[meerkat]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Here's the cover-all solution: chop off the UK plug and fit an Indian 15-amp plug. Plug it into a 15-amp socket. NB: if the cable is 3-core, then be sure to connect the earth and make sure that the socket is earthed. Just because a device comes with a sealed-on plug (legal requirement for British domestic stuff) doesn't mean that you have to keep, and use it.

This actually is the most sensible, easiest, cheapest and safe solution (safer than using adapters). And there's nothing Indian or British about it, -- just plain common sense.

It's a pretty simple DIY job too. Just one additional thing to be careful about, -- apart from proper grounding connection, one needs to mind the correct live and neutral connections too. While the job can be done cheaply in India by the common "electricians", this last bit is something many of them have no idea about.

I suspect the sealed plug requirement is just to make them foolproof.
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[meerkat]

Originally Posted by sunilch

1) Not just Indians, majority of humans are right-handed honestly.

I am aware of that, but I believe the ratio is even more skewed in India because lefthandedness is actively discouraged from childhood.

2) With the handles on the right side, hinges on the left - when you try to open the fridge, your right side (the area where the door will open and take space) is free since you have to come to the left of the fridge facing it and not in same direction as the fridge. That is way more convenient than you standing in the area that the door will take up when opening and turning.

3) Once opened, all items in the door are on your right which again is a bit more convenient than the other way.


So think if the fridge as a person with two hand and when you try to open it, think of it as the hand shake between two right handed humans. That works in harmony, isn't it. Except that here the fridge can't shake hands in a diagonal fashion and hence you tend to move to the left of your side when you try to do the handshake

Maybe it is very clear to you what you are trying to convey here, but I am afraid (perhaps because I am daft) it is all clear as mud to me!

All I was trying to say was that, as a righthander, I find it much more convenient to be able to open the fridge door just enough with my left hand while taking things out or putting them in with my stronger right arm. -- For decades in the US I had enjoyed using fridges that opened on the right. But for some reason that privilege is not easily available in India.
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[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by ads11

Wonder what caused the change? [British plugs/sockets] Imagine how much easier life would be if they'd kept the same design.

The modern 13-amp flat-pin sockets are much safer, having plastic at the start of the prong, so it is hard or impossible for small fingers to get around the back and touch live metal. But round pin plugs could have been that way too: I don't think (If I remember correctly) that the early flat-pin plugs had that safety protection.

Also, the flat-pin plugs are fused, which is an additional safety measure. Although it can be confusing. A table lamp might be sold with a 3-pin plug, 3-amp fuse. Taking that plug off the lamp and fitting it to a 3kw heater is going to cause a very quick *POP*. Of course, sealed-on plugs help to prevent that

I don't know/remember what caused the change. The British ring-main system was introduced post-war, because it took much less wire than spur-based cabling, and there was a shortage of copper. Probably the plugs/sockets were reviewed at the same time

Almost nobody else in the world followed the same pattern. So, they may be great, but Europe, America, etc etc does not agree!

Originally Posted by meerkat

All I was trying to say was that, as a righthander, I find it much more convenient to be able to open the fridge door just enough with my left hand while taking things out or putting them in with my stronger right arm. -- For decades in the US I had enjoyed using fridges that opened on the right. But for some reason that privilege is not easily available in India.

It is a good point. But for me, architecture matters more than handedness. I open the fridge with my right hand, and the surface on which things are put/taken is on the left. So right-hand hinges work for me here: I configured my London fridge to Left-hand-hinge.

[PatienceWins]

Originally Posted by PatienceWins

A senior technician from IFB came just now and checked. He says the issue is with the pressure sensor. Seems so as the issue was randomly occurring earlier. We used to swtich off the washing machine and start it later from the initial cycle and it would work.

He will check for the spare part availability and get back.

I will give the machine more chance if the pressure sensor is available. If it does not resolve the issue, I will replace the machine. I have the habit of throwing good money after bad by trying to repair home appliances which are past their life time. Older the item, more difficult it is for me to part away.

Thanks everyone for the inputs. I will update on the final outcome.

The washing machine is working fine after replacement of pressure sensor (Rs.2850) and a broken pipe (Rs.400), service charge extra (Rs.590). I will be happy if it works for another year as the machine is very old and due for replacement.

Thanks everyone for the inputs.

[TorqueyTechie]

Has anyone here have experience. of using karban products? I am seeing lots of ads for their 3-in-1 airzone product (fan, chandelier and air purifier). The product looks simple and elegant and I am interested since am looking for a fan and chandelier for my apartment. Any updates if this is good product and how would be the after sales?

Also, which brand would you recommend for a 25l water geyser? I was seeing a few options like Havells Instanio 25L, AO Smith HSE-VAS 25L and Racold Pronto 25L but seen mixed reviews for all.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by TorqueyTechie

...........................
Also, which brand would you recommend for a 25l water geyser? I was seeing a few options like Havells Instanio 25L, AO Smith HSE-VAS 25L and Racold Pronto 25L but seen mixed reviews for all.

I prefer either Havels or Racold. Was not impressed with AO Smith which I bought last year.

Just ensure that the geysers have a temperature control knob, the AO Smith had none.

[saket77]

Had a Racold work very well for almost 11 years. Replaced with VGUARD with much deliberation and is also working well for 1-1.5 years. Looks like a good product with a adjustable thermostat and temperature display helps.

[m8002?]

Even I would suggest Racold for geyser.
Bought 3 of them 20 years when moving into my apartment. Had to fix the thermostat in one and the heating element in another after 12-15 years. Spares available easily. Since then no issues. Touchwood.

