/dev/chat

1:48 AM

sigh nothing like running out to buy a 2.5mm wrench only to find out you needed a 7/64". Can we pick a unit of measurement already?

ilkkachu

8:43 AM

@JeffSchaller well, we have...

ilkkachu

8:54 AM

@jesse_b the Europlug is rated to 2.5 A, yes. But the sockets are a different matter entirely. There's a few variants of them, and I'm not sure about all, but e.g. the Schuko socket (type F) that's common in Germany and up here is rated for 16 A. And while it seems I have 10 A breakers for the sockets around the walls, 16 A breakers aren't uncommon at all.

(IIRC it's usually 10 A for lighting and 16 A otherwise, but the wall sockets and lights are on the same breaker here, so maybe that's why. I wonder if there's some regulation thing.)

And for some reason, this must be one of my favourite Wikipedia pages (at least based on how often I remember having opened it): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets

@AndrasDeak real circuit breakers do both, they trip from heat (for slight overcurrent over an extended time) and with a magnetic trigger (for excessive overcurrent)

Andras Deak

huh

ilkkachu

there's actually a pretty nice picture of one of those in Wikipedia too: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_breaker , and if you want to see more about them look for e.g. Big Clive's (bigclivedotcom) videos on youtube: youtube.com/results?search_query=clive+circuit+breaker

And well. If you like horror flicks, then this: Inside a fake un-trippable circuit breaker. The title kinda spoils the plot though, but nightmare fuel it is. (Also includes the cozy intro about breakers)

Andras Deak

uggggh

ilkkachu

... a few variants of mains sockets in use in Europe of course, not that every single country would have a mish-mash.

Andras Deak

9:12 AM

@ilkkachu that reminds me of one of my favourite infographics

and no, you're not suddenly colourblind :P

terdon

@AndrasDeak Oh wow, that's cool. I mean, it's absolutely insane, but cool to see all together!

Andras Deak

@terdon so can you tell what kind of plug they use in Russia? :D

ilkkachu

hmm. Why's are the alien and the others to the right in the same group as the three mouthless ones? They don't even look the same.

Also, that would seem to say that China uses the UK plug, which I don't exactly believe just like that.

HK might.

terdon

@AndrasDeak ~~Do they really use the same as the UK!? Wow.~~ yeah, read that wrong

I've never seen that oval one on the bottom left that is apparently used all over the Americas.

ilkkachu

well, not that this is so much better, and it has three-color stripes for China, so yeah. I can't read the colors there. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…

terdon

9:25 AM

@ilkkachu They might, actually. There was a lot of UK influence in China. They had a very nice system where the UK would sell them drugs (and had a whole campaign to get as much of the country addicted to opium as possible) in exchange for tea.

And when the Chinese started objecting, they went to war.

ilkkachu

yep, one of the things that show how civilized the Western peoples are/were.

but no, based on the wikipedia map and e.g. this: electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/advice-for-you/… they use something completely different. Except that one is maybe compatible with a US plug

@AndrasDeak wow, that's a first I've heard. LWN has an article, but subscribers only or wait a week: lwn.net/Articles/853717

Andras Deak

sounds like a bit of a dumpster fire

Jeff Schaller

11:27 AM

I have now paid the Imperial Measurement tax so that I can own a 7/64" hex wrench.

although my sarcasm appears to be anachronistic, since Wikipedia tells me the standards were first defined in 1824.

terdon

I have to admit that it boggles my mind that anyone would think that 7/64" is a useful unit of measurement.

is that "seven sixtyfourths of an inch"?

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