British two-pin plugs and sockets AC power plugs and sockets: British and related types

early gec 2 pin plug , socket depicted in 1893 gec catalogue

the earliest domestic plug , socket believed patented t.t. smith in 1883. shortly followed patents wb sayers , g hookham; these designs had rectangular plugs contact plates on either side. in 1885, two-pin plug designs appeared , in 1889 there two-pin plugs , sockets in gec catalogue. 1893 gec catalogue included 3 sizes of described double plug sockets capacities described not in amps, 1 5 lights, 5 10 lights , 10 20 lights. these recognisable two-pin plugs , sockets, no indication pin size or spacing, sold pairs. same catalogue included lampholder plugs both bc , es lampholders (capacity unspecified), , type of two-pole concentric plug , socket (similar large versions of concentric connectors used laptop pc power connections) in 1 5 lights , 5 10 lights capacities. crompton , company introduced first two-pin socket protective shutters in 1893, edison swan company manufacturing two-pin plug , sockets in 1890s.

by time 1911 gec catalogue published 2 pin plugs , sockets being offered specifications in amps, still no indication pin size or spacing. midget gauge rated @ 3 a, standard gauge rated @ 5 a, , union gauge rated @ 10 a. offered two-way , three-way t pieces or multi-way adaptors 3 a , 5 a plugs, 2 way 10 a. versions of concentric plug , socket offered rated @ 5 a , 10 a. @ same time lundberg offering 2.5 a dot; 5 a universal , 15 a magnum, , tucker offering range of 5 a, 10 a , 20 a plugs , sockets.

bs 73 wall plugs , sockets (five ampere two-pin without earthing connection) first published in 1915, , revised in 1919 addition of 15 a , 30 a sizes. 1927 revision of bs 73 4 sizes of two-pin plugs , sockets standardized: 2 a, 5 a, 15 a , 30 a. later superseded bs 372:1930 part 1 two-pin side-entry wall plugs , sockets domestic purposes. following introduction of bs 4573 in 1970 there no longer uk domestic uses two-pin sockets except shavers, bs 372 renamed two-pin side-entry wall plugs , sockets special circuits , subsequently withdrawn.

characteristics of bs 73:1927 (bs 372:1930 part 1) two-pin plugs

bs 4573 (uk shaver)

comparison of (top) bs 4573 shaver plug parallel 5.1 mm pins 16.66 mm apart europlug 4 mm pins converging distance of 19 mm apart



uk shaver socket marked shaver symbol. accepts bs 4573 plugs, us, australian , europlugs. dual voltage, isolating transformer.

bs 4573 british standard specification two-pin reversible plugs , shaver socket-outlets defines plug use electric shavers, pin dimensions same of 5 a plug specified in obsolete bs 372:1930 part 1 (as shown in table above). unlike original, plug has insulated sleeves on pins. electric toothbrushes in uk supplied same plug. sockets plug rated @ (and limited to) 200 ma. bs 4573 has no explicit specification plug rating, sheet gb6 (bs 4573, dated 2002-06-03, written bsi committee) of iec 60083 states rating of 0.2 a applies bs 4573 accessories.

the bs 4573 socket suitable use in dry areas only, used. more usual find shaver supply units meeting bs en 61558-2-5 include isolation transformer , accept multiple two-pin plug types including bs 4573, europlug , australian. isolation transformer includes 115 v output, , accept two-pin plugs also. shaver supply units must current limited, bs en 61558-2-5 specifies minimum rating of 20 va , maximum of 50 va. bs 4573 , bs en 61558-2-5 both require sockets marked shaver symbol defined in iec standard 60417-5225, words shavers used not required.