I like how Lawrence’s hair looks like he put a fork in the socket

@cuttwice3905

3 жыл бұрын

Salad, fish or dessert?

@woody4077

3 жыл бұрын

@@cuttwice3905 hold on theres a fish fork?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

@baileygrace9712

3 жыл бұрын

He looks a bit like Jimmy Neutron

@winton666

3 жыл бұрын

Literally the first thing (joke) I looked for in the comment section,

@kamoogy

3 жыл бұрын

lol

Um, so guess Lawrence was doing research for this video and that explains his hair?

@jonmiguel

3 жыл бұрын

Not recently. No wisps of smoke.... :D

@80sGamerLady

3 жыл бұрын

😂

@sluggo206

3 жыл бұрын

Like Doc in Back to the Future.

@sharonsmith583

3 жыл бұрын

@@sluggo206 yep, guess he and Doc Emmet Brown ARE related.

@elgatofelix8917

3 жыл бұрын

@@sharonsmith583 "Great Scott!" 😱

Stepping on those British plugs really Hertz .

@merrygoblin

3 жыл бұрын

Can attest to that, from experience...

@Sembazuru

3 жыл бұрын

Only for the first 50 times.

@ricksaunders3889

3 жыл бұрын

@@Sembazuru I see what you did there. Good one.

@armorer94

3 жыл бұрын

If you're not careful it might kill you. Then it would be kill-o-hertz.

@guidosarducci1943

3 жыл бұрын

I'm amped up

This video reminds me of the time back in college (electrical engineering) when a female student who was not experienced in any hands-on work with electricity asked the professor why various connectors where referred to as 'male' and 'female'. As he began to explain it to her, it suddenly clicked in her mind and an entirely new and brilliant shade of red was observed.

@RaymondHng

3 жыл бұрын

The facts of life

@dijital4801

2 жыл бұрын

Whose idea was that?

@mikebetts2046

2 жыл бұрын

@@dijital4801 It was natures idea.

@patriciakidd8661

2 жыл бұрын

Well that's a new one for me I never knew which was which until now thanks

@ianrob16

Жыл бұрын

Brilliant. I remember I asked my Dad this question one time when I was about 8 years old and we were connecting up the TV antenna using coax wire and male & female connectors. After a few seconds of thinking how to possibly explain it came the reply of "Ummm, I don't know". I accepted this answer. I also thought at the time it was spelt "mail" and the first time I saw it actually written as "male / female" my mind immediately shot back to that day. Some day my own children will ask me and I'm going to use the exact same response as my Dad.

Don't forget one of the coolest safety features of the British socket is the shutters that physically block entry to the live wires until the ground prong has been inserted, as well as the thinly insulated portion of the prong that don't allow energized metal to be exposed.

@benjaminrittgers8509

3 жыл бұрын

Shutters are now code in new US outlet installation. Obviously they still work with non-grounded plugs.

@drabberfrog

3 жыл бұрын

@@benjaminrittgers8509 I've never seen one of those.

@tcass

3 жыл бұрын

Came here to say the second part. Highly underrated feature. And yeah, it's now code in the States to have TR or tamper-resistant receptacles installed which have internal shutters.

@mrkeefor

3 жыл бұрын

MK Logic plus sockets take that a step further. All 3 prongs have to be inserted at the same time in order to open the shutters

@benjaminrittgers8509

3 жыл бұрын

@@mrkeefor the US can’t use such a system as it would not allow the insertion of two pronged plugs. We are at a lower voltage than the UK. That is unless you want to plug in your Tesla, then you need a 220 outlet in your garage.

Not since Arthur Weasley has their been a man so passionate about British plugs!

@TheEulerID

3 жыл бұрын

Watch Tom Scott's video on the subject if you think that.

@jamess1787

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheEulerID our plugs suck.

@Leelz247

3 жыл бұрын

🤣

@wizardsuth

3 жыл бұрын

But can he explain the purpose of a rubber duck?

@Claire-zz9pj

3 жыл бұрын

@@jamess1787 I take it you’re American then because British plugs are the best.

In the rare instances when a plug gets damaged in the US, we can cut it off and mend it with a replacement plug available at hardware/home improvement stores. Those can be opened with a screwdriver and you follow the directions to match the correct color wire to the correct screw terminal. It's a good idea to unplug the appliance from the wall before cutting off the defective plug ... ... ... don't ask.

@johnopalko5223

3 жыл бұрын

Been there, done that. I still have a pair of wire cutters with a notch where a portion of the blade was vaporized.

@ericdietz1795

3 жыл бұрын

Haven't watched the video yet--Britain has nonreplaceable plugs?

@vzolin

3 жыл бұрын

@@ericdietz1795 other way around.

@mikehermen3036

3 жыл бұрын

My sons got plenty of practice at this skill because their grandmother had a pet rabbit that kept chewing through lamp wires.

@allenabel3471

3 жыл бұрын

Most of the replacement plugs I've seen are the ones you push onto the end of the wire after you cut the old plug off. The ones with screw terminals must be for use with thicker cords.

"It was once said by me in a second from now.." Truly why I love this channel!

@Nigel-Mac

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I gotta admit, that one made me laugh

Laurence Brown is the only person that can make me watch a video about electrical plugs and be entertained.

@LindaC616

3 жыл бұрын

Wow....they spoofed the guy on his own channel?!

@Terriblegam2r

3 жыл бұрын

@Lost In The Pond I think I broke the Laurence bot.

@pjaypender1009

3 жыл бұрын

At a hardware store you can buy a replacement US plug that can be opened. In fact, you have to open it to to wire it up when you replace a damaged plug.

@jbennett3691

3 жыл бұрын

You should check out Tom Scott.

