British Standard Bs 1363 Games

1. Bs 1363 Regulations

A typical BS 1363 plugBS 1363specifies the most common type of thatare used in the, and many former. Of these, and have equivalent standards—IS 401& 411, MS 589, and SS 145, respectively. The standard wasintroduced in 1946, shortly after the, as part of a newstandard for.legislation in both theUK andIreland requires that all domestic electrical goods sold in eithercountry should be fitted with a BS 1363 or IS 401 (as applicable)plug.Other plug types used in the same area include, only used in industrial and someoutdoor applications, and, limited to old installations and specialised applicationswhere either the BS 1363 plug is unsuitable or where mateabilitywith the standard variety is not desired (for example, where lampsare controlled by a switch or dimmer). BS 1363 type electrical socket.

Note the closed shutters (red)blocking entry of foreign objects.This style of plug appeared in 1946, shortly after the. Britain had previouslyused a combination of 5and 15 amp round pin sockets, where each had to be wired to thedistribution board and each provided with its own fuse. As a resultof high wartime demands, Britain suffered from a chronic shortageof copper.

Further, as a result of enemy action a considerableamount of housing stock had been destroyed. Britain was in theposition of having to rapidly rebuild housing for its populationand electrically wire it using as little copper as possible.The solution was the system (often informallycalled 'ring main');, where, instead of each socket beingindividually wired, a cable was brought from the fuse or circuitbreaker in the distribution board and wired in sequence to a numberof sockets before being taken back to the distribution board andwired to the same fuse or circuit breaker. Internal wiring. There is more slack in the neutral wire than thelive, ensuring that if the lead is forcibly removed, the live wirewill disconnect first.1 - Cable grip; 2 - Neutral terminal;3 - Earth terminal; 4 - Live terminal;5 - FuseA BS 1363 plug has two horizontal, rectangular pins for phase(commonly termed 'live') and neutral, and above these pins, alarger, vertical pin for an earth connection. Unlike with mostother types of sockets, the earth pin is necessary for use of theBS 1363 plug, as it is needed to push open a shutter in the socketto allow the live and neutral pins to be inserted. It alsopolarises the plug, ensuring that the live pin is connected to thecorrect terminal in the socket.

Bs 1363 Regulations

Moulded plugs for unearthed, appliances may substitutethis contact with a non-conductive pin to open the shutter. Most non-fixeddomestic equipment is connected using the BS 1363 plugs, the mainexceptions being equipment requiring more than 13 amps (e.g. Larger, which are hard-wired); remotely switched, non-fixedlighting (which use proprietary or plugs); and low-power portable equipment,such as, which may beused in several countries. Many, particularly in, have 2-pin standard 'shaver sockets',which usually accommodate both European and US 2-pin plugs.Because typical British circuits (especially ) candeliver more current than many appliance power cords can safelyhandle, BS 1363 plugs are required to carry a cartridge. Thefuse is manufactured to BS 1362 and are normally rated at 3, 5, 10,or 13 amperes. The maximum load that can be placed on a socket is13 A; triple and larger sockets are fitted with a 13 Afuse of the same type used in the plugs.

The plugs and sockets aredesigned to carry up to 250 volts AC, 50. ShutteringBritish power outlets incorporate shutters on the phase andneutral contacts to prevent someone from pushing a foreign objectinto the socket. Sockets from most manufacturers have shutterswhich are opened by the earth pin alone. This is longer than theothers and must always be present (though on double insulatedequipment it may be plastic). Sockets manufactured by MK use aproprietary system which requires that both live and neutral pinsof correct dimensions must be inserted simultaneously. On olderversions of MK sockets the latter condition was sufficient, butcurrent versions also require that the earth pin is inserted.The requirement for sockets to be child safe and include ashutter mechanism dates back to a wartime committee which resultedin the publication of 'Post War Building Study No.

11 – ElectricalInstallations' in January 1944. British Standard 1363 followed in1947 as a result of this initiative. Dangers caused by Socket Covers. Extraction hole in domed socket cover allows access to liveparts (cutaway cover).Despite the built-in shuttering, socket covers are sold andmarketed as preventing children from inserting objects intosockets. Unfortunately the majority of these plug-in devices can beinserted upside down, which serves to disable the internal shuttersand result in decreasing safety, not improving it. It has beendemonstrated that some of the most popular types on the marketactually allow objects such as paper clips to be inserted alongsidethe line pin of the socket cover. The FatallyFlawed.org.uk campaignwas founded in August 2008 to raise awareness of this issue andpublishes photographic and video evidence of the dangers.

