The British standard plug is the biggest in the world, bigger than the standard European plug with the two round contacts. Min-Kyu Choi is proposing a solution with the Folding Plug that just won The Brit Insurance design of the year prize.
I think it’s about time to introduce a universal plug, like the USB port that works everywhere, on a Mac and on a PC. The Folding Plug is a very elegant design but it obviously more expensive to manufacture and must be extremely prone to breakage, in the disposable world this must be a OK. The building industry should learn for the PC industry that routinely retires key components, floppy disks, etc. It’s entirely within the real of possibility to retire these plugs forever. One can use legacy adapters in the interim period or indefinitely. Still cheaper that the massive duplications of the inefficient and bulky two centuries old design. Here is the video explaining the idea:
Further reading:
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Having worked all over the place, establishing myself and then pulling it down I have learnt a few things about electricity and plugs.
The issue will be the electricity supply (ie amps/watts) more than the design because in those countries with 110 systems, earthing has been less important and less dangerous. In 220/40 or 240/60 systems larger items have to have the third earth-wire or face danger to life, limb and equipment.
Having said that, the British plug is a joke and represents the English’s incapacity to alter the system to the European standard and their delaying it has only made it more difficult and an expensive option. Modern day plugs of the EU, Africa, ME round pin plug is now an easy, safe and sleek design with or without the extra plug. My last visit to Australia with the three flat diagonal plugs similarly work well but miss the safety inset.
I like the idea of one plug fits all but I fear that if they do that then the 240 will be plugged into the 110 and boom – but even that can be worked out with a bit of thought and innovation.
Oh, I forgot about the wattage differences. I am sure you still can have a universal plug for both. Or two different plugs is also a huge progress. Fortunately the American plug have the smallest from factor. But I always travel with a universal adapter.