@cinnamoncat8950

3 жыл бұрын

I mean electroboom is someone that could do that

Oh My God !!! Wow I’ve just reacted to this video and my jaw just dropped off my face !! Thank you so much for mentioning me - as always your videos are superb, well research, delivered and so so funny !! My 100% fav content creator !! Stay safe my friend and much love to you (and your cat) from across the pond !! ♥️ 🇺🇸 ♥️ 🇺🇸

@dijital4801

2 жыл бұрын

Hi

@jsmith498

4 ай бұрын

Hello.

I stayed in a hotel in India that had a strip of plugs for almost any country. Convenient. Then I went to another place and blew out the circuit with my hair dryer!

@dougbrowning82

3 жыл бұрын

In China, they often have universal outlets, which accept multiple plug types. Dangerous, because you can mistakenly plug a 120 V, American appliance into the 230 V socket.

@carschmn

3 жыл бұрын

Hair dryers are notorious for that. That’s why hotels have them there for you.

@LindaC616

3 жыл бұрын

@@carschmn sadly, not all of them

@robertsitch1415

3 жыл бұрын

The new Holiday Inn hotels have universal outlets in the base of the desklamp but you probably have to convert voltage and frequency if you devices power supply doesn't.

@emmteemee

3 жыл бұрын

I have a dual voltage travel hair dryer, so I thought that it plus a plug adapter would be all I needed for a trip to Europe a few years ago, but when I started shopping, I found that not all adapters can handle higher watt appliances like hair dryers and flat irons. You need to check the description carefully to make sure the one you buy can do it. Even then, I had my camera battery charger plugged in one time while I was drying my hair and tripped a circuit breaker.

KZread plugged this vid so I watched it and got a charge out of it glad I’m current!

@devandestudios128

3 жыл бұрын

Now here's a man that knows his puns. Well done friend!

@RobertWilke

3 жыл бұрын

Yes in the end it was quite SHOCKING! I almost had to flip the breaker on this.

@natashaw401

3 жыл бұрын

Lolll luv the puns

"I don't have a plug" I don't know why that made me actually laugh audibly and not just the smile and blow air from my nose type laugh, but I thank you!

@SavageMinnow

3 жыл бұрын

Same

@martiseelye6443

3 жыл бұрын

LOL ditto

@bigscarysteve

3 жыл бұрын

It's because she has a socket.

@SavageMinnow

3 жыл бұрын

@@bigscarysteve if they want kids, will they need a power adapter?

@bigscarysteve

3 жыл бұрын

@@SavageMinnow No, it should work just fine without one.

"....because I was 14 once." I feel there's a story there! 😅

Through his hair, Laurence's commitment to the story brand is commendable. I also enjoyed the bit where @oldfashionedAF said that she didn't have a plug. Now that you've tagged @MR H and Friends, it's time to feature @beesley in a future video.

@robertwilloughby8050

3 жыл бұрын

I'm waiting for a collab between Lawrence and Jago Hazzard myself........

No matter which plugs the electricity bill keeps getting more expensive.

@johnp139

3 жыл бұрын

Go to solar

@akatsukihajime6100

Жыл бұрын

@@johnp139 gonna create waste

I spent exactly one week in London a few years ago and was so happy to have encountered another American in Gatwick who was on her way back and had 3 of those converters that she was generous enough to give us to use while we were there. They were a lifesaver!

I learned the hard way by melting two curling irons whilst stationed in Germany. I bought a German friendly hair dryer and took it to Italy in January for a ski trip. That trip taught me two things: 1. Don’t ski in jeans and 2. Germany and Italy have different plugs. Well, I learned a third, check the operation of hair appliances before washing your hair in frigid temperatures.

I've found "Mr. Haitch" & I very much enjoy his videos as a Brit watching and giving his reactions to your videos (Lost In The Pond)! Thanks for being so kind as to permit this, so that we can enjoy BOTH!

@Mrhandfriends

3 жыл бұрын

Wow thank you my friend :)

@britishmanst5

3 жыл бұрын

Not just Mr H and Friends reacting to Lost in the Pond videos, but also at least 3 other Brits like Lav Luka, Beesley and Oblivious too.

@britishmanst5

3 жыл бұрын

Hopeing that Laurence will mention Beesley in his next video. Ha! Ha! That would be Great!🤣🤣

When in the US, plugging a British appliance into an adaptor and then into the wall socket is terrifying to me. Our British plugs are so heavy that the whole thing looks like it is going to fall out of the wall at any moment... I also got freaked out when I noticed there is no on/off switch. These sort of differences make the world so interesting 😊

I know his hair is meant to look electrified, but I spent the entire video half convinced he was somehow hanging upside down. XD

@kathimorrical9912

3 жыл бұрын

I'd already been lol- ing through out this vid. But this comment..i cried!

@uiscepreston

3 жыл бұрын

I was thinking he was getting ready to battle the Incredibles.

“Because I was 14 once.” Hilarious!

@alexs5744

3 жыл бұрын

@Lost In The Pond Consider your profile reported scammer.

@stevethepocket

3 жыл бұрын

@@alexs5744 You know they're all bots, right? They can't hear you.

@forevercomputing

3 жыл бұрын

I was 14 for a whole year...

The other feature of the British type G is that the earth pin is slightly longer than the other two, this serves two purposes, combined with the vertical cable at the bottom of the plug it makes it more difficult to pull out accidentally and it also opens the live and neutral ports on the wall socket. This is a safety feature, useful in stopping kids from poking things in the live or neutral holes.

Tom Scott and electroboom also have excellent videos going more in depth on the differences if anyone's interested.

If Arthur Weasley had access to the internet, he would LOVE this video!