Multi Way Extension Shuttering. Shows how an inverted plug can open shutters in a multi-wayextension to expose live parts.BS 1363 places no restrictions on the distance of the earth pinto the top edge of the socket faceplate (although there is aminimum distance specified between the power pins and the loweredge of the faceplate). As a result there are many designs ofmulti-way extension sockets (and also the older multi-way adapterblocks) which allow a normal plug to be inserted upside down. Thiscompletely defeats the correct operation of the safetyshutters. DimensionsThe live and neutral pins have a rectangular cross section6.35±0.13 mm wide and 3.975±0.075 mm height. They are17.7±0.5 mm long and their centre lines are horizontally11.115±0.065 mm on either side of the symmetry plane of theplug. The protective-earth pin is centred on the symmetry plane, is22.73±0.5 mm long and has a cross section 3.975±0.075 mmwide and 7.925±0.125 mm height.

The centre lines of thelive/neutral pins and the protective pin are vertically22.23±0.13 mm apart.(These dimensions may be more easily remembered in the original, which are not mentioned inthe current standard: 1/4±0.005 inch wide by5/32±0.0025 inch high, and 0.695±0.02 inch long. They are7/8±0.005 inch horizontally from each other, and the samedistance vertically from the earth pin, which is0.895±0.02 inch long. The pin lengths were presumablyoriginally 0.7 and 0.9 inches, and assigned an asymmetrictolerance of +0.005/−0.015.). Othersafety features.

The plug base is broadened near the pins to help keep fingersaway from the pins (this was a very early modification to thestandard, which was later improved by the use of the insulated pinbases described above). The plug sides are shaped to improve grip and make it easier toremove the plug from a socket without placing fingers behind theplug where the pins are. The plug is polarised, so that it cannot be inserted with thephase and neutral pins reversed. BS 1362 fuses (for BS 1363 plugs)All plugs with the exception of some plug topare fused. This is in addition to the fuses or in /.Prior to the introduction of the 13 amp plug the BS 5462 A, 5 A, and 15 A plugs were used. With thissystem, the only fuses were in the consumer unit. 15 A socketswere generally given a dedicated 15 A circuit, while 5 Asockets might be on a 15 A circuit with multiple sockets or on adedicated 5 A circuit.

2 A sockets were generallyconnected to the lighting circuit, which was fused at 5 A.Adaptors were available to use 5 A plugs in 15 A socketsand to use 2 A plugs in 5 A sockets, so it was quitepossible for an appliance with the smallest size of to be protected onlyby a 15 A fuse.When the practice of using 30 A ring circuits wasintroduced (to save copper while also allowing more flexibility),it was considered unsafe to allow appliance flexes to be connectedto such a high rated circuit with no further protection, and theplug/socket combination had to provide the fuse. It was decided toplace the fuse in the plug and to use a new plug configuration sothat older, unfused plugs could not be used.Putting the fuse in the plug also allows a range of ratings tobe fitted, providing superior protection for smaller flexes. Thisis especially useful for long small flexes or for that are not rated at thefull 13 A. Fuses for fittings to BS 1363 must conform to BS1362. This specification describes a sand-filled -bodied cylindrical fuse, 1'(25.4 mm) in length, with two metallic end caps of 1/4'(6.3 mm) diameter and roughly 1/5' long.BS 1362 specifies breaking-time/current characteristics only forfuses with a current rating of 3 A (marked in red) or13 A (marked in brown). Examples for the requiredbreaking-time ranges are.

For 3 A fuses: 0.02–80 s at 9 A. Euro converter plug, empty, europlug inserted and closedSome manufacturers/distributors use a special type of plug forconversion of appliances from mainland Europewhich are fitted with moulded. Unlike a travel adaptor these plugswhen closed look fairly similar to normal plugs, although largerand squarer. Inside are two metal clips into which the metal endsof the europlugs pins are clipped.

