ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades Colour Coded Plugs

Trumpy,
Industrial sockets, are the IEC 309 type (BSEN 60309), still often referred to as BS 4343.
I have not seen the BS 196 type you mentioned in an earlier post for many years.

Yes, the IEC309/BS4343 types are the accepted standard now, and have been for a good many years.

As well as 4-pole+earth 415V (red) for industrial use, the 2-pole+earth 240V (blue) are also found as campsite hookups, and the 2-pole+earth 110V (yellow) are used for the low-voltage power tools on building sites.

Paul,
What type of plastic material, are the bodies of these plugs made from?.
Just wondering if you or anyone else can tell me.

Yesterday I managed to find out why the old 3ph plugs have been banned. The pin layout is symmetric. On one side of the plug there's a key "nose" to ensure the plug is always plugged in the right way. If this nose is broken or filed off (can happen quite easily with the later plastic plugs) the plug can be inserted the wrong way round, turning the ground into a phase.
A second reason is: the pin layout cannot ensure the required clockwise phase rotation.

Those "Ceeform" plugs are used extensively here in Ireland for many applications and are becoming manditory in a lot of situations where domestic plugs were acceptable in the past.

The Red type is seen quite a lot in sweet shops hooking up the whipped ice cream machine.
A lot of commercial kitchen cooking equipment also operates on 380V/400V threephase and uses those plugs as it's a legal requirement to be able to "strip down" a commercial equipment removing all the units for "deepcleaning" of the area.

The blue type appear in many situations where splashing may occur... e.g. commercial kitchens. they're also used as cable couplings for extension cables used for commercial cleaning even though the equipment might be plugged in with a normal 13 amp BS1363 plug at the wallsocket. They're much better able to handle being dragged around after a floor polisher or industrial vacuum and can survive getting splashed safely.

They're also manditory in most work areas.. garages, workshops etc.. etc.. 230 V (blue) or 110V (yellow). Even butchers shops, food preparation areas etc..

Building sites MUST use yellow 110V plugs and 110V isolated supplies. It's illegal to use 230V equipment in such areas. Most powertools, other than those targeted at domestic users are 110V and come with a yellow Ceeform plug fitted.

It's increasingly common to see them used domestically for outdoor sockets. The usual arrangement is a Ceeform socket outside wired back to a flush 13amp / 13amp with RCD spur. All garden equipment is then fitted with Ceeform plugs and trailing sockets. If you need to bring non-outdoor equipment outside you just use a Ceeform plug - normal powerstrip with BS1363 sockets.

They're also installed for christmas light connections on buildings. you'll see the sockets in the eves / on facia boards.

Hospitals are also favouring these sockets as they're more hygenic and can withstand being cleaned down. There are specially approved sterile versions for theatres too.

BS1363 plugs are avoided completely on any lifesaving equipment like respirators, cardiac gear etc as the fuse in the plug is considered a risk. BS1362 fuses aren't designed for non-domestic use and could blow due to normal use, age, peak loadings etc.. so are considered risky. Normally Ceeform or BS546 plugs are used on 16amp radials. So if you see big Roundpin sockets in wards its not coz they're hopelessly out-of-date.

on another point.. BS1363 are avoided in many situations where it would be difficult / dangerous to have to change the fuse.

Theatre lighting rigs (BS546 or Ceeform)

Built-in appliences are often connected to a fused switched spur located nearby either wired straight in or to a BS546 (15amp) socket behind the applience. (or simply have the plug located where it can be reached which is not always possible.) This means you never have to remove the entire applience if the plug fuse blows. It's quite possibile with an applience like a dishwasher or washing machine, particularly in Ireland on 220V where the max load (13amp) for the fuse can easily be reached during the heating cycle on a regular basis and the fuse lifespan may not be indefinate even without any over-current faults.

hi ch :

did not get chance to see ya for long time but i will quickly point it here in north amercica . what you show the "clock plug "chart for varis voltages they are simuiar to north american voltages also and i did look at one of my catalog book and it show the same way of the plugs but you have 3 addtional voltage what my north america book not show on listing but most twist lock plug in north america are colour coded by voltage also bleu = 120 volts yellow = 240 (208 ) volts orange 480v grey 277 volts but i will find more on twistlock plugs but the international pin and plug set up are common for both side of "pond" and of course i remeber the french voltage plug it is the same what you say about it

merci marc

There is a pretty good catalog out there for all types of international Plugs and powercords. You Probably have heard of it, "Panel Components Corporation" see www.panelcomponents.com . Not only does it offer information on power connectors, it also offers information on Country certs and IP (NEMA) ratings

from Trumpy

Mike do you have a photo of these or even one lying around? Sounds wicked from your description! What about the design was responsible for these plugs being so dangerous