Talk:BS 546

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1 Photo - group shot
2 BS 546
3 Tone?
4 Diagrams

[edit] Photo - group shot

A group of BS 546 plugs, sockets and adaptors.

Here is a group shot of some BS 546 plugs, an inline 5A 2 pin socket and a couple of adaptors. I have more of these plugs & sockets than are shown here including some wall sockets. If anyone can think of some good photos to take for this article (angles, group shots, insides, etc.) then I can do so. Ziltro 16:23, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] BS 546

this is a very good article. A few points to add for completeness: -

Each of the three sizes - 2, 5 and 15 amp - had a 2 pin and 3 pin version. Unlike other plug systems (e.g. Australian) the 2 and 3 pin versions differed by gauge and diameter so were not compatible. I have no idea why the design deliberately ruled out compatibility - this seems pointless. The 2 and 15 amp 2 pin versions dropped out of use as a result, while the 5A version remained in use for longer, both because of its use as a shaver plug and because of the widespread availablility of adaptors (strictly speaking, these 2-pin variants probably pre-dated BS546 and were not covered by it).

The BS 1363 standard first made an appearance in 1947 and gradually replaced the BS546 types - in the UK, Ireland, most of the countries that were still ruled by the British at the time, plus a few others - e.g. Saudi Arabia (alongside the US system). India, Pakistan and South Africa were by then independent, so did not adopt BS 1363. For some reason the replacement by BS1363 was slower in Hong Kong than elsewhere. Whilst adaptors that allowed different BS546 types to mate used to be very common, those allowing mating between BS1363 and 546 were less so, other than those allowing the 5A, 2 pin size to be used in 13 A sockets.

on the subject of adaptors apparently socket doublers with 15A pins and 13A sockets are considered a rare and highly prized (and hoarded) item in the theatre lighting industry. Plugwash 23:57, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Nice to know, I got given one recently! I shall have to photograph it. I thought they were quite common in some other country/ies though? Ziltro 04:20, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Tone?

Someone has requested that this be cleaned up for tone. I assume the problem is particularly with the discussion of 2a 2 pin, which is indeed quite familiar. But is there anything else folks think needs improving? Bryson430 00:21, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Diagrams

I eventually decided to learn SVG and measured & created these drawings. They are pretty close sizes for comparison, but are not the sizes from the regs because I don't know what they are! If anyone knows what the 'official' dimensions are then I can update these files with them. Shown looking at the socket (note titles if you view the SVG) but measured diameters are taken from the pins. Ziltro 04:20, 8 December 2006 (UTC)