hackertube.io

British Plugs Are Better Than All Other Plugs, And Here's Why

Tom Scott · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Product & industrial designElectronics & circuit designEngineering & making (other)

What it is

Tom Scott explains the design of the British BS 1363 plug and socket, including fuses, shutters and safety features, and why he thinks it beats other plugs.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN treats it as the obligatory video to share whenever plugs and sockets come up, praised for its safety reasoning.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2019, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “as rarely as I recommend videos I very much suggest Tom Scott's video”

    Explains why British plugs are better than other plugs.

    lewiscollard, 2019-08 · Strong recommendation · in “North American versus European distribution systems (2011)”

  2. “Sure there is bias there, but the reasoning is pretty compelling.”

    Argues the case for British plugs as the best sockets.

    stevekemp, 2019-07 · Recommendation · in “Why Three Prongs? (1996)”

  3. “There's a good video[0] on the design of UK plugs if you're interested.”

    Good video on the design of UK plugs.

    tentacleuno, 2021-11 · Recommendation · in “Museum of Plugs and Sockets”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: bs 1363, power plugs, electrical safety, tom scott, fuses

Also recommended by the same people