Old 13A plugs

I don't think the mystery is solved. It would be very odd to bring a live conductor out of the plug body like that, even if it was then covered with some sort of insulating material that has now gone. The to end of the fuse holder doesn't really *need* to be rivetted down or fixed in any other way. It's held in place by the moldings of the plug base.

I like the "piece of string" theory best, that it was used to attach it to a two pin plug for a portably appliance. Not completely convinced by that either but more convinvced than by the rivet theory.

Tim

On Monday 03 June 2013 13:11 Gefreiter Krueger wrote in uk.d-i-y:

You da man! :)

I did somethign similar at around age 13. Mains driving into a voltage doubler (diodes + capacitors) feeding the biggest xenon tube Maplin had (not very). All on open veroboard on the dining room table.

Mother was worried but father fully approved.

historic wiring practices.

I'm not worrying about it, so that isnt possible. I just prefer a longer life expectancy

As for the live wire hypothesis, it makes no sense. There's already an outlet hole for a live wire. So I dont think it can be for a wire.

I don't really buy the string idea either.

1. String links were used on light sockets, never afaik 13A adaptors, there would be no reason to, and every reason not to.
2. If a string link were used, the sensible place to put the hole would be the top side of the plug, or perhaps the side, but not the underside.

Its normal for such mouldings to sometimes have a rough surface or 2. The mystery remains imho.

NT

historic wiring practices.

expectancy

It doesn't reduce your life like cigarettes. It's an exceedingly small risk of ending it. If you're not worried, you'd ignore it.

ote:

ic in those days so I guess it went underground somewhere.

g down the cabin lights.

I just thought of the reason. It was so you could look in and see if the earth wire was present/ attached without removing the cover.

ote:

ic in those days so I guess it went underground somewhere.

They were all metal and usually lead.

historic wiring practices.

expectancy

ending it. If you're not worried, you'd ignore it.

There was a commonly held theory that you became immune to electric shocks. I don't buy that personally, but what is true is that people working on live equipment take precautions so that if they do receive a shock the current won't go through their chest.

those days so I guess it went underground somewhere.

Ah, the paranoia hole.

historic wiring practices.

life expectancy

of ending it. If you're not worried, you'd ignore it.

The human body gets used to a lot of things, so it's possible I suppose.

Are you sure what you are calling an access hole to the earth is not just a slot for a locating pin in the cover part of which has now broken off ?

or, in this house, built 1911, mild steel.

No, I've seen lots of plugs like that. There is a definite hole.

Probably have one or two lying around.

Same with 5 & 15A roundpin, possiblt 2A, not sure. I have found a second one, different make.

of ending it. If you're not worried, you'd ignore it.

I've got better things to do, youre brainless

I'm pretty convinced there was a rivet, although it is strange that the only captive part was that half of the fuse holder.

I must say though, that the groove is odd. Yes the head of the rivet needs to be countersunk, but why a groove, and why extend it right to the edge? I don't know if it was filled with a compound, but as it is now, anyone handling the plug with with hands runs an increased risk of gravity and/or capillary action putting you in contact with a live rivet or pin.

of ending it. If you're not worried, you'd ignore it.

And youre (sic) a pansy.

Don't you just love 'tinternet

(Although not the purpose of the picture) Does figure 8 on this page

I have a recollection of there being a metal rivet covered by a piece of fibreboard pressed into the hole on older MK plugs - when I'm next in the workshop I'll look at my box of ancient bits and see if there's one to confirm this. Some of the other fittings I remember (e.g. the old switches made of porcelain with a screw on brass cover) had what looked like just a bit of melted pitch covering live rivets or screws - a possible problem if the thing gets too hot...