SANS 164-2

[ians]

Correct. Not in SA anyway.
Madness, I reckon.

Common sense would be the logical answer...but as you mentioned...not in SA

[ians]

I thought i would do some scratching...

The unearthed schuko plugs falls under SANS 164-6

2 pole systems, 16A 250 Vac for connection of class 2 equipment.

MCE sell them and advertise on the front page of the sparks mag.

The Schuko socket?


Now there's another fine can of worms.

No Schuko plug or socket or may be imported or sold in SA (see page 4 of the attached Government Notice where it has been specifically declared illegal), but as you say, no shortage of them about.

[ATTACH]7127[/ATTACH]

For those not familiar with the Schuko outlet -

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7128[/ATTACH]

[Dave A]

And then you get the ones installed in the Vodacom charging kiosk in the domestic departure area at O.R. Tambo International Airport.







As you say, apparently the issue of concern is the exposed earth contact points. It did make me wonder about the wisdom of allowing bare copper wiring and strapping for earthing and bonding...

Perhaps that is why the ban comes via Department of Trade and Industry

[GCE]

The main reason for the ban - If there is an earth fault ( small so as not to trip ) or the fault occurs while unplugging - The live pin could still be connected to the socket outlet while the earth has disconnected and you could be holding the earth strap on the side of the plug top effectively becoming the earth.
There is talk in Europe of having a re look at the schuko - Some of the countries have already stopped the use thereof