[meerkat]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

The modern 13-amp flat-pin sockets are much safer, having plastic at the start of the prong, so it is hard or impossible for small fingers to get around the back and touch live metal. But round pin plugs could have been that way too: I don't think (If I remember correctly) that the early flat-pin plugs had that safety protection.

Flat-pin sockets (at least the thinner, US kind) are much safer, since it's impossible for children to insert fingers into them. It is also more difficult to poke into them with metal objects. In contrast, the round-pin sockets can be hazardous for children: it's easy enough to insert small fingers into them, especially into the larger (16A), unshuttered sockets. Thankfully, at least in the traditional Indian households, the sockets are typically placed too high for children to get at (but that has been changing in more modern homes, with closer-to-floor placements like in the US).

Also, the flat-pin plugs are fused, which is an additional safety measure. Although it can be confusing. A table lamp might be sold with a 3-pin plug, 3-amp fuse. Taking that plug off the lamp and fitting it to a 3kw heater is going to cause a very quick *POP*.

I am a bit confused here (being unfamiliar with the UK designs): aren't there differently sized plugs for the lower and higher wattage appliances (like the 6A vs. 16A plugs in India)? That would make it impossible to transplant a table lamp plug to run a 3 kW heater, for example. Also, why would a table lamp (using just a few Watts) be ever sold with a 3A-fused plug?!
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[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by meerkat

Flat-pin sockets (at least the thinner, US kind) are much safer, since it's impossible for children to insert fingers into them.

The modern ones usually have shutters. All the 13-amp British-type sockets have shutters.

I don't think that American plugs are particularly safe, because live metal can be exposed when inserting or removing them.

I am a bit confused here (being unfamiliar with the UK designs): aren't there differently sized plugs for the lower and higher wattage appliances

There are a few things that use two-pin plugs, but almost everything uses the standard flat-pin plug, fused accordingly. Even two-wire stuff comes with a three-prong plug: they make the third prong out of plastic to save brass. It is the earth prong (like Indian sockets) that opens the shutters.

I've seen some really small, round-pin, plugs, smaller than ours, on lighting, but only in hotels. I've never seen that kind of wall socket in a post-sixties British house.

Also, why would a table lamp (using just a few Watts) be ever sold with a 3A-fused plug?!

Doesn't matter how few watts (should I say amps?) it draws, anything could get shorted out, which puts the upstream wiring at risk.

[JMaruru]

I would like to install a smart switch to control the 3 porch lights from anywhere.

Are there any reliable brands/models one can recommend for this usecase?
What are the pros/cons of using this device?

Please advise.

[saket77]

Originally Posted by JMaruru

I would like to install a smart switch to control the 3 porch lights from anywhere.

Are there any reliable brands/models one can recommend for this usecase?
What are the pros/cons of using this device?

Please advise.

I use smart bulbs/ lights & smart plug sockets but haven't for installed the switches. I have one switch that is IR controlled and can be programmed but since it is not connected to wifi, it can't be controlled remotely. But the smart lights and smart plugs (Havells/ Crabtree and Zebronics) that I use can be controlled remotely. Don't see any major downside to it till the plug is in the wifi network area & your internet connection is reliable. I guess same should be applicable to smart switches. If the lights that you want to control are normal tubelights, you can consider changing to smart ones if you want to keep it simple and cost effective.

Thanks.

[meerkat]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I don't think that American plugs are particularly safe, because live metal can be exposed when inserting or removing them.

I have never implied that they have the safest possible design. Just that they are safer than the Indian round-pin plug-sockets!

However, having used them for years, I can say that one must have real intent to be able to touch that live metal while inserting or unplugging, -- virtually impossible for small kids. Grown ups with a death-wish can do that with some effort. But then, while designing something foolproof may be possible, designing something smartproof is not that easy.

In any case, the design must be deemed safe enough in a litigation-happy country! Another aspect is their inertia against embracing even superior things, if designed by others (e.g. just think of their preference to keep on struggling with 37/64 th of an inch and such, rather than embracing the infinitely superior metric system).

I wonder what stops India from adopting safer designs than the round-pin plug-socket system! Or for that matter, why live with the bayonet system on bulbs-and-holders that can have so many issues, rather than adopting better designs available?! Just economics?

There are a few things that use two-pin plugs, but almost everything uses the standard flat-pin plug, fused accordingly. Even two-wire stuff comes with a three-prong plug: they make the third prong out of plastic to save brass.

I am curious: the single standard size plugs used for both lower and higher wattage things (just differentiated by the appropriate fuse, if I understood it correctly), -- doesn't that use more brass/copper than is necessary for the more common lower wattage things? Not just in the plug/sockets, but in the wiring also, since all sockets appear to be necessarily made higher wattage capable! Also, doesn't that also open up the possibility of transplanting the 3A-fused plugs for higher wattage use by mistake, like you suggested?
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[dass]

Is there a good option to source spares for a discontinued model of Philips Hand blender (HR1602)? A small washer in the the highlighted part broke loose and we can no longer use it. Contacted nearby repair shops and even Philips authorized service center and everyone washed their hands off saying this cannot be repaired and unfortunately this is not available as a spare part either. It feels like a criminal waste to discard the whole piece, since everything else works just fine, except for this one part.

[sagarpadaki]

Originally Posted by dass

Is there a good option to source spares for a discontinued model of Philips Hand blender (HR1602)? A small washer in the the highlighted part broke loose and we can no longer use it. Contacted nearby repair shops and even Philips authorized service center and everyone washed their hands off saying this cannot be repaired and unfortunately this is not available as a spare part either. It feels like a criminal waste to discard the whole piece, since everything else works just fine, except for this one part.

Please share the picture of the washer. Is it made of rubber/plastic or metal?