Re: [89attendees] Mystery Power Outlet

Yes, this is generally described as the "old" British outlet. There 
are (at least) 3 version of this, see 
http://www.yikes.com/~ole/plugs/plugs-uk-r.jpg for a picture.

The one you are talking about is on the LEFT in this picture and is 
still the official standard in India. The monster in the middle is the 
standard one used in South Africa.

So, why would you find one in "modern" Britain? Well, usually these 
round-pin outlets are used for such thing as lights (lamps) where the 
ciruit is not designed to carry the full 13 amps of a normal outlet.
These outlets are often switched and often hooked up to dimmer 
controls, in summary: designed to prevent you from plugging in normal 
stuff.

Having said that, I always carry an adapter for this type of
outlet, comes handy for stuff like CPAP machines etc, but do
check that it isn't associated with a dimmer switch!

Brits on this list will now chime in and tell you that I am
wrong and that these plugs/sockets are obsolete, but that really
is not the case. The are installed in modern buildings in Britain
every day, but usually to prevent you from plugging your devices
in --- airline lounges are prime examples of such torture.

Ole

Ole J. Jacobsen
Editor and Publisher
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On Mon, 3 Mar 2014, Ben Campbell wrote:

> My room has one power outlet that I don't recognize. It's the only available outlet near the nightstand, where I generally like to plug my phone.  I thought it was a UK style outlet, but my adapter does not fit. On close inspection, it appears to have 3 round holes. The rectangular pins in my adapter won't fit.  It's otherwise the same layout. 
> 
> Any idea what this is?
> 
> My euro adapters would fit, except it appears to be gated on the ground pin. (Fortunately, none of the _normal_ UK plugs in my room are gated, so I can use the euro adapters in them.)
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