The body of the converter plugis shaped to grip the europlug. The hinged lid is then shut tocover the connections to the europlug and is screwed shut. Theseplugs have a plastic earth pin and a fuse accessible from theoutside and in some cases are fitted with screws that are made tobe difficult to unscrew. Similar converters are available for avariety of other plug types but do not seem to be seen much inpractice.These adaptors are usually supplied fitted on all recent Class 2electrical products withfixed wiring (and not cables) sold in the British Islesinstead of typical moulded plugs, probably as a measure to reducecosts by fitting the same plug for all European markets. AdoptionThe BS 1363 design is not only in use in theand, but also in,and. BS 1363 is alsostandard in several of the former British Caribbean colonies suchas,. It is also used in in230 V installations, although 110 V installations usingthe are more common.The ( NSAI) issued the Irish Standard'I.S.

401 Safety Requirements for Rewireable 13A Fused Plugs forNormal and Rough Use Having Insulating Sleeves on Line and NeutralPins', which is largely similar to BS 1363. Any relevant plugsoriginating or sold in the country must pass the Irish Standard oran equivalent standard of a member of the, which includes BS1363.The UK, and some of these other countries, also use the older round-pin socketstandard.In some continental European countries (e.g., Germany), the BS1363 system is today often used for Extra-Low Voltage (12 V or 24V) DC connections in systems, because it provideseasily available high-current connectors with fixed polarity thatcannot accidentally be connected into higher-voltage system and sockets. VariantsSeveral manufacturers have made deliberately incompatiblevariants for use where intermateability with standard plugs andsockets is not acceptable. Examples include filtered supplies forcomputer equipment and cleaners' supplies in public buildings andareas (to prevent visitors plugging things in). The most commonlyseen variant is one made by that has a T-shapedearth pin. Sockets made by MK use a proprietary method of openingshutters that seems to depend on the shape of the phase and neutralpins and does not depend on the earth pin.The Walsall Gauge 13 A plug was used by the for technical supplies, and sockets for theseplugs can be seen in some stations. MK 13 A Plug with a T-shaped earth pinOther devices in thestandardBS 1363 specifies 13 A plugs and sockets.

It also specifies thefollowing devices:., which permit two or more plugs to share onesocket. Switched and unswitched fused connection units, which take thesame BS 1362 as the plugs. These are thestandard means of connecting permanently wired appliances to asocket circuit (most often but not always a 30 A ). Theyare also used in other situations where a fuse or switch (or both)is required, such as when feeding lighting off a socket circuit, toprotect spurs off a ring circuit with more than one socket, andsometimes to switch feeds to otherwise concealed sockets forkitchen appliances (20 A DP switches are also sometimes usedfor this, but doing so can easily violate the rule of no morenon-fused spurs than sockets on the ring).See also.Footnotes.

What is this standard about?This is the first in a long-established five-part series of British Standards covering the UK’s national electrical power plug and socket outlet system. By law, all UK electrical appliances must be supplied with a BS 1363 plug and all installations must include BS 1363 outlets.The other four parts in the series are:. 13 A plugs, socket-outlets, adaptors and connection units. Specification for 13 A switched and unswitched socket-outlets. 13 A plugs, socket-outlets, adaptors and connection units.

Specification for adaptors. 13 A plugs, socket-outlets, adaptors and connection units. Specification for 13 A fused connection units switched and unswitched. 13 A plugs, socket-outlets, adaptors and connection units. Specification for fused conversion plugsWho is this standard for?. Manufacturers of electrical accessories and cord sets.

Manufacturers of electrical equipment. Test houses. Manufacturers of other plug-in items, e.g.

Standard NumberBS 1363-1:2016+A1:2018Title13 A plugs, socket-outlets, adaptors and connection units. Specification for rewirable and non-rewirable 13 A fused plugsStatusCurrentPublication Date31 August 2016Cross References,ReplacesAmended ByAmendment, February 2018Draft Superseded By1 DCDescriptorsLabels, Electrical components, Electric plugs, Electric sockets, Electric connectors, Plug adaptors, Marking, Test equipment, Torsion testingICS29.120.30CommitteePEL/23ISBN978 0 580 51108 0PublisherBSIFormatA4DeliveryYesPages86File Size3.632 MBPrice£264.00.