Safest Plug and Socket-outlet in the world?
It is now compulsory to install the new SANS 164-2 plug and outlet system which will replace the SANS 164-1 plug and socket-outlet.
The replacement is due to the SANS 164-1 system being tremendously dangerous and so, it is being replaced. Some of the problems it poses:
Large, open socket holes - this would allow children who love to play around the socket can be electrocuted.
The plug pins are often not insulated - fingers touch the conductive parts when inserting or removing it from the socket-outlet.
Poor earthing - The earthing of these sockets has been shown to be unreliable.
Before the 1940s, a two-pin unearthed plug was used in South Africa. During World War II South Africa adopted the 15amp three-pronged plug with round pins from the United Kingdom and introduced compulsory earthing. But the British replaced it in the favor of the 13amp double flat-pin plugs.
South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) switched to the SANS 164-2 5 years ago. It became compulsory for all new installations from January this year, increasing consumer's safety.
The new plug system is much safer as the socket outlets have shutters that will only open if two live pins are inserted simultaneously and the third pin is an earth pin to protect the users from shock. It also does not come with a switch as they mislead consumers to believe that it's safe, now consumers must manually remove it, but there are options for a switch.
South Africa is sticking to three pins, but European's two-pin plugs can be used with the new system. The plugs will increase local manufacturing and jobs and South African might just have the safest plug and socket system in the world.
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