Why isn't there just one pin (like in French type E)?
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\$\begingroup\$ Redundancy? Clamping force? \$\endgroup\$– PlasmaHHMar 22, 2018 at 17:44
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\$\begingroup\$ Why not just use type F socket and avoid redundancy? \$\endgroup\$– user3711671Mar 22, 2018 at 17:53
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\$\begingroup\$ Why avoid redundancy? Redundancy in protection circuits is good. \$\endgroup\$– Tom CarpenterMar 22, 2018 at 18:06
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\$\begingroup\$ @user3711671 Could you please give us more context for this question? What are you building? What are you trying to accomplish? What had prompted this question of yours? \$\endgroup\$– Nick AlexeevMar 22, 2018 at 19:04
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\$\begingroup\$ ask the person that designed it \$\endgroup\$– jsotolaMar 22, 2018 at 19:15
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2 Answers
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Figure 1. Schuko Type F socket. Source: International Config.
From a mechanical point of view the double earth contact in the socket balances the forces applied during insertion and removal. Without it the one spring would push the plastic plug against the plastic socket on the other side.
Most electrical socket connectors pinch the pins. This arrangement does the same thing - just with a very wide socket.
answered Mar 22, 2018 at 19:06
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\$\begingroup\$ "Without it the one spring would push the plastic plug against the plastic socket on the other side." Yes, why is that a problem?Look at the left and right sides, plastic part of the plug goes into the plastic part of the socket.Type E seems to be better, don't you think? \$\endgroup\$ Mar 22, 2018 at 19:25
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\$\begingroup\$ "Yes, why is that a problem?". Friction and wear. "Type E seems to be better, don't you think?" I don't know. You provided pictures for neither (bad) and I had to look up the Type F. \$\endgroup\$ Mar 22, 2018 at 19:29
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It doesn't. It has two side contacts that make the ground connection.
It is designed to be inserted either of two ways. Since the ground connection is not on the axis of symmetry, there must be two of them.
In contrast, the type E can only be inserted one way to begin with, because it is not symmetric.
answered Mar 22, 2018 at 18:06
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\$\begingroup\$ Why two?Wouldn't the appliance and earth be enough to close the circuit (only 1 earth pin)?There should still be a difference in the potentials.How does type E work then? \$\endgroup\$ Mar 22, 2018 at 18:22