Type G Socket And Plug
The Type G plug and socket, commonly known as the British standard plug and socket, is used in multiple countries and regions around the world, primarily including the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Arabian Peninsula.
The Type G plug has three rectangular pins arranged in an isosceles triangle. The pin located at the top center has a cross-section of 4 x 8 mm and is 22.7 mm long. The live and neutral pins located at the bottom left and right have a cross-section of 4 x 6.35 mm, are 17.7 mm long, and are spaced 22.2 mm apart. The neutral and live pins of the Type G plug both have a 9 mm insulated section at the base, so even if the plug is not fully inserted into the socket, the risk of electric shock can be avoided.
Type G plug
According to the requirements of the British BS 1363 standard, all appliances connected to the power supply must use a three-pin, grounded plug with a built-in fuse. There is an ungrounded version of the Type G plug that only retains the neutral and live pins, replacing the standard Type G plug's grounding pin with plastic of the same shape. The purpose of this plastic pin is simply to open the shutter on the Type G socket, allowing the neutral and live pins to be inserted.
Ungrounded Type G plug
The electrical wiring system in the UK is called a ring circuit, also known as a ring main or ring feeder. This wiring method originated in the UK as a response to severe copper shortages after World War II, and is now used almost exclusively in the UK. Ring circuits require the use of plugs with built-in fuses. In the UK, small appliances like mobile phone chargers typically have a 3 A cartridge fuse inside the plug, while larger appliances like coffee machines typically have a 13 A cartridge fuse inside the plug. Unlike the UK, most other countries use radial circuits with circuit breakers at the main switch, so there is no need to add fuses inside the plugs.
The Type G plug and socket first appeared in 1946, with the related standard first published in 1947. By the late 1950s in the UK, Type G sockets had replaced the previous Type D sockets (BS 546 standard) and became the socket standard used in new construction. By the late 1960s, most sockets in older buildings had also been updated to Type G sockets. The vast majority of wall-mounted Type G sockets are equipped with switches, providing additional protection.
Type G socket with switch
The Type G plug is one of the safest power plugs in the world, but it is also the bulkiest. People often joke: "The Type G plug is bigger than the appliance that uses it!" However, although the built-in fuse increases the size of the Type G plug, in the event of an accident, the surge protection automatically cuts off the power, effectively preventing fires, electric shocks, and other accidents, making it safer to use.