After seeing this for sale on the UK Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-V-SOCKET-C ARAVAN-CAR-MOTORHOME... and this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-WAY-SOCKET-MAINS-CO- AX-12V-POINT-CARAVAN_... I was reminded that outside of Australia, there exists no standard ELV plug and socket. We've been fortunate to have this:
This 402/32 plug and socket configuration has been around since the existance of the 12 and 32V home lighting plant which were common in rural areas until the 1960's. Now, there's been a resurgance in the popularity of this connector with solar/wind installations, caravans, boats, 4WD etc. Despite this, I have seen the horrifying installations where standard 240V 3 pin connectors have been used. (I remember as a young kid about to plug a 12V CB radio into the mains because there was a 240V plug on it but the owner came rushing over in a panic just in time).
But what of other countries? As far as I can tell it seems that various forms of mains plug and socket are often used. The Ebay example looks awfully like a polarised 120V socket. Pity the poor 12V appliance should it find it's way near a 120V outlet, though admittedly it isn't terribly likely given this socket is for sale in the UK.
Over in the US, it seems people with 12V wired homes simply have used the standard 3 pin 120V plug and socket.
Some Japanese vehicles of the 1960's & 1970's had a 2 pin outlet in the glove box into which one could plug the supplied trouble lamp which was fitted with a standard 120v plug. Again, one wonders how many got plugged into the mains in areas where that configuration is used for the domestic 120V supply.
The other issue, apart from the electrical destruction, is that 12v appliances often have the case connected to negative, so imagine what happens when the ELV appliance is plugged into the mains and the user touches it.
Surely an attempt needs to be made to standardise on a connector that does not resemble anything used for the mains.
As a final note, there has been a recall of portable generators sold in Australia during the 70's for this very reason...the 12V socket is remarkably like an Australasian 240V socket without the earth pin.
http://www.energysafety.wa.gov.au/energysafety/media_include/unsafe_generators.pdf While the common cigarette lighter socket is probably the next best thing where the 402/32 socket can't be obtained, it does suffer from poor reliability at high currents. But please...no mains plugs for 12V gear!
[This message has been edited by aussie240 (edited 09-21-2006).]
{ Edited to tidy up links }
[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 09-23-2006).]