCD.

Existing non-protected installations are still legal but are being steadily upgraded.

The UK takes electrickery safety very seriously.

[Antonio]

Originally Posted by chalsall

Thank you for the clarification...

As a child I used to enjoy plugging in wires into the outlets and watch them melt.

"Snap, crackle, pop!

Even that is no simple task in the UK.
The UK socket has internal shutters over the live and neutral holes which are moved out of the way by the insertion of the (longer) earth pin on the plug.
Modern plugs have the live and neutral pins shrouded with an insulating layer (except for a short length at the tip) so that at no point during the insertion/extraction of the plug is electrical contact with a live pin possible.

[Xyzzy]

Originally Posted by xilman

For those new to the jargon, a residual current device measures the current imbalance between live and neutral, the difference presumably leaking to earth.

In America we call that a "Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter" (GFCI). They can be part of the receptacle or built into the circuit breaker.

We also have a requirement for an "Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter" in some locations.

[Mark Rose]

During my trip so far through Nordic countries, including Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, every switch I have encountered has on as up. Seems to be the standard most parts.

Though North American three prong plugs are often mounted with the round ground pin down, it's actually safer to have it at the top: if the plug becomes loose, it's better to have something fall on the ground pin that hot or neutral.