ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades Polarise schuko?

On or about 1920 according to my references.

All drills I've ever taken apart had a double pole switch, even the cheap far-east (or maybe not even so far east) rotary hammer.

Ranger said:


HAHAHAHAHA!!!!

That must be THE SILLIEST reason I've ever heard.

Why, there's a bunch of companies (one American company in Mexico and a bunch of Colombian companies) that manufactures a line of two-pin plugs where the core containing the screw terminals "snaps" into the vinyl husk. No screws holding the housing together and no exposed terminal screws.

In fact, if you go to Colombia and buy a replacement round rubber plug for semi-heavy duty use, you will get one of those (not the tiny plastic ones for alarm clocks where the two halves of the housing are held with a nut and bolb).

Some Australian plugs are the same way. Taking them apart is difficult -- you have to carefully pry out the core with a small screwdriver.

As far as drills are concerned, I wonder if the double-pole switch is a requirement for CE approval?

I know it's required in at least some standards.

There is a basic principle that appliances should not be dependent on the socket and house wiring: As long as it gets the right voltage and frequency, it should be safe.

I think you may be right about the double-pole switching in some current standards.

It certainly hasn't always been that way though. I have several kitchen appliances (blender, electric knife, mixer etc.) made by the French company Moulinex in the 1970s. They are all double-insulated, 2-core cords only, and all have single-pole switches.