Danish sockets - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Zipdox
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 04:17:39 pm
content: I was in Denmark recently, and for those of you who don't know, they usetype Kplugs there. I prepared myself by taking atype Fadapter with me. Now, the neutral and live holes on type K sockets have the same diameter and spacing as type F sockets, so they can accepttype Cplugs (like phone chargers). Now, you might see the glaring issue here; you can plug in type F plugs, without them being grounded. To my horror, this is exactly what I saw. Appliances from the European market with type F plugs plugged into type K sockets all over the place, ungrounded.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 05:01:47 pm
content: Well at least it looks happy.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 06:34:57 pm
content: Don't be such a wimp!. A little electric shock doesn't really harm a consumer. Also note the massive live prongs, which are easily reached by small kids' fingers for extra excitement (the receptacles are flat, not recessed, though that has changed over the last few years).From political side, it's much more important to protect a domestic industry that consists of one extremely well networked company: Lauritz Knudsen (today owned by Schneider Electric).A company that's been practically a monopoly on the electric market in Denmark for over a century, and has used every trick in the book to avoid compatibility with safer plug systems from outside Denmark.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 06:53:45 pm
content: Interesting to see someone complaining about plug systems other than NEMA.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 07:09:39 pm
content: Quote from: Zipdox on October 10, 2024, 04:17:39 pmin practice it is mostly a none-issue, for the few things where your really need earth, like your steel refrigerator you get an adaptorhttps://www.silvan.dk/produkt/adapter-schuko-til-dk-m-jord-2680-2141067and a lot of outlets don't even have earth, it wasn't made mandatory until ~30 years ago and only in new builds

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 07:16:18 pm
content: Quote from: Benta on October 10, 2024, 06:34:57 pmnow you are allowed to install schuko if you want. LK is more expensive but it is also vastly better quality than most of the schuko junk they sell in most places

author: Zipdox
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 07:46:22 pm
content: Quote from: langwadt on October 10, 2024, 07:09:39 pmYou can't expect uninformed consumers to know this. I think I saw this stuff happen in a kitchen as well.The adapter you linked is the wrong way around. It should plug into a Danish socket and take Schuko.It is also true that many outlets don't have earth. I stayed in an older cottage, and most plugs didn't. Unearthed type K sockets can't take earthed type K plugs, but they'll happily accept an earthed type F socket.

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 08:54:17 pm
content: If it fits, it worksCan't get any simpler than that.Personally my first concern would be small children. There is a happy face on the wall, let's poke it, ZAP! Who thought it was a good idea to design it this way?Otherwise, lack of proper earthing isn't the end of the world. Just assume that earthing is not trustworthy and act accordingly - maybe take preference in appliances with non-metal cases.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 09:32:52 pm
content: Quote from: electr_peter on October 10, 2024, 08:54:17 pmsome even wink or squinthttps://www.plugsocketmuseum.nl/DK/DK_socket_hospital.jpghttps://www.plugsocketmuseum.nl/DK/DK_socket_EDB.jpgand you can't just poke something in, they have locks like most other sockets

author: Andy Chee
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 09:34:22 pm
content: I assume the circuits are still protected by RCD/GFI?

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 09:43:48 pm
content: Quote from: langwadt on October 10, 2024, 07:16:18 pmAnd vastly more lethal.But 50+ years of lobbying still linger on. And it's not like fixed installations get updated every year. More like every 30...50 tears. Lauritz Knudsen did a good job on protecting it's monopoly for a century.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 09:49:07 pm
content: Quote from: Andy Chee on October 10, 2024, 09:34:22 pmYes, and that's been the main reliance (hope? belief?) for safety. Forget earthing in Denmark, it's not enforced in the plug/socket system.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 09:52:52 pm
content: Quote from: Andy Chee on October 10, 2024, 09:34:22 pmmandatory everywhere, even old buildings that didn't have it when build

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 10:00:20 pm
content: Quote from: Benta on October 10, 2024, 09:43:48 pmwhat vastly more than close to zero? the data I could find is an average of two deaths per year from electric shock most of them men at work most of them electricians, the same data says 1000 die per year in the US, adjust for population and US is 10x worse ...

author: Zipdox
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 10:58:07 pm
content: Quote from: Andy Chee on October 10, 2024, 09:34:22 pmI doubt so in older installations that haven't been renovated. Clueless people will still plug type F plugs into ungrounded type K sockets. Even if there is RCD, you can still get a pretty good jolt below the 30mA trip current.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 11:21:13 pm
content: Quote from: Zipdox on October 10, 2024, 10:58:07 pmLet me remove your doubt.Since 2008 it's mandatory inallinstallations.It's been mandatory in new buildings since 1975.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 11:23:28 pm
content: Quote from: Zipdox on October 10, 2024, 10:58:07 pmall installions that did not have GFI had to have one installed in 2008

author: Andy Chee
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2024, 01:52:15 am
content: Quote from: langwadt on October 10, 2024, 11:23:28 pmHow was this policed? I assume the meter reader inspects the switchboard, and made a note of any property that did not have RCD/GFI.

author: Bryn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2024, 05:12:08 am
content: If you knew Denmark had a different socket type, I would've got a Type F to Type K adapter if I were you.And yeah, that socket sure looks happy... compared tohow others feel