19" Power Distribution - SHUKO / FRENCH Connectors

[lightingtec]

Hello all Blue Roomers

General question please on UK use.

Is it possible / acceptable to use Schuko/ French style Mains Plugs/Power Distribution INSIDE a Rack?

I have an application where I need a Single 19" Front Illuminated Power switch for a rack - and there are only 2 options widely available (as all the mass available ones have the switch on the same side as the 13A sockets)

 

For UK there are these https://www.adamhall.../pcs-10?c=16228

BUT - unshuttered IEC on front!and they're IEC - and most of the units I need to power are plug top power supplies with 13A or 2 pin Euro - so I end up just using this to switch one output to a 13A extension socket - but then have the risk of live open socket on the front.

 

or ideal - but wrong connector is

https://www.adamhall...7478?c=16228but with french/13A adaptors (non-reversible unlike schuko as they have earth pin) these could be converted - though possibly alternate sockets due to spacing.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-x-UK-TO-EU-EURO-EUROPE-EUROPEAN-TRAVEL-ADAPTOR-POWER-PLUG-CONVERT-3-TO-2-PIN-/201603125981

 

Of course, I can drill a 19" panel, add a switch and wire up to a 13A extension lead - but looking for an off the shelf solution.

 

Any views would be welcome. As mentioned the 2nd solution would work - but not sure once the PAT testers get at it in years to come what they'll say/do.......

 

So much for EU harmonisation :-)

 

[Stuart91]

It should be possible to open the unit up and snip the cabling to the front IEC socket. (Keep the earth connected just in case)

 

I don't see any problem with the foreign sockets. If there was a blanket ban, touring shows would be in a lot of trouble.

 

My only concern is that it could make it more difficult to swap items out in a hurry. If you just run a UK multiway socket off one of the Schuko outlets, and keep the standard 13amp plug on all your gear then that won't be a problem either.

 

I had some amp racks that had been bought ex-hire from a German company. They had Schuko multiways inside, and it didn't bother us for a good few years. We did change it over when we replaced the amplifiers though - it seemed silly to persist with a non-standard system.

[Brian]

...BUT - unshuttered IEC on front!and they're IEC - and most of the units I need to power are plug top power supplies with 13A or 2 pin Euro - so I end up just using this to switch one output to a 13A extension socket - but then have the risk of live open socket on the front.

 

And what's wrong with unshuttered IECs? If it bothers you then swap the front one for a shuttered one, it'll fit the same hole.

[Stuart91]

And what's wrong with unshuttered IECs?

 

Indeed. Is an unshuttered IEC socket any less touchproof than the C13 female connector on the end of every lead?

[Junior8]

I can't for the life of me see what you are worried about. If it bothers you buy a plug and stick it in.

[ninjadingle]

Have a look at Olson Electronics. They don't have what you want off the shelf, but do for IEC. Or if you're willing to pay, they'll build you what you want in a custom unit.

[sunray]

We used to assemble racks of kit and used Olson units (any type of connector), generally mounted on the rear strip, vertically or horizontally. If the customer requested a switch on the front we tended to supply 19" Olson units with the mounting 'ears' on the back (rather than level with the socket face) and punched a hole behind the standard switch and moved the switch, blanking the original hole with a traffolite warning lable. One of the popular requests was for an illuminated fused connection unit (Domestic single gang white) on the front, we'd cut a hole in a 2U blank panel for the switch and mount sockets on the rear. The switch looked ugly but people liked the instantly recognisable appearance.