Lawrence: "Hey wife, my plug is bigger than your plug" Tarah: "I don't have a plug" Me: kudos Mr. Brown

Your hair reminded me of what happened to my baby brother many years ago, before the safety plugs became a thing. He was 2 or 3. We had visitors and he'd gotten really quiet so my Mom told me to see what he was doing. As I walked through the dining room, he had a butter knife trying to stick it in the outlet. I screamed for him to stop but, as bull-headed kids are, he was going to do it or die trying. It knocked him all the way across the room, 10-12 feet. Physically he was fine and it happened so fast that I don't know if he even knew what hit him. It burned the knife, removing a chunk that resembled a big bite out of a cookie. His hair indeed looked a lot like yours here.

Actually, American homes ARE wired for 240v. Look at the plug of your cookstove, your electric dryer or you large window unit air conditioner. On those lines back at the fuse/breaker box you'll see that they use two breakers per outlet as opposed to one breaker for 120v outlets and the plugs for the stove and the dryer are massive as well and you won't bend their prongs and you can get inside them with a screwdriver. Mainly because if you buy a new dryer or electric stove they don't come with cords and plugs, so typically you either buy them separately, or you remove them from the old appliance you're chucking out and re-use it on your new appliance.

@dougbrowning82

3 жыл бұрын

Those plugs are usually 4 pronged (2 lines, a neutral, and a ground), except in old houses, where they may be 3 pronged (no ground).

@Rebel9668

3 жыл бұрын

@@dougbrowning82 I live in a house built before world war II, so mine are 3 pronged. The house does now have a breaker box instead of a fuse box though. Being in Indiana where they don't throw stuff away, the old fuse box for the house is now mounted on a wall in the garage and that's where I get the power from out there. And yes, it is two hots and a neutral. I was going to run the two hots of my new two stage air compressor to two of the glass fuses in the old fuse box out there but have decided instead to tap into the wires coming in to it to add on a small dedicated fuse box with a quick switch, a neutral buss and a ground buss as there is an 8 ft copper ground rod driven in right beside the garage. I may not be technical enough in my explanation of it, but I am sure of "where everything goes", lol.

@dougbrowning82

3 жыл бұрын

@@Rebel9668 Yes, those old 3 prong appliances used the neutral to ground the case. This causes safety issues of their own, however, hence the move to separate ground 4 prongers.

@Owen_loves_Butters

2 жыл бұрын

@@dougbrowning82 You don't always need a neutral actually.

His hair looks like he stuck his finger in a light socket Edit: for those few harping on me for this little comment, I'd like to say that i made that comment before he even got to that punchline in the video. I'm not even the first one to comment on his hair so why am I in the hotseat?

@adedow1333

3 жыл бұрын

I rather think that was the point

@johnp139

3 жыл бұрын

Heatmizer

@tcphll

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah. . . that's the joke. Congratulations for almost figuring it out. ;)

@withouta315

3 жыл бұрын

@@adedow1333 Yes, still not funny

@BytebroUK

3 жыл бұрын

Kid, you should know by now. If you open your mouth on KZread, you're 'It',

"....or plugs that would definitely get me demonetized." Lol

@centauri61032

3 жыл бұрын

Butt what could he have possibly been referring to??

@sschmidtevalue

3 жыл бұрын

@@centauri61032 In the unlikely event you're being serious, it's something for personal rear exits.

@cuttwice3905

3 жыл бұрын

@@centauri61032 Enquiring minds want to know.

@chucksherron

3 жыл бұрын

@@sschmidtevalue WOOSH!!!!

@anawfulperson

3 жыл бұрын

@@chucksherron lol no

As a teenager in 4-H, we learned to wire plugs. Hardware stores sold the makings (including the housing) for this as most people understood the process and often wired their own plugs, lamps, generators, coolers, drop cords or extension lights, etc. (speaking of farm equipment, you see). Happy Day!

The best thing to come out of Grimsby since Birds Eye Fish fingers & the A18 !! Top work top lad !!!

Every time you make a pun you look around like you're worried someone will try to hurt you for it...

@mandystory4275

3 жыл бұрын

I bet Kafka hits him every time he does that? 😉🤣

What I love most about this channel is his american humor in the british accent. It makes every joke seem so serious and ironic. Pure gold

A few things you didn't mention: That British plug diagram showed a fuse inside it. American plugs usually don't have fuses. Hardware stores and home supply stores in America sell plugs that can be disassembled. This is useful for home repair. But new appliances and other devices come with sealed plugs. American type A plugs have one prong wider than the other, and the sockets have one hole wider than the other. The narrow side is the hot side, and the wide side is the neutral side. This makes it hard to put a type A plug in backwards, which could be hazardous. For instance, if you have a toaster with a metal exterior, or a lamp socket with a metal base, the exposed metal parts could become electrified if the plug were backwards. American homes are supplied with 240 volts. There are three lines coming into the building: two 120 volt lines that are 180 degrees out of phase with each other, and a neutral line. The voltage between the two 120 volt lines is 240 volts. In a typical house, one of the 120 volt lines will supply power to half the house, and the other line will supply power to the other house. There will often be 240 volt sockets for high-power appliances like electric ovens and dryers. Most electric cars can be recharged with either 120 or 240 volts, and the higher voltage will recharge the car's battery pack in far less time. British sockets are designed so that the earth (i.e. ground) prong (which is longer than the other two) will "unlock" the socket. Also the hot and neutral prongs of a British plug have insulation along most of their length (their tips are bare). These two features make the British system a lot safer. Newer (and recently remodeled) American homes have ground fault interrupter circuits in many of their sockets, especially those that are near water (like in kitchens and bathrooms). A GFI circuit compares the current going out of the hot side of the socket with the current coming back. If they're different, it shuts off the power immediately. This greatly reduces the chances of getting a serious shock, even if you do something stupid like drop a hair dryer in a bathtub full of water.

