Another socket puzzle: Why the extra terminal?

[Lucien Nunes]

Here's an old accessory made to BS1363. You can connect it to a ring and plug 13A plugs into it. What is the fourth terminal for?

I've blanked off some text moulded into the bakelite so as not to give too many hints at first. Nothing else is hidden.

 

[The Ghost]

Kept meaning to show you this @Lucien Nunes to see if it is of interest for your museum. Took it out of my house while doing a few changes.

 

[Toneyz]

So it doesn't fit in a standard single k.o. box?

 

[littlespark]

Interesting piece of history there... never seen something like that before.
My gran had an adaptor from 13a plug to 2x15a + 1x 5a, so they could still use their old appliances without changing the plug.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

So it doesn't fit in a standard single k.o. box?

No, it's a custom size.

Kept meaning to show you this

Is that Bath - Off - Sink for a dual element immersion? Yes please, we don't have any of those. Will happily pay postage! Pity the red indicator lens is missing but we can find something suitable.

A side note about the fireside socket fuse. The original design shown here takes a BS646 fuse so the largest you could fit was 5A, which was correct for multiple 2A sockets on one circuit. But the later style in a standard 2G plate took a BS1362 fuse so a 13A fuse could be fitted leaving the sockets poorly protected. But in practice, unless the wrong appliances were connected to 2A plugs, due to a lack of 13A sockets, it was unlikely to cause serious hazard.

 

[freddo]

Pity the red indicator lens is missing but we can find something suitable.

The last one of those I saw (sadly still in use so I couldn't pinch it!) had a neon bulb in it which slightly protruded through the front hole.

 

[The Ghost]

s that Bath - Off - Sink for a dual element immersion?

Yes indeed thought it might have had a red bulb in it. Just tell me where to send it no postage required.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Ah, maybe that's it. I thought Santon used a domed red lens but perhaps that was someone else. In that case I think we have the correct neon.

 

[KEV 1 N]

Found this the other week in an old boiler house...

 

[Toneyz]

Found this the other week in an old boiler house...
View attachment 47719 View attachment 47720 View attachment 47721

Non of this digital rubbish then!

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Fun! Outdoor compensation thermostat or some such, I'll take a closer look later.

 

[Squid]

deleted, need to steal more beer.

;o)))))

 

[Squid]

Had those sockets at home when growing up, as mentioned used for table lamps still used today but switched via a light switch on the wall as you enter a room.

 

[freddo]

Ah, maybe that's it. I thought Santon used a domed red lens but perhaps that was someone else. In that case I think we have the correct neon.

I was mistaken, this similar one was the switch I was thinking of.

 

[Pete999]

My comment was in reply to Lucien's question just above as to what you would use the 2A sockets for!

 

[Squid]

I was mistaken, this similar one was the switch I was thinking of.
View attachment 47722 View attachment 47723

IP camera disguised as a non obtrusive switch to film certain shenanigans that are then streamed on the internet for a pay website at £19.99 pcm.