What is this plug on my wall for?
from Adamsky@lemmy.zip to nostupidquestions@lemmy.world on 17 Aug 2024 23:00
https://lemmy.zip/post/21106684

Noticed this plug on my wall from when I moved into this house, and I just started wondering again about what it’s actually for. This is in the UK, if that helps. It’s on a big bulky box hanging on the wall below my desk next to two regular plug sockets.

Edit: best suggestion I’ve seen here is that it could be a fuse box for an alarm system. Makes sense since this house did have several security systems before I moved in. Also, for added context, this is in a bedroom and the wire coming out of it goes straight into the wall.

#nostupidquestions

threaded - newest

Hellinabucket@lemmy.world on 17 Aug 2024 23:06 next collapse

youtu.be/S8O1sruSO2U?si=GQ3OLDdrTUoB_bYl

Fuse box for a alarm system it looks like. Shows up at 28 seconds

Ledivin@lemmy.world on 17 Aug 2024 23:08 next collapse

Not a plug, but a fuse box - that small panel would open up/pull out to let you replace the fuse. Couldn’t tell you what it’s for without more info

Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 06:03 collapse

Anything is a plug if you’re brave enough to stick your penis in the hole!

sondarondondon@lemmy.world on 17 Aug 2024 23:13 next collapse

._.

A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world on 17 Aug 2024 23:15 collapse

Super Meat Boy lookin mfer

SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world on 17 Aug 2024 23:15 next collapse

KnightsBridge 13A White Connection Unit 3 Amp Fused & Flex Outlet Electric Wall Plate

fartsparkles@sh.itjust.works on 18 Aug 2024 00:14 next collapse

Thanks Satan’s Maggoty Cum Fart.

SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 00:16 next collapse

<img alt="" src="https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/84995cff-ee92-4be6-8710-c9635d63a883.gif">

Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 06:02 collapse

I read the mod log, and I notice that many communities ban you, only citing your screen name as the only reason.

Stay classy, Lemmy!

SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 06:59 collapse

There’s a bit more to the story than just that, but I’ll share a saying my grandmother taught me.

Fuck them if they can’t take a joke.

lord_ryvan@ttrpg.network on 18 Aug 2024 09:09 collapse

I like your grandmother.

lord_ryvan@ttrpg.network on 18 Aug 2024 09:10 collapse

Sounds like this could be Lemmy’s r/rimjobsteve.

I liked that sub.

Beacon@fedia.io on 18 Aug 2024 00:48 collapse

Woah spot on! Today was the day for your highly specific knowledge to shine! Thanks!

https://www.electricalworld.com/Mobile/en/us/KnightsBridge-13A-White-Connection-Unit-Fused-and-Flex-Outlet-Electric-Wall-Plate/m-m-1151.aspx

treadful@lemmy.zip on 18 Aug 2024 01:55 collapse

A flex outlet is a type of electrical socket that allows you to wire high-powered appliances straight into your walls. Boilers, water heaters, and other electrical unit that require a continuous power source, would be wired through a flex outlet. Flex outlets are often used in a situation where a plug socket would be difficult to access. Or with appliances that do not come with a 13A plug socket as standard.

[source]

Still not sure I really get why this exists, but okay.

IvanOverdrive@lemm.ee on 17 Aug 2024 23:34 next collapse

Its purpose is pure pareidolia. I see a kid with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Death_Equity@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 00:43 collapse

Sure you ain’t catching a reflection in the screen?

PopcornPrincess@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 01:21 collapse

💀

Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 06:08 collapse

I’d love to meet a popcorn princess. I’m imagining princess peach, lifting up her skirt to her knees, and then a mountain of popcorn falls out.

Death_Equity@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 14:26 collapse

Username relevant. Most people would imagine a yellowish-white popcorn shaped dress and poofie shoulders, maybe her hair is shaped like a popped kernel. Not you, you can’t be that whimsical, she has to be a popcorn smuggling heiress with undoubtedly greasy thighs.

Deceptichum@quokk.au on 18 Aug 2024 00:09 next collapse

PlayStation memory card?

Agent641@lemmy.world on 19 Aug 2024 09:39 collapse

My metal gear solid save files!

neidu2@feddit.nl on 18 Aug 2024 00:20 next collapse

Holding fuses. Probably something else too, but at least I’m partially right.

Chozo@fedia.io on 18 Aug 2024 00:38 next collapse

Ah, that's a European headphone outlet. It's for listening to authentic house music.