@blindleader42

3 жыл бұрын

Correction: The wide prong on a type A is neutral, not earth.

@Jeff_Lichtman

3 жыл бұрын

@@blindleader42 Oops - you're right. Thanks for the correction. I'll fix it.

@80sGamerLady

3 жыл бұрын

He mentions a fuse in the diagram on the community post. I was hoping he would mention something about breaker boxes

@David_K_pi

3 жыл бұрын

How about if you're Phil Conners and you drop an electric toaster in the the bathtub of the B&B you're staying at just to finally get past Groundhog Day.

@dougbrowning82

3 жыл бұрын

There was a time when British appliances didn't come with plugs already attached. The plug came separately and you had to fit it yourself. Nowadays, they come with pre-attached plugs by law.

As a North American ( Canadian ) viewer, I was aware of most of this. That converter plug at the end must be used with EXTREME caution !!! Even if an appliance is rated 120 / 240 V, it may need to be switched. Check your owners manual, and peace and cookies to all.

@dawnyockey1475

3 жыл бұрын

I thought US was 110/220? At least in the Midwest where I’m at is. But then I’m not a electrician, just had two homes completely rewired

@waycoolscootaloo

3 жыл бұрын

@@dawnyockey1475 It used to be 110 and 220 volts in the US. But today that has been bumped up to 120 and 240 volts. I'm in the midwest as well in Milwaukee.

@elultimo102

3 жыл бұрын

@@waycoolscootaloo When did they change US house current voltage?

@waycoolscootaloo

3 жыл бұрын

@@elultimo102 Back in 1984 the US switched over to 120 volts output instead of 110 volts. So now this is what your outlets output at. Fun Fact: Japanese outlets are rated at 100 volts. 🙂

@dougbrowning82

3 жыл бұрын

@Maro Maroo Gas stoves and dryers are 120V 15A, type B plug (NEMA 5-15). Electric dryers are 120/240V 30A (NEMA 14-30), electric stoves are 120/240V 50-60A (NEMA 14-50 or 14-60).

I lived in Saudi Arabia. They don’t produce their own products mostly so importing them from everywhere else without fixing the plugs and then just concerting is pretty standard. We had so many adapters and a huge power box for converting the power from 110 to 220 (?) Not sure I got that right). Our appliances were all different from each other and our stove electrocuted you if you stirred soup with a metal spoon and no socks. Adventures!

Our biggest issue when visiting the UK was the lack of outlets at almost everyplace we went. Of course we were carrying all our electronics, so each family member had a laptop and phone plus we had cameras and video games that all needed charging every day. Our tourist hotel near Paddington just had 3 outlets and one was in the bathroom. It was lucky I brought a 5 outlet USB charger so at least all of our phones could charge each day.

@xorsyst1

Жыл бұрын

When I travel internationally, I always take a bar plug (multi-way adapter) from home, and a single socket adapter. That way I can plug everything in one place and don't need a ton of socket adapters.

@MrAckers75

2 ай бұрын

Most home owners tend to have loads in the uk complete with built in usb charging too.

Wiring of plugs had to be taught in UK schools. Up until 90s UK appliances did not come with plugs. You had to buy your own plug and wire it yourself. If you have a vintage UK appliance that won't work the first thing to check is that the plug is wired properly with the right fuse

@MegatronRaidenMeiFA

Жыл бұрын

I guess that is the reason why there are many "fused connection units" in UK, that is specified to appliances those has no sockets

At the hardware store, go down the aisles with the lights and ceiling fans. In the same area, you'll find US plugs you can screw apart if you really really want. Go ahead and snip all the ends off your power cords and replace them with un-screwable plugs. Personally, I use them to make extension cords at work because I only have so much budget to play with and it's marginally cheaper to make your own. But we all have our own things we do.

@elultimo102

3 жыл бұрын

To rewire a lamp, use an extension cord of proper gauge, since they have the nice molded wall plug, and cut the other end off to wire the lamp.

Sorry as an electrician this is ABSOLUTELY my kind of video

Today's episode brought to you by power adapter companies across the Atlantic.

@JeffDeWitt

3 жыл бұрын

And Amazon, which will happily sell you the adapters.

At least it is only one type of plug in the UK now, you are too young to remember the 5, 10 and 15 amp round pin plugs used up to the introduction of the standard fused 13 amp ones now. They were all of a different size and would only fit the relevant outlet, some of which would take all three sizes of plugs. The round 3 pin 5 amp is still used but for lighting circuits only.

@DAB2640

3 жыл бұрын

I thought I remembered that correctly. I traveled in the UK in 1965, 1967, 1970, and 1971 and remembered that the outlets weren't uniform. You had to match the correct plug to the outlet.

@tonys1636

3 жыл бұрын

@@DAB2640 The old 15 amp ones were very dangerous for toddlers as the diameter of the pins was large enough to allow a little finger to be inserted as about 8mm diameter, toddlers and little holes don't mix as always curious.

@dougbrowning82

3 жыл бұрын

They still have 2 pin shaver sockets in the UK, with round pins.

@tonys1636

3 жыл бұрын

@@dougbrowning82 yes but all modern installations are on their own circuit with their own RCD (earth/ground leakage detector). Shavers have a fully insulated motor from the casing. Still wouldn't advise holding one with wet hands or attempting to grab it if dropped into the washbasin full of water.

@torfrida6663

3 жыл бұрын

I am old enough to remember the days when you could still find round hole sockets etc. My father taught me to change plugs so that when I was in grotty digs as a student, I could sort out my kit according to what the wall sockets were.

