Video: UK Folding Plug concept could flatten that bulky British adapter

[onethreehill]

Of all the AC adapters stuffed into your personal item when globetrotting, the plug used in Merry Old England must surely be the most cumbersome -- its three copper prongs flung to the extremes of a giant block of plastic. That Victorian holdover gets a major re-do with this UK Folding Plug concept. The two horizontal prongs rotate themselves in-line with the top, vertical one, and the body of the adapter then folds in half, resulting in a thickness of about 1cm. Interestingly the plug would still work in either position, with a slimline power strip envisioned to accept three of these slender lovelies at once. It's positively brilliant, but is just a concept at this point, and while we don't have any news to pass along about its likelihood for production, surely some manufacturer will watch the video after the break and start churning these out by the millions.

Video at source

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/u...itish-adapter/

[Bodkin]

Be very surprised if this took off in a big way. Our plug may be bulky but its one solid piece of kit (as anyone who has stood on one will know). Guessing this is intended for travelers only?

[onethreehill]

Be very surprised if this took off in a big way. Our plug may be bulky but its one solid piece of kit (as anyone who has stood on one will know). Guessing this is intended for travelers only?

For people who have to carry it everyday (office/school) too

[inCore]

As long as it happens as soon as possible and as long as this concept doesn't break the second time you use it, it's nice.

[3NZ0]

This would be good for laptop chargers or anything else that is used otg that has a length of cable before the appliance.

However it won't replace anything else. It wouldn't work on compact chargers and is too flimsy to be used on standard household items.

Anyone who has used a uk plug knows just how much rough use the 3 pin plug can take, though they do have a nasty habit of lying prongs up when unused which can be quite painful when said foot is placed on plug by accident.

[Shintai]

How about the UK changed to the same standard that the rest of europe is adopting

Imagine if all the world was 240V, 50Hz, same plugs as the majority uses. How much time and resources it would save. Simplicity and standards ftw.

[XS_Rich]

It's a good plan that could be easily improved by the rest of the world changing to the UK's (clearly superior) standard.

[3NZ0]

How about the UK changed to the same standard that the rest of europe is adopting
Imagine if all the world was 240V, 50Hz, same plugs as the majority uses. How much time and resources it would save. Simplicity and standards ftw.

European plugs are terrible, they come out of the sockets if you breathe on them.

However we do need a unified standard, that's for sure.

[Yakyb]

how about Europe change to the UK method? they are much more secure and why some countries dont employ an earth is beyond me

[dieqast]

European plugs are terrible, they come out of the sockets if you breathe on them.

However we do need a unified standard, that's for sure.

I would say try them again, because I have to yank those things out of the socket unless the transformer is in the plug part. US plug is by far the worst (those tiny connections could be broken instantly), UK was also fine with me but I have not used them frequently so can't judge them really. Unified standards would be great, I don't even know why we started off having different ones in the first place..anyone?

[Talonman]

I bet the Folding Community was looking for this.

[LuckyNV]

Anyone who has used a uk plug knows just how much rough use the 3 pin plug can take, though they do have a nasty habit of lying prongs up when unused which can be quite painful when said foot is placed on plug by accident.

I go ballistic when someone does that in the house, its just not nice

[Easybeat]

Bulk is my only complaint about UK plugs but they sure are robust.

BTW What's with the socket's in the picture? looks like its been left in a Kindergarden art class for an afternoon.

[skycrane]

what i want to know is who came up with that idea in the first place?? when mass production of electricity, was invented in the us for 120v@60cps. why did others decide on 120@50cps, or 240@50cps?

[Mats]

European plugs are terrible, they come out of the sockets if you breathe on them.

Now that depends on which socket is used, not the plug. Some sockets from the sixties are are bad, but that problem is long gone.
European plugs are usually quite reliable, and the 2-pin version is pretty flat. I just wish they could add a third pin on it.

