Wiki:Plug socket

NT :

Good point. But isnt that term used in the trade? Even if questionably.

NT

Yes, it's 'traditional'. BS 1363 and BS 7671 refer merely to 'plugs'.

'Socket' is wrong though, if we're being formal. 'Socket-outlet' (hyphenated) is the kosher term.

So may I suggest the captions: "*Plug* (or *plug-top*)" and "*socket-outlet* (or simply *socket*)".

Oh and your picture is of a twin switched socket-outlet. For the context, a picture of a single unswitched socket would be better.

Yes, I just dont have one to hand. Another day.

NT

Great. But it might be advisable to include 2A, 5A, 10A (yes, really!) and 16A connectors (as well as the variety of IEC plugs and sockets widely used for computery-type things).

Even 2-pin type plugs/sockets. AND d.c. connectors in their numerous forms...f

Actually a lamp socket *can* take a plug. Though admittedly it usually doesn't.

Agreed. That's mainly because of the hyphen, which IMO shouldn't be there.

It's just as much for *input* of electricity as output, being part of an electrical circuit. I agree that in a sense it's an outlet for power.

Speaking for myself I call it a "13 amp socket". Into which goes a "13 amp plug". In most contexts I omit the "13 amp" because it's obvious.

I don't get it. You're using a computer aren't you? The computer is positively bristling with sockets that you put plugs into. But you're saying that "plug socket" makes it clear that you don't mean any of them?

If you only refer to the outside part of those connectors they do. You have a male and female same as all others. The fact the business part that carries the electricity is reversed from the norm is ignored. Or rather that's the convention I was taught when dealing with audio etc connecters

- go by the body.

I don't think I'd call them sockets when they're on the back of my computer, more likely "female connector" or jack.

Sockets is what they are though. You might plug a jack into one of them, though - typically into the headphone or mic socket.

I suppose that depends on what you actually use your computer for.

No. Traditionally the "jack" is a socket into which a plug goes. Hence the term "jack plug" is really an oxymoron :-)

and with "jacking" contacts on the back, too.

Ah, but what if your computer has a RS232 serial port... that uses a male connector on the machine, and the "socket" goes on the end of the lead.

I'd throw it in the bin as being 10 years out of date.

Nice try but you can't use those terms for RS232 connectors.

Quite useful to have one when dealing with things like switches or filers.

And "ring circuit" is also wrong. It's "final ring circuit".

IMHO the whole article seems to be a waste of space.

Or my still perfectly functional UPS.

Well, what would I plug my modem or my graphics tablet into? The former gets very little use apart from sending the occasional fax. The latter are still rather pricey to replace...

If you can use the term for a Centronics printer port, then you can use it for a serial one. Same connector, different sex. ;-)

Or ring final circuit even ;-)

Well partly... could probably be done simply as a redirect from the colloquial terms to the articles about the proper items.

Might be worth an article on things like sockets, since there are a few misconceptions that float about regarding those etc.