I love that you mentioned Mr. H. Both of you are great!! ♥️🙂

@Mrhandfriends

3 жыл бұрын

♥️

Uh, oh. Lawrence gets a Pinocchio. It would be a 'step up' transformer to use a UK device in US. In order to 'step up' the 120 volts to 230 volts for the device.

@arjovenzia

3 жыл бұрын

Correct, although I think its a pretty easy and forgivable mistake to make, especially being a brit. The "box that keeps the magic smoke in when i plug it in" in the UK is 240->120v (step down), and would be used to calling such things "step down transformers". In the context of the video I actually think its ok, its kinda gerericisised (although you are correct). a pommie colleague calls everything from a handheld dustbuster to the shop machine extraction system a "Hoover"

@NOWThatsRichy

2 жыл бұрын

@@arjovenzia Many items now, particularly electronic devices with switch mode power supplies are now multi voltage & can be used with any voltage between 100 & 240 volts without a step down or up transformer.

Anyone who’s ever traveled abroad with a hair dryer has been schooled already. 😂

@nanabananainavana7534

3 жыл бұрын

That was me. Ugh!

@adriennestudaway893

3 жыл бұрын

Worse, a curling iron. The smell was my first clue. Luckily I have really thick hair and it wasn't a front curl so easy to cover up the missing lock.

@court7686

3 жыл бұрын

The hairdryer I brought to Ireland never survived the trip. 😂

@d0lph1n63

3 жыл бұрын

dude that’s why they recommend you should get a plug adapter and power converter before you go overseas.

@adriennestudaway893

3 жыл бұрын

@@d0lph1n63 I had an adapter, what I needed was a converter. The one I go was mislabeled as both.

In the right context it may be understood, but generally non-electricians in the US do not say "(the) mains". To quote Wikipedia "Mains electricity": In the US, mains electric power is referred to by several names including "utility power", "household power", "household electricity", "house current", "powerline", "domestic power", "wall power", "line power", "wall current", "AC power", "city power", "street power", and "120 (one twenty)".

Another nuance in the British plug is that the earth wire is slightly longer than the neutral and live wire so that if the cable is yanked in any way, the first two wires to break are the ones carrying electricity to and from the appliance.

Once again, I laughed throughout your vid...beginning with the hair! So funny!

I love how your hair looks like you were playing with electricity before the video!

Coming from a country with a different set of plugs, this was as informative as it was entertaining. I don't think I've ever heard as many puns and pop culture references in less than 9 minutes than in this video. (Yes, this is the first video I've seen of him, thanks to the algorithm gods.)

The first time I went to England I was amazed at the size of the plugs. You could power a clothes dryer with one and they put it on a lamp. American plugs seem to be designed according to the just enough philosophy whilst the UK plugs were designed according to the just in case philosophy.

@JimWhitaker

3 жыл бұрын

We used to do that. Now we put the protection in the plug (a fuse) and this allows you to use any appliance in any socket because the plugs are all the same (physical) size.

@TheEulerID

Жыл бұрын

The old UK round pin standard was also format. Thee were sockets and plugs rated for 3A, 5A, 15A and even 30A. That was swept away with the square pin standard as it was deemed that a single plug/socket was more convenient. Hence you will find in the UK that anything from a table lamp to a washing machine uses the same plug, albeit with a fuse that is meant to be suitable for the load. A plug for a table lamp ought to have a 3A fuse installed, not a 13A fuse. Note that really high powered devices, like cookers have to be hard-wired into dedicated circuits and not connected via plugs. The circuit wiring for sockets is also typically higher. Most will be 32A, but 16A can be found. Thus a circuit could deliver up to 7.5 kW on a sustained basis, even thought no single load can take more than 3 kW. Hence the fuse-per-plug approach. It's very convenient in places like kitchens and workshops where you might have several fairly high powered, movable devices being used and it's very unlikely to pop a circuit breaker as you've accidentally overloaded a circuit by using the wrong combination of sockets.

“Earth Wire” sounds like the name of an earthworm superhero.

@jonmiguel

3 жыл бұрын

There IS a superhero named LiveWire. LOLOLOLOLOL

@simonbutterfield4860

3 жыл бұрын

@@jonmiguel and then there's Earthworm Jim.

@suehaag2783

3 жыл бұрын

Hmm. I was thinking it’d make a catchy band name.

@devandestudios128

3 жыл бұрын

That earthworm superheros name would be Earthworm Jim.

@uiscepreston

3 жыл бұрын

Or a prog metal band.

The US type A plug with only 2 prongs was the original plug type in US homes. The 3-prong type B came much later, and only became required by building codes in the early 1970s. A lot of older homes built before 1965 still have 2-prong outlets. Because a lot of modern appliances require 3-prong outlets, 3-to-2 adaptors are still available in stores, and a lot of work has been done to many of these houses to update certain circuits e.g. living room TVs. Some manufacturers still produce double insulated appliances that need only a 2-prong outlet. Some power tools, and Dell laptop power bricks, are 2-prong, while HP went the cheaper route and their laptop bricks are 3 prong.

@elultimo102

3 жыл бұрын

Am I the only one annoyed by the fact that some cretins snap off the ground prong, rather than spending a dollar for an adapter?

@egrand1508

3 жыл бұрын

Actually the original outlets were screw in plugs, the same as light bulbs.

@dtvjho

3 жыл бұрын

@@egrand1508 Oh yes, I remember having one of those. A single outlet built to screw into a light bulb socket. The first wave of house electrification only ran wiring for lights. Wall outlets came later. Gotcha.

@okaro6595

3 жыл бұрын

@@elultimo102 I'm Europe se do not have a problem as you can just plug the grounded plug to an ungrounded outlet. In fact the opposite is not possible unless it is double insulated.

