Hi Max.
The 13A plug is still in use as the basic electrical mains power plug.

The 13A plug advantage is the internal fuse, each device can be suitabley fused as opposed to the typical N.A. system.

 

hi Max,
Just for reference, the plug has a number of extra safety features
E

 

The 13A plug advantage is the internal fuse, each device can be suitabley fused as opposed to the typical N.A. system.

What I see as the primary advantage of the fuse in the appliance plug, instead of in a central circuit breaker panel, is that EVERY TIME the fuse fails, a replacement fuse needs to be installed. And as for the super-safe insulated plugs, certainly they add quite a bit of cost to every appliance. BUT HOW WELL do they protect against accidental shorted circuits in any of the wires in the walls?? OR is there a second fused panel at some main distribution panelnear the power entrance??

 

WELL do they protect against accidental shorted circuits in any of the wires in the walls?? OR is there a second fused panel at some main distribution panelnear the power entrance??

hi,

A kitchen cooker or any other high current equipment will be wired with its own mains connection wiring and fusing/switching to the incoming main distribution box, not the 13Amp socket/plug wired ring main.

In the UK there is master fuse/switch box and distribution panel at the point where the mains supply enters the building

E



In a UK domestic property, the incoming mains electricity supply enters via the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) service head and flows through the following sequence into the home Consumer Unit: [1, 2]

1. The DNO Service Head (Cut-Out)

• Incoming Cable: Supplies 230V AC single-phase power from the street network.
• Service Cut-Out Fuse: A sealed, DNO-owned cartridge fuse (typically rated at 80A or 100A) that protects the underground/overhead drop cable from faults. It is illegal for unauthorized individuals to break the seal or pull this fuse.
• Earthing Terminal: Provides the main protective earth connection (via TN-S, TN-C-S/PME, or a local TT earth rod system). [1, 2, 3, 4]

 

What I see as the primary advantage of the fuse in the appliance plug, instead of in a central circuit breaker panel, is that EVERY TIME the fuse fails, a replacement fuse needs to be installed. And as for the super-safe insulated plugs, certainly they add quite a bit of cost to every appliance. BUT HOW WELL do they protect against accidental shorted circuits in any of the wires in the walls?? OR is there a second fused panel at some main distribution panelnear the power entrance??

They don't protect against shorts in the wires in the walls, the breaker in the distribution board does that. But it does allow a lot of sockets to be wired on to a single circuit fused at 32A without requiring cable between socket and appliance capable of 32A. The 32A circuit is wired in a ring of 2.5mm^2 cable with each end returning to the breaker, so that each socket it effectively fed by two cables in parallel.
And why? Because it uses much less cable than a cable from the board to every socket, and in 1947 Britain was skint and couldn't afford the copper.
And 1947 is also significant, as it is the year of Indian indepenence, which happened in the August, but the BS1363 plug (fused plug and ring mains) didn't happen until later in the year, so the Indians have the old standard.

 

What I see as the primary advantage of the fuse in the appliance plug, instead of in a central circuit breaker panel, is that EVERY TIME the fuse fails, a replacement fuse needs to be installed.

As eric explained, the way I remeber it is there is also a breaker in the panel, similar to N.A.

 

As eric explained, the way I remeber it is there is also a breaker in the panel, similar to N.A.

There would have to be a breaker in the panel, as the incomer is 80A or 100A and the circuit is rated at 32A. There's also a RCD (which you call a GFI)