[Shintai]

what i want to know is who came up with that idea in the first place?? when mass production of electricity, was invented in the us for 120v@60cps. why did others decide on 120@50cps, or 240@50cps?

Japan is 100V for example

120V is also a problem in terms of loss etc.

And not much using 100-120V anyway.



Plugs is alot worse:

[gatecrasherlok]

I agree that our trusty old wall socket is one solid piece and is really sturdy indeed. Although the new plug could come as a nice addition too. For travellers its agreat idea and it woudl be great for general use around home for general appliances too.

[Chosen.]

It's a good plan that could be easily improved by the rest of the world changing to the UK's (clearly superior) standard.

Because UK is known to be changing normal things to abnormal, just to be different.

Loads of ways of measurement in the UK are ancient, basically everything non-metric. I mean 16 ounces in a pound and 12 inches in a foot?
How about we all change our currency scheme and start using 16 dollar bills, and 12 sterling notes, while the euro should divide "exactly" (lol) to 83,333 cents?

Decimal denominations are naturally easier to handle, that's why reasonable people use the metric system and also why the british still weight themselves in "stones" (a method that the rest of humanity stopped using about 5.000 years ago )

(sorry for the OT)

[XS_Rich]

Because UK is known to be changing normal things to abnormal, just to be different.

Loads of ways of measurement in the UK are ancient, basically everything non-metric. I mean 16 ounces in a pound and 12 inches in a foot?
How about we all change our currency scheme and start using 16 dollar bills, and 12 sterling notes, while the euro should divide "exactly" (lol) to 83,333 cents?

Decimal denominations are naturally easier to handle, that's why reasonable people use the metric system and also why the british still weight themselves in "stones" (a method that the rest of humanity stopped using about 5.000 years ago )

(sorry for the OT)

Yeah but if tourists couldn't walk 400 yards to buy a pint in a pub before tucking into a quarter of Pontefract cakes we probably wouldn't have a tourist industry.

Gotta love that quaint old world feel.

Besides, the US can hardly talk with their crazy 'let's call it a gallon, but not make it the same as a gallon'.... :P

[Yakyb]

Originally in the UK there where many different regional voltages/Plug sockets then a company took a huge risk and bought out most of the Infrastructure and decided upon 240 because it was more efficient than 110V (you just need to look at PSU efficiency graphs)

[soundood]

just to add to this debate, the UK changed from 15 amp round pin plugs to 13 amp square pin plugs post world war, there was tons of debate on this as the cost per home then, was a lot of money. this will never be changed to suit european standards.

as for the plug in question, there is a very good reason that no one has done this before now, and its not because we didnt think of it.

there is a snowballs chance in hell in this ever being approved by BSI (British standards institute)

in fact this is the reason the current UK plug is the shape it is, it has been tested over and over again to be the (and only) design to pass this standard.

although interesting in design/concept, you will never see this make open market.

[FischOderAal]

European plugs are terrible, they come out of the sockets if you breathe on them.

However we do need a unified standard, that's for sure.

The ones without a ground do come out more easily than the other ones, but still I never had any problems at all In fact, I pulled a socket out of the wall once

What do you base your opinion on?

A european standard would be great. Oh, and teach the british to drive on the right side of the road and use the metric system while you're at it. :p *SCNR*

[XS_Rich]

The ones without a ground do come out more easily than the other ones, but still I never had any problems at all In fact, I pulled a socket out of the wall once

What do you base your opinion on?

A european standard would be great. Oh, and teach the british to drive on the right side of the road and use the metric system while you're at it. :p *SCNR*

If it meant we could have some derestricted motorways, I'd happily drive on the wrong side.

[[XC] Lead Head]

Solution to UK Plug problem:



You can fit four of these in the same space as 1 UK plug, and there are 230v versions that don't take up any more room. Problem solved!

[[XC] gomeler]

Solution to UK Plug problem:



You can fit four of these in the same space as 1 UK plug, and there are 230v versions that don't take up any more room. Problem solved!