Upside down 3 pin mains plug?

[Horse]

Typical UK 3 pin mains plug has cable entry at the +/- end.

Is it possible to get one with cable entry at the Earth end?

[Pirahna]

Unscrew the socket and rotate 180⁰.

[Horse]

Unscrew the socket and rotate 180⁰.

Yes, I only thought of that after putting a washing machine and tumble dryer in front of it

[Mussels]

I've never seen what you are looking for which doesn't surprise me. Would one of these give the clearance you need?

[Horse]

I've never seen what you are looking for which doesn't surprise me. Would one of these give the clearance you need?

It's more cable direction.

Tumble dryer is stacked washing machine, socket is low down so cable has to loop back up.

And I need (well, 'want') to keep stuff in the space. And and puppy likes cables to chew ... Stuff in the way stops pup access.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Aren't UK plugs intentionally designed so that if you yank the cable out the pins disconnect in sequence? That's why the earth is at the top with a sort of loop (and why the brown wire goes 'straight there'), thus a partly pulled out wire is more likely to stay earthed?

So it seems unlikely you'd get an upside down one?

You do see it on phone chargers and similar, but they have a 'fake' earth pin.

[Taipan]

I imagine they are designed like that to prevent water ingress?

[Cousin Jack]

A quick look at RS Components, and another firm who specialise in weird mains plugs has come up with nothing.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Just had a look at the BS1363 Part 1 (get it at work, so I can't share a copy).

Ch19.1

"The entry of the flexible chord shall be between the current-carrying pins at the side of the plug opposite the earth pin".

Then loads of stuff about being able to yank the wire out, strain relief inside the plug, order of terminal disconnect etc.

So an upside down plug would not comply with the standards and hence you're not likely to find one.

[Lutin]

Would it not be worth installing the socket further up the wall? If the cable(s) come down from above you'll be able to intercept them further up the wall. Just need to dig another hole for the socket box.

[Horse]

Would it not be worth installing the socket further up the wall? If the cable(s) come down from above you'll be able to intercept them further up the wall. Just need to dig another hole for the socket box.

It would if:
- I'd thought of it years ago when the kitchen was converted to utility room
- There wasn't a window above it



Basically, the two machines are using two locations where power previously went to fridge and dishwasher.

[Horse]

Aren't UK plugs intentionally designed so that if you yank the cable out the pins disconnect in sequence?

Sort of.

Earth is longer. So when inserting or removing, the shorter power pins only make contact when the plug is close.

Also, the two power pins are usually partially insulated.

The earth pin opens covers on the other two holes.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Aye, but if you look at the layout of the wires themselves you can see that yanking the thing out would disconnect, in sequence, live then neutral and then finally earth. AFAIK that's not an accident.

[Horse]

Sorry, didn't read your post properly. Yes, see what you mean about the wires - I read it as pulling the plug from socket.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Put the lead in conduit so the dog can't chew through it

[roadster]

The regulations and standards for these are very tight as explained above. It is possible to get a fused switch block and hard wire the supply to the appliance internally then you can route the cable as you wish. The dog would only chew through this once so it would be better to use a conduit!

Having said that I have no idea whether it is "legal" to do that yourself.

[Horse]

Put the lead in conduit so the dog can't chew through it

Currently, there's a small stepladder stored there, so he can't get at it.

[Newey]

Aren't UK plugs intentionally designed so that if you yank the cable out the pins disconnect in sequence? That's why the earth is at the top with a sort of loop (and why the brown wire goes 'straight there'), thus a partly pulled out wire is more likely to stay earthed?

So it seems unlikely you'd get an upside down one?

You do see it on phone chargers and similar, but they have a 'fake' earth pin.

As part of a course I actually did a wiring a plug and as said the earth has the most slack so it will be the last to come out.