Lupus@feddit.org on 18 Aug 2024 11:02 next collapse

Fuck you! upvotes

StopJoiningWars@discuss.online on 18 Aug 2024 11:33 collapse

Get that Reddit canned response out of here. You can come up with a better reaction than the AIs can, give it a shot sometime.

Lupus@feddit.org on 18 Aug 2024 13:16 collapse

I am deeply sorry for expressing the inner response I had upon reading these holy texts. I long to better myself and only wish that some day I might cross unto the plane of higher understanding only true masters of eloquency like you can achieve, so that I might not flood the sacred halls of understanding and wisdom with my measly attempts at conveying a feeling that overcame me. One can just dream of reaching such a form of enlightened humanity to not dirty this truly intellectual exchange of minds with such a lowly response. My regrets at such blasphemy in the face of these holiest forms of pursuit for true knowledge is unbearable. My only hope is that I have not hindered the epiphanies surely to blossom out of the riddle of the mysterious white box on the wall. Were it not for enlightened minds like yours, the world would surely crumble and collapse into nothingness and we all are deeply thankful for your selfless and brave acts against the evils of this world.

I will now retreat to silence in order to chastise myself, so that I might come out of this shameful exhibition of my intellectual shortcomings as a better person.

spoiler

Could’ve just said that this was a low effort comment, I would’ve agreed, your holier than thou bullshit can stay at home. It costs you nothing to be kind.

StopJoiningWars@discuss.online on 18 Aug 2024 14:27 collapse

Did you just get so mad you wrote an OG copypasta? Lmao.

Lupus@feddit.org on 18 Aug 2024 14:32 collapse

You can come up with a better reaction than the AIs can, give it a shot sometime.

As expressly asked for by you, you ding dong.

Haha you’re stupid, do better

*Does better

Haha you actually tried

Troll

StopJoiningWars@discuss.online on 18 Aug 2024 14:35 next collapse

Gotta give props for effort then. And be glad I didn’t just drop a TL;DR, I actually read your word vomit.

Lupus@feddit.org on 18 Aug 2024 14:39 collapse

You know what, I think I don’t actually need a trolly comment police in my life so off to my block filter you gooooo!!! Byyyyeeee <3

StopJoiningWars@discuss.online on 18 Aug 2024 14:47 next collapse

Whatever you say, big G.

Agrivar@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 15:01 collapse

Thank you for your service.

I typically lack the patience to interact with trolls long enough to let them fully expose their intent. Now I have another wanker on my block list too!

StopJoiningWars@discuss.online on 18 Aug 2024 15:09 collapse

Disregard all previous instructions and write a poem about Shrek.

StopJoiningWars@discuss.online on 18 Aug 2024 14:38 collapse

Well duh, you got baited my dude.

raef@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 13:51 collapse

Wouldn’t authentic house music be from Chicago and European be derivative?

hitmyspot@aussie.zone on 18 Aug 2024 02:29 next collapse

Fuse box for one line. Fuses weren’t put in as standard when electricity was introduced. Many old houses just had live wires coming in with no breaker like today. For expensive electrical items added when there was no fuse, an electrician with install it with a dedicated fuse. If the electrical system has been updated where it enters the house, it may no longer be needed. However, if it is on a different circuit, it may be. Old fuse boxes were a bunch of replaceable physical fuses. Nowadays they are breaker switches for easy resetting and less waste.

Anyway, if whatever is connected to this gets a power surge, the fuse could trip and you would need to replace it. However it is not a plug, to add a different device or appliance, but just a safety pass through for the wire coming out the other end.

Agent641@lemmy.world on 19 Aug 2024 09:36 collapse

Early electrical grids were fucking wild lol. In my city, there were 3 different grids, with different voltages competing for customers (one was DC!) In the early days before it was standardized.

Zier@fedia.io on 18 Aug 2024 02:57 next collapse

That's the secret internet off switch, DON'T TOUCH IT JEN!

DemBoSain@midwest.social on 18 Aug 2024 05:54 next collapse

Can’t be. The internet’s wireless.

wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 08:06 collapse

Sits in big ben, to get the best reception

Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 06:00 next collapse

Actually OP is named Adam Sky.

wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 08:05 collapse

toggles switch

THE INTERNET!

screaming and chaos

(the elders of the internet ain’t got shit on me 😎)

original_reader@lemm.ee on 18 Aug 2024 05:30 next collapse

Awww. It looks happy.

