With sockets for three pin plugs you do need to be in contact with earth which enables live and neutral to work. This is why appliances with two cables have a dummy earth pin.

 

 

 

 

It is not necessary to be in contact with both the live and earth terminal of the socket to receive a (potentially fatal) shock. As you can be earthed through the ground or anything else you are in contact with. If someone was to touch the live and earth (or neutral) at the same time it would cause serious burns as there would be a shorter path of lower resistance meaning the current would be much higher.

Thank You
Jason Hurley
Crumplezone Multimedia
01257 416596
<www.crumplezone.co.uk>



on 27/8/14 09:13, David Birks at [log in to unmask] wrote:

All,
 
Surely sockets are only dangerous if the child can insert a finger fully into the earthed hole while simultaneously inserting another finger into the live hole, unless my understanding of mains circuit 240 volt AC  sockets is wrong, in which case ignore this (it may also explain why I only lasted 18 months as an apprentice electrician in the early 80s). Seems very unlikely to me, and even children’s fingers are too broad. Having said that we have them in the sockets in our museum, but I’ve never known why.
 
My guess is that socket cover manufacturers push the danger factor, I also suspect they are the same people that manufacture hi-vis vests.
 
David Birks
Trowbridge Museum
 

From: Osborne, Kate [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 26 August 2014 14:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: socket covers!


Hello All



We have socket covers on all our sockets, ostentsibly to prevent small children electrocuting themselves.   Others now tell me that they aren’t necessary and can even be dangerous.   The attached articles look persuasive.  Has anyone else wrestled with this issue and come to a safe conclusion?   Will circulate answers to all..... many thanks, Kate





http://www.patmarshall.co.uk/health_and_safety/socket_covers.htm



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5039454/Electrical-socket-safety-covers-are-absurd-and-dangerous-say-engineers.html





http://www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/







Kate Osborne| Learning & Skills Officer

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