On 24/08/2012 08:27, Brian Gaff wrote:
What is the point of shaver points exactly? Is this some legacy thing?
I notice for example, and don't try this at home... that the pitch of the
pins and their size is ideal for slipping into the live and neutral of a
13a socket. All one needs is a dummy earth pin or screwdriver to release the
shutter.

Some sockets (certainly older MK and quite possibly the current ones)
don't need the dummy earth pin, as they don't open the shutter that way.
Instead the shutter is pivoted in the middle and has "ramps" in opposing
directions, so as a plug is inserted, the live and neutral pins rotate
the shutter open.

SteveW