@elultimo102

3 жыл бұрын

@@okaro6595 Older homes in the US, often do not have grounded (3-prong) outlets, which is why the ground (earth wire) prongs were broken off. Most extension cords are only 2-prong (no ground). Grounded cords are usually for heavy duty or outdoor use.

UPDATED VIDEO ON PLUGS NEEDED 1/ British appliances had to have a plug attached by the consumer (PLUGS THESE DAYS ARE ATTACHED TO ALL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES) which often meant taking a plug of an appliance to use on the new appliance 2/ Fuses in old plugs may need changing and plug can be opened by screws holding front and back of plug together 3/ Most appliances now have sealed plugs which cannot be opened although some have a cap on back of plug that can be prised off to change the fuse

@TheEulerID

7 ай бұрын

All moulded UK plugs have a means to replace the fuse. If they do not have that provision, they are essentially illegal. Power adapters are another matter though.

When I was a boy in the UK, there were at least three different types of plugs, which meant a device could only be plugged in if the room had a corresponding outlet. We were all pleased when we moved into our second house, which was fitted with (IIRC) three-pin fifteen-amp outlets everywhere.

You must've stuck your finger in a socket while playing with those plugs...

@MissyA1966

3 жыл бұрын

LOL!! I was going to say the same thing!!

@blindleader42

3 жыл бұрын

Finger?! Any four year old knows the proper tool for investigating electricity is a kitchen fork.

You can totally get type b Edison connectors that screw apart. I’ve used them extensively in live theatre applications

All new UK appliances have the 3 pin plug moulded onto the power cable. You can't open them with a screwdriver, but the fuse can be removed/replaced from underneath - so you have to unplug it first!

In the 70s, I lived in Britain, and we would often go from house to house showing filmstrips. At that time, there were no standard plugs. We had to go to a store and purchase a multi-plug, in order to plug out filmstrip projectors in. It's much better now.

@spencerwilton5831

3 жыл бұрын

Not really, there have been standard plugs for decades, but in the seventies there were probably still a fair number of houses with the older standard of 5, 10 and 15 amp outlets- round pins, but each larger than the last so you couldn't plug a large appliance into a 5 amp lighting socket.

@dougbrowning82

3 жыл бұрын

@@spencerwilton5831 India still uses those old style plugs today.

@HamtaroEL

3 жыл бұрын

@@dougbrowning82 South Africa too.

Mr H is awesome 👏🏻!!! I love watching him react to your videos 😁 my 2 favorite British gentleman ❤️👍🏻

@Mrhandfriends

3 жыл бұрын

❤️

I saw your hair and thought, "Oh no! Lawrence messed with the plugs"

Fun fact. In North America we use a split phase system, where in the UK is just a single phase system. All our houses get 240v but we split it in half using the neutral wire. (hense the need for the red and black for hotwires, red to neutral is one half, black to neutral is the other half). To get the full 240v you dont use the neutral wire, just connect both hotwires. (these are usually found for stoves, clothes dryers, and HVAC systems.) you can tell if the circuit is a 240v by looking at the breaker in the electrical box, the breaker that takes up two spaces, or has a bar connecting two breakers together is 240v.

Great video, as always...thank you! (Regarding your hair, I see that Ace Ventura saw what he had to work with,...and “did his best”) 🤣 Cheers from sunny Phoenix, keep up the great work!

After watching this video, I think I know how Boris Johnson "fixes" his hair.

@kayerin5749

3 жыл бұрын

LOL sent an image right to my brain. That is exactly it!

@natashaw401

3 жыл бұрын

Lollll

"Hey wife, my plug is bigger than your plug!" Wife deadpans, "I don't have a plug." Laurence looks a little confused for a second, then needs to go back to the studio to contemplate his plug and the demonetizing plugs.

Electrical engineer here. A few corrections/additional details First, American home do have 240V, the reason most receptacles and lights have 120V is because the neutral wire is connected to the center tap of the transformer, splitting the voltage in half. And there are such things as 240V plugs, usually seen on dryers and ranges (stoves). Speaking of different plugs for different appliances, in addition to the international designation of plugs, American plugs are given a "NEMA" type. (NEMA = National Electrical Manufacturers Association, a trade group that among other things, sets standards for electrical devices.) The "Type A" plug is NEMA 2-15, "Type B" is NEMA 5-15, most dryers use NEMA 10-30 or NEMA 14-30, and most ranges use NEMA 10-50 or NEMA 14-50. Finally, while most factory plugs are used molded rubber/plastic, they do make American plugs that can be unscrewed and opened. Usually they are made to repair a cord where the plug is damaged or been cut off. products.blains.com/600/80/804903.jpg

SO helpful this! Thanks for posting. Had no idea.

the only reason I, an American who has never been to any part of England, know about the difference in voltage in the socket is because Barry set his toaster on fire XDD

The only information I have on British or type g plugs are jokes on "As Time Goes By "

@lzeph

3 жыл бұрын

Before today, that is.

@CricketEngland

3 жыл бұрын

And this is why British plugs are the best in the world - kzread.info/dash/bejne/h3maspOIe67gj7Q.html

@clasicradiolover

3 жыл бұрын

@@CricketEngland Just don't step on it.

As someone living on the other side of the pond a few of things worth mentioning about US plugs and sockets. 2-wire US plugs can be polarized, the neutral prong is wider so it only fits one way, The historical color code for US wiring is green for the ECG (equipment grounding conductor) white for neutral and black or red for the hot or phase conductor. The reason for two phase colors is the US system is 120/240V 60HZ also called split phase, using red and black make it easy to tell which leg is which. To harmonize with the EU the green/yellow stripe ground and brown/blue are often used for power cords that use the IEC connector. It is true most OEM plugs are molded and nonrepairable, to reduce cost. However there are plenty of plugs available that allow the end user to wire in the field. There are tamper resistant sockets intended to minimize shock hazard of children sticking things into the socket but it is not as safe as the UK system since the socket must work with grounded and ungrounded plugs. The presence of the ground prong cannot be used to trigger the shutters. US building practice is to locate sockets near the floor so using a socket mounted switch is not practical. I believe the 50/60 Hz was due to companies battling for supremacy during the early days of electrification and patenting everything. Fun fact the early Niagara Falls power system was only 25 HZ. Lastly the unique British loop wiring system is why the plugs need to be fused increasing the size and cost of the plug.