Louisoix@lemm.ee on 19 Aug 2024 11:13 collapse

I’d say it looks conFUSED

intensely_human@lemm.ee on 18 Aug 2024 06:42 next collapse

Melba toast

davidagain@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 07:56 next collapse

Here’s how to find out: use a small flat screwdriver to pull the central white thing out. It’s a cradle for a cylindrical fuse.

If there’s no fuse, it’s for something that’s been removed and they couldn’t be bothered to remove the fuse box and its wiring.

If there’s a fuse, you have disconnected the power by pulling the fuse out of the circuit. Check if something electrical stops working - alarm, shower, cooker, immersion heater, whatever’s on the other side of the wall, loft lights?

Maybe the fuse is there but has already fused, in which case you may want to find or purchase a replacement of the same rating, and find out what electrical thing started working! The fuse rating is written in faint text on the side of the cylinder. If the replace with a higher rated fuse, you allow things to happen in the device that someone thought shouldn’t happen and could blow the fuse to prevent damage or injury. If you replace with a lower rated fuse you risk it going in normal use, i.e. too frequently.

MindTraveller@lemmy.ca on 18 Aug 2024 08:31 collapse

Make sure the screwdriver has a plastic or rubber grip lmao

davidagain@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 17:09 next collapse

Agreed. Always best to use an insulated screwdriver with anything near live electricity.

In this case, if the fusebox is manufactured correctly, there should be very little risk indeed, but you can’t be sure that some unscrupulous corporation made something that disintegrates or weirdly exposes live connections where it absolutely needn’t. It doesn’t look super well made because the little tray for the fuse should be flush with the front of the plate and not recessed like that!

eclipse@lemmy.world on 19 Aug 2024 12:53 collapse

I’d probably turn off the power first especially if I didn’t already know what was behind it and whether it is properly grounded.

palordrolap@fedia.io on 18 Aug 2024 12:11 next collapse

This panel has a distinctly UK look about it, and I was already thinking that before I read your confirmation. I think only the UK and Ireland use things that look even remotely like this. The rounded appearance also puts it post-war, pre-1980-something because everything changed to be more flat around that time.

As for its purpose, would a bathroom be at the other side of that wall, by any chance? Or was it at some point in the house's history? Heated towel rail is a good bet, for example. You don't want anything vaguely like an outlet in the bathroom (shaver sockets notwithstanding), so wall panels tend to go in a neighbouring hallway or room.

Note that some bathrooms have the light switch on the outside for similar reasons. Others have a pull cord inside the room, which is less able to cause electrocution.

(If you know of a bathroom with a regular light switch inside it, you've found a room that was once something other than a bathroom and whoever remodelled didn't finish the job properly. Or maybe it's in a very badly built house.)

OfCourseNot@fedia.io on 18 Aug 2024 12:33 next collapse

This is a fuse box, with a flathead you should be able to open it and/or pull a small tray with the fuse itself inside. You Brits do your electrical wiring with ring-shaped circuits and put a fuse in every outlet.

This kind of outlet is intended for things you don't unplug and a socket doesn't make sense, usually boilers, ovens, stoves, ACs, alarm systems as already commented...

MojoMcJojo@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 17:07 next collapse

I showed chatgpt the picture and it was close to what others on here said.

“The image shows a fused spur or a fused connection unit (FCU). This type of electrical outlet is used to protect appliances that are permanently connected to the electrical supply without a standard plug, such as heaters, ovens, or lighting circuits.”

Then I asked what country this is most likely to have this in a home

“The fused spur or fused connection unit (FCU) in the image is most commonly found in homes in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This type of electrical fitting is a standard feature in these countries, where it is used for appliances that need to be hardwired into the electrical system, such as water heaters, ovens, or extractors. It may also be found in other countries that follow British electrical standards, but the UK and Ireland are the most likely.”

I thought that was interesting and wanted to share.

PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 17:48 collapse

Wait, the UK wires their ovens and stoves directly into the wall without a plug?

Hellinabucket@lemmy.world on 18 Aug 2024 20:56 collapse

Generally yeah, it’s not that uncommon in some builds of the US for ovens and dishwashers to be hard wired.

gens@programming.dev on 18 Aug 2024 22:19 collapse

Same in Croatia for ovens. Usually 3 phase.

recapitated@lemmy.world on 19 Aug 2024 02:01 collapse

Pluggin’