In article ,
Bruce writes:
Timothy Murphy wrote:

It makes one wonder if the fuses in UK plugs are really necessary.


UK plug fuses are there to reduce (but not eliminate) the risk of fire
caused by an appliance.

Actually, they are there to protect only the appliance flex.
If an appliance needs fusing for safety reasons, it is
required to have a fuse within itself, and it isn't permitted
to rely on any plug fuse.

They don't protect people, as you would be
dead long before a fuse blew.

Depends which risk you are considering. They protect you
from a fire which might otherwise result.

Mainland European installations have relied on RCDs for many years. An
RCD protects people, not appliances, so you aren't likely to be
electrocuted thanks to a flimsy plug, although there may be a slightly
higher fire risk (or so I am told).

I won't claim a vast experience across all mainland European
installations, but I have never seen an RCD to protect people
against electrocution used in the premises wiring (except for
the occasional RCD-protected outdoor socket). RCD's are common
in mainland Europe because TT and IT installations are more
common than they are here, but those are normally 500mA RCDs
in the areas of Europe I've seen them, and they are part of
the supplier's works (like the meter is).

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]