If I recall, British power outlets are set up so that the live and neutral holes are blocked with an internal cover until you insert a plug. The slightly longer earth plug goes in first and pushes open the covers on the live and neutral holes allowing those prongs to be inserted. When the plug is removed the covers close over the live and neutral holes again on the outlet. This is to prevent someone from inserting anything other than a power plug into a live outlet and getting a shock.

@torfrida6663

3 жыл бұрын

You are correct. It means that children cannot poke things in the holes and risk electrocuting themselves.

@YujiUedaFan

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, it's always a pain going abroad because UK plugs are so safe, I can't help but feel like using a US socket is super dangerous and I'm 50% at risk of dying from electrocution.

You missed a key safety point in Britain's favor, Lawrence. You forget to mention that British plugs contain a fuse, which besides offering extra protection from electrocution, is likely the reason British plugs can be taken apart in the first place.

@kenbrown2808

3 жыл бұрын

that and because American health and safety people don't trust Americans to do it right.

@waycoolscootaloo

3 жыл бұрын

Here in the US, we have circuit breakers on our outlets. So no need for a fuse on the device.

@kayerin5749

3 жыл бұрын

@@waycoolscootaloo Yes, and I'd rather deal with the circuit box than the inside of a plug!

@spencerwilton5831

3 жыл бұрын

Scootaloo Every circuit in a U.K. home is protected by a circuit breaker too. The problem with the US system is that it's entirely possible for something like a table lamp drawing a fraction of an amp to be plugged into a 20 amp circuit, and therefore only be protected by the 20 amp breaker at the main distribution panel. The flex for a typical low powered item like a table lamp cannot withstand 20 amps if a fault develops and would melt or catch fire long before the breaker tripped. In the U.K. such a lamp would have a 3 amp fuse fitted in the plug, which would blow at a far lower current than the main breaker (which would likely be a 30 amp) so providing a higher level of protection.

@waycoolscootaloo

3 жыл бұрын

@@spencerwilton5831 This isn't an issue here in the states luckily. It never has been actually. All appliances have to meet safety standards. The switch on all appliances must stop all current. Any short of any kind will trip the breaker. The US home doesn't use a ring circuit like they do in UK homes. So we have no need for fuses.

I can’t stop looking at the hair. It looks cute! Give us more videos with visual hair support please.

It's also worth mentioning there are 240V circuits in North American homes that are widely used for electrical stoves, clothes dryers and power equipment. However power delivery in those are happening in a completely different manner than that in UK. Instead of feeding devices through hot wire and returning the current through neutral, it does both of those through two 120V phase hot wires (which is possible due to different phases). This is important because not all of the UK 240V devices will work in a North American 240V circuit (as not all of them can handle this, plus 50/60Hz difference may further complicate things with power tools (electrical motor will likely be rotating faster or slower depending on the frequency difference).

"The assembly hall incident of 1988..." Sounds very much like my "Tarpaper shack broken receptacle cover trauma of 1965." And, not having learned a damned thing in the intervening 56 years, "The front entry three-way switch debacle of 2021."

For all the north American's who cry about stepping on Lego, have never found a type G plug with barefeet before 😂

My boyfriend walked past as he heard about mushy peas and yelled, " I love mushy peas!"

@natashaw401

3 жыл бұрын

Loll fun

@stevemorse5052

3 жыл бұрын

One has to try mushy peas to understand them. Once you get past the flavor, texture, appearance, and smell, they are not too bad.

@deannculver7969

3 жыл бұрын

@@stevemorse5052 I have to laugh because I had read about someone who couldn't find an American version of them and was upset. I haven't decided if I like them or not!

@stevemorse5052

3 жыл бұрын

@@deannculver7969 Hi Mate. They are an acquired taste to be sure. I like them. I am unsure if you can buy the peas here in the States, they are called marrowfat peas. Basically, if I remember correctly, you put them in a little water, salt, then boil the beegeebers out of them for several hours! When they are the consistency of mud and/or wet cement then they are done. When set they can be used as plaster or mortar in brickwork. remember to wash your plate after eating otherwise you will need a chisel to get the remains off! Now for a real treat, this is serious, add bacon to the mix while cooking, then you have a meal to really enjoy. Remember to reduce the salt.

@stevemorse5052

3 жыл бұрын

Marrowfat peas are green mature peas (Pisum sativum L. or Pisum sativum var. medullare) that have been allowed to dry out naturally in the field, rather than being harvested while still young like the normal garden pea. They are starchy, and are used to make mushy peas.

A note about North American outlets: Just because they accept three prongs doesn't necessarily mean they've been wired up properly and actually contain a ground wire, especially in older homes or renovated parts. I discovered a ground wire hooked up to a metal nail... that was in a wood stud inside the wall! We've seen GFI, ground fault interrupter outlets near water sources inside and outside the home become mandatory in new construction in Canada for several years now and in renovation. GFIs also cut power if if an item plugged in shorts out, like if a hairdryer falls in water, to prevent electrocution. A GFI can easily be installed to replace any outlet in your home to improve safety and convenience. Another advantage is they can help prevent the circuit breaker or fuse on the main panel from tripping or blowing. You reset the GFI outlet by pressing the switches on them. Very handy and highly recommended.

