It was my understanding that UK plugs have a switch because they incorporate a fuse. Here in the US we have some plugs with a switchable fuse... primarily in bathrooms... though most are wired to a central breaker box.
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Why Isn't This Standard In Most Homes Now?
- Thread starter thehustleman
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It was my understanding that UK plugs have a switch because they incorporate a fuse. Here in the US we have some plugs with a switchable fuse... primarily in bathrooms... though most are wired to a central breaker box.
The USB/Plugs that I have seen do have switches... but they are automatic. When you pull the USB thingy out it switches off automagically. No vampire draw.
ALL outlets?No, no, no, for the love of God, no!
...and a 4,000% markup is ridiculous for something that may or may not even get any use in one location, let alone every location!
This is my thinking. CErtainly not every outlet needs to have USB. An outlet in the attic? In the laundry room? In a hallway? Very unlikely to ever see a need for USB, and thus not really worth the extra cost. Now, the one next to a desk? Next to the bedside table? Sure!
I have only a few CFL bulbs, but the rest of my house is standard incandescent/halogen lightbulbs. Most are still the ones installed by the builder 7.5 years ago. I still have changed only a couple of them.
I have no beef with CFL for some fixtures, like a table lamp or laundry room. But until they can make a CFL that dims really well and somehow gives off that really nice dim "glow", I'll stick with the halogens in other places, like my kitchen and living areas. Like I said above, I have replaced very few bulbs in my house in over 7 years.
For the most part, I'm all about ways to make things more economical, but, being a lighting professional, I gotta have good lighting!
I have several of them in the house. They work great.
There are a couple of different kinds. Some are powered all the time kind of like the bunches of USB ports on the computer that runs all the time. Some only turn the power onto them when you plug a cord in, some have small switches that you flip to turn the USB and yet others only supply power to the cord when a load is detected.
As for CF bulbs....got no use for them. They don't last any longer than a standard 60, they take forever to get bright, they can't handle the cold, can't handle being on a motion detector, most of them can't be on a dimmer and they are ten times as expensive as a 60 watt bulb.
There are a couple of different kinds. Some are powered all the time kind of like the bunches of USB ports on the computer that runs all the time. Some only turn the power onto them when you plug a cord in, some have small switches that you flip to turn the USB and yet others only supply power to the cord when a load is detected.
As for CF bulbs....got no use for them. They don't last any longer than a standard 60, they take forever to get bright, they can't handle the cold, can't handle being on a motion detector, most of them can't be on a dimmer and they are ten times as expensive as a 60 watt bulb.
I found them on eBay. I have one of those. The others that I have only power when there is a load plugged into the cord since we pretty much leave the cords plugged in 24/7.
I did buy 2 of one kind that would charge a iPhone and iPod but it would not charge an iPad. I don't think the wattage was high enough. I sold them and replaced them with better ones.