UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Why did folk always unplug the telly at night?

emeritus · 9th Jul 2017, 9:19 pm

The section dealing with the then-new 13A ring main plug and sockets in the 1956 edition of Odhams "Radio Television and Electrical Repairs" , says

" Although sockets only are shown in Fig 32 [which shows a ring main with spurs], and also in the previous diagrams of socket circuits [ 2A, 5A and 15A installations], the same method of wiring applies to switch sockets. On alternating current supplies, no switch is necessary for any-sized sockets, but switches are sometimes used for convenience. The 13-amp sockets can be obtained fitted with switches if desired."

This seems to confirm that the use of switched sockets was only essential for DC mains supplies. Pre-war, I suppose that the most common use of mains electricity was via a BC adaptor plugged into a light socket. Certainly in the 1950's the only member of our family that had more than one wall socket in their house was an Aunt who lived in one of the post-war Prefabs, where every room had at least one 5A 3 pin socket.

9th Jul 2017, 9:19 pm	#71
emeritus Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 5,339	Re: Why did folk always unplug the telly at night? The section dealing with the then-new 13A ring main plug and sockets in the 1956 edition of Odhams "Radio Television and Electrical Repairs" , says " Although sockets only are shown in Fig 32 [which shows a ring main with spurs], and also in the previous diagrams of socket circuits [ 2A, 5A and 15A installations], the same method of wiring applies to switch sockets. On alternating current supplies, no switch is necessary for any-sized sockets, but switches are sometimes used for convenience. The 13-amp sockets can be obtained fitted with switches if desired." This seems to confirm that the use of switched sockets was only essential for DC mains supplies. Pre-war, I suppose that the most common use of mains electricity was via a BC adaptor plugged into a light socket. Certainly in the 1950's the only member of our family that had more than one wall socket in their house was an Aunt who lived in one of the post-war Prefabs, where every room had at least one 5A 3 pin socket.