Years ago, In the mid 90s I traveled Europe the summer right after my high school graduation. I was given a gift made by Samsonite that was a set of several adapters for the many different plugs and outlets all over Europe. I had no clue at the time how different each country was in that area. That gift came in very handy.

The switch on plug ins threw me completely in my latest visit to London. I’d never noticed it before. The HUGE British plugs also flummoxed me.

@Bigrignohio

3 жыл бұрын

It's not the size . . .

@elultimo102

3 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't mind switched outlets, especially if the had a light to show they are switched on.

@dougbrowning82

3 жыл бұрын

@@elultimo102 The switch is right there on the outlet, it works the opposite to American switches, though. Up is off, down is on, no light needed.

@Sherirose1

3 жыл бұрын

Stepping on them is like UK Lego equivalence.

@matty6848

3 жыл бұрын

It’s to do with E.U electrical safety regulations. All sockets have to have the on, off switch. The idea is should a kid stick their fingers in the socket they don’t get fried, plus all our plugs have to be fused with either a 3amp, 5 amp or 13 amp fuse so should you get a electrical anomaly it blows the fuse not the appliance.

Love the new electric hairdo, it suits you!

Oh man. Mr. H is going to be thrilled! Another good one Lawrence.

We moved from Florida to London and were not able to use some electrical things so they got left behind (Dyson vacuum). But the things we did bring, some were ok with plug adapters (lamp, phone chargers) while others needed a transformer (kitchenaid mixer).

The electric puns were shockingly good.

There are plugs in America that you can buy at the hardware store that you can wire to your cord if the old plug is shot.

@EuroScot2023

3 жыл бұрын

Just as in the UK, the vast majority of appliances are fitted with sealed, prewired plugs. Most of the facts in this video are either wrong or tell a partial and confusing story.

As an American one thing the UK plugs have over ours, something Tom Scott mentioned in an old video, those UK plugs cover more or hot wires so you can't touch the metal before it's far enough out that is not connected anymore. Honestly safety for the win

6:56 nop, as we told on other youtube vids, US is 120vac - 0v - 120vac giving 220vac as its two phase (delta). As UK is 230(240)Vac - 0V single phase (star).

No mention of the fuse in British plugs?

I have no "horizontal" outlets in my American House! Is that even up to current "Code". I can't think of anywhere I seen a "horizontal" outlet, other than bathrooms in homes that are over 50 years old. They don't even have a breaker outlet!

@kenbrown2808

3 жыл бұрын

the only orientation the code prohibits is face up in countertops. however, placing the plugs horizontal is usually only done when clearance issues make vertical orientation difficult.

@LostinthePond

3 жыл бұрын

Not the outlet, the cable. It doesn't hang straight down like a British cable.

@dougbrowning82

3 жыл бұрын

@@LostinthePond They are starting be be more common in N. America. My microwave has a right angled, type B plug.

@elgatofelix8917

3 жыл бұрын

@@LostinthePond there's a bot in these comments using your account name and picture. Just thought you might like to know in case you didn't notice.

When I visited the UK in 2000, staying at a BnB in Picadilly. I bought an adapter for my American hair dryer. It was supposed to work, but as soon as I plugged it in and turned it on, there was a loud pop, an array of sparks, smoke and my hair dryer was fried.

Hi Lawrence, I am from Saudi Arabia. Previously, I think around more than 10 years ago, we have many different types of plugs, Type A, G, and European plugs. But from around 10 years onward, there was a big change in the electrical system in the country. Nowadays is a transmission period, Type G is a standard with 230V and 60Hz. In the future, type G will remain as a standard plug, with 230/400V and 50Hz.

@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY

11 ай бұрын

Type A used only for 127V. They also have 120V Samsung microwave in Saudi Arabia and bring it to the Philippines, plugged it to 220V and damaged, they already fixed it and plugged into voltage converter.

@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY

11 ай бұрын

Saudi Arabia is 60Hz. Philippines uses 220V at 60Hz but US outlets. Already brought Saudi bought airconditioners to be shipped here in the Philippines and works just fine on 60Hz.

@rakhhsh

11 ай бұрын

@@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY Hi Type A have not been used in Saudi Arabia for a long time. For more than 5 years, Type G is the standard here in Saudi Arabia, with 220 Volt and 60 Hz.

My hair looks like that when I've just woken up.

That wild hair of Laurence's reminded me that "plugs" don't always go into the wall. Some go into one's scalp.

When I was a kid here in the States in the '60s and '70s used to be able to take apart the plugs but they've since gone to the fully molded ones like you have shown.

I've experienced this in UK, France, and working on cruise ships. We do have 220/240 plugs for appliances such as, dryers, and stoves.

Hard lesson learned: you can’t use an simple adapter to use an American curling iron in the UK. 2X the voltage, 2X the heat, and your wife will burn her hair and get really upset at you because you said it would be fine.

@Sherirose1

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip. I bought a curling iron from USA and need to buy an adapter.

@anthonyjackson280

3 жыл бұрын

4 times the heat. power (heat) is voltage x current ; twice the voltage is also twice the current so 2x2.

Mr. H & friends! I love him!

@Mrhandfriends

3 жыл бұрын

♥️

I’ve traveled a fair bit to different countries. So, yes, I 100% have experienced the plug differences. One additional note, I’ve heard the type G switch also is used, because in types A and B you can safely unplug them, but in type G if you unplug them and accidentally step on it, it is incredibly painful. Not sure if it is true or not, but it’s what I was told by a Scottish guy when I was in England. Lol

I've been to Rome, Florence, France, and London; and, the power converters really helped. I don't remember that well because that trip was a while ago 😅 Also, the commitment of filming an entire video with the hair... I applaud your devotion to your work