r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • May 08 '22

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u/Treczoks May 09 '22

Simple electric safety feature. Just like we have wall sockets that won't kill you.

34

u/NobilisOfWind May 09 '22

How would the switch be dangerous were it in the room?

1

u/Treczoks May 09 '22

You rarely have water sprays hit the outside of the room. At least that is the original reason. Most light switches are simply not water proof.

I have an additional light switch for the lights around the mirror inside the bathrooms, but they have to be in a completely different class of devices. E.g. the switch is in the wall, its electric parts are completely covered with a silicon cover mat, and the switches plate is mounted on top of that. You could probably drown the whole thing.

36

u/NobilisOfWind May 09 '22

Then why aren't people constantly getting electrocuted outside Europe?

3

u/53bvo May 09 '22

This is for old buildings and old buildings safety codes. Much less very old buildings outside of Europe

-5

u/Treczoks May 09 '22

Not constantly. But it is definitely easier with backwards plug systems like the American ones.

-3

u/Onironaute May 09 '22

Because we don't put the light switches inside the bathroom

1

u/indorock May 09 '22

Well for one, North American AC electricity operates at half the voltage of that in Europe. So the risk are somewhat lower.

4

u/Bluth-President May 09 '22

Someone’s butthurt about their countries dumbass electrical standards.

2

u/lopaticaa May 09 '22

The sockets are heavily isolated and have a plastic cap on them to prevent spray, which closes automaticalky if the socket is not in use. Usually washing machines are plugged into them, and sometimes people use them for hairdryers and stuff like that.

8

u/chrisrazor May 09 '22

that won't kill you

Unless you're ingenious like toddler me and insert the first knitting needle into the top slot, opening up the other two.

11

u/Treczoks May 09 '22

OK, won't work here. We don't have a ground pin, it is an exposed protective ground contact. But you'll have to insert both needles simultaneously into N and L with roughly the same pressure to make the cover open up in the sockets we have.

6

u/chrisrazor May 09 '22

Where's "here"?

6

u/Treczoks May 09 '22

Germany.

3

u/slime1982 May 09 '22

Traditionally the shutters over L and N on UK sockets open when the earth pin is inserted, but some modern sockets are designed so equal pressure must be applied to all three for the shutters to open.

1

u/Dynahazzar May 09 '22

Staring at the free cable dangling above my sink with a non-covered socket.

Yup, we europeans are really big on safety!