This is a debate, not an argument, let’s be adults about this. [Insert political joke]

  • föderal umdrehen@feddit.de
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    9 months ago

    switches for each power socket – immensely convenient.

    Admittedly, that’s pretty awesome. I don’t understand why these sockets with power switches are not common elsewhere.

    • derphurr@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Well there’s cost. Think about how many outlets in an office or home.

      You may not understand the engineering of “UL” or safe switches because they would have to have full current of a short going through them, you have arcing, lifetime toggles, the ozone weakening the molded plastic, etc.

      With most outlets (receptacles) there is a solid copper bar that goes from the wall wires to the part that pushes against the prongs of the plug. With a switch it’s slightly more complicated and would you only break the hot? What if someone wired outlet backwards?

      Sure you could make every plug involve a fuse, circuit breaker, arc fault, GFCI, and a switch. And a USB transformer and nightlight.

      It could help though in many homes if you had only one outlet wired to a switch, and could help with parasitic current draws of almost everything modern.

      • Carighan Maconar@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Sure you could make every plug involve a fuse, circuit breaker, arc fault, GFCI, and a switch. And a USB transformer and nightlight.

        Now I want plugs with nightlights so they’re easier to find…

        • derphurr@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          You wouldn’t because they don’t exist outside of switch in place of top outlet you could wire to control one outlet.

          But honestly the US already has switches on many outlets, because GFCI is required near water and some bedrooms, so the GFCI outlet can act like a switch with the test button

    • Carighan Maconar@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Admittedly, that’s pretty awesome. I don’t understand why these sockets with power switches are not common elsewhere.

      Because they solve a problem that ~nobody has for ~all their sockets.

      Think about it: How many of your sockets do you actually use the switch on? 10%? 5%? Less?

      It’s smarter to put switches only where they are needed, after all every component in a circuit decreases efficiency and maintainability.

      • Railison@aussie.zone
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        9 months ago

        I suppose it’s a use you never realised you needed until you have it. Here are some examples off the top of my head:

        • Sandwich press stays in same place, doesn’t have an on/off button. Just flick switch and no need to unplug when not in use.
        • Power strip for the TV is wedged behind a credenza. Need to power cycle everything plugged into it but would need to move the whole credenza to unplug it. Flick the switch with a stick or arm and it’s done.
        • Using power tools and want to be sure they definitely won’t turn on while adjusting them: flick the switch and no need to unplug.