ODM Light Switches And Sockets Products – Universal Wall Switch Socket L Series – Juke

2. Universal sockets are unable to provide consistent polarity for different plugs, they do not have proper protection against access to live parts, and they are not able to provide earthing contacts for many of the plugs for which they are supposedly compatible. In addition, universal sockets do not provide reliable contacts for the great variety of plug pins they accept, and do not provide sufficient mechanical stability for heavier plugs and power cubes with built-in plug pins. Furthermore, they often allow plugs to be mis-inserted, such as a Europlug or Schuko between line and earth, rather than line and neutral. Universal sockets are designed to accept unfused plugs, so they present a particular problem if connected to a ring circuit protected at 32A.

3. A fundamental reason for not using a single plug type is that there are two very different mains voltages used in the world. Europe uses a nominal 230V, and America is a nominal 120V. The ability to be able to connect a 120V plug into a universal socket connected to a 230V supply is non-compliant with IEC 60884-1, and could cause the connected appliance to overheat or even catch fire.