David Looser wrote:

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
m...

David Looser wrote:

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote

Why should items intended for ESA
earth stations need to be inspected for US use?


Where did I say that they were?

Why mention that they weren't inspected for US use if they didn't need to
be?


The hardware had to be, no matter where it was shipped to. The power
wiring had to meet the standards of where it was shipped to.


And of course they are incompatible with the US market, they are meant
meant to be compatible with a European standard, wasn't that why the
ESA specified them?


Isn't that obvious? They wanted what they are used to using.

Well I thought it was obvious, why I why I queried the fact that you
apparently thought otherwise

I'm also confused by your reference to "foreign tourists", since when
have
tourists bought earth stations?


When have you ever seen brand new, custom built US $8,000,000 earth
stations for sale at a flea market? You are in such a hurry to find
fault that you don't bother to consider the meaning of the text.

I wasn't in a "hurry" to find fault at all. I actually spent some time
reading your post trying to decipher the meaning. But since what you wrote
was so vague and confused I asked for clarification of what you actually
meant.


In that case I apologize.


'Foreign tourists' here on vacation were buying them in Florida and
taking them to Europe because they were a lot cheaper than similar items
in the UK.

You are still being vague. What foreign tourists, and what were they buying?

And finally since when have socket outlets included voltmeters?


Since China sold them.

Well OK, I've never seen one. I doubt that they conform to UK standards.


They had UK outlets, and the 'voltmeter was about 1/2" * 3/4" like the
tiny VU meters that were popular 30 years ago in battery powered tape
recorders.


I could probably go to a flea market and
take a picture of one, if you need convinced that they exist. Even
then, you would probably claim they were fakes.

You appear to think that I am deliberately finding fault with your post. I'm
not, I'm simply asking for clarification of the meaning of your vague and
confused


There are too many sub threads in this thread to keep everything
straight Is my guess. I have had so many comments challenged by o
may different people that it's hard to keep them straight. I did put a
smiley at the end of that paragraph to show I was joking about not
believing a photo.


--
You can't have a sense of humor, if you have no sense.

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote

They had UK outlets, and the 'voltmeter was about 1/2" * 3/4" like the
tiny VU meters that were popular 30 years ago in battery powered tape
recorders.


Now that I *would* like to see a photo of, because I cannot imagine what
they look like from that description. Wherabouts on the socket faceplate is
the meter fitted? You say they have UK outlets, so why are they not
available here? Why would the Chinese make UK sockets and only sell them in
Florida? it makes no sense.

I'm also still puzzled by the claim that "tourists" are buying socket
outlets in flea markets in the US to bring home with them. Socket outlets
are simply far too cheap here to make it worth the bother and expense of
purchasing with foreign currency and then having to pack in one's
weight-limited luggage.

"Look what I've brought you as a souvenir of my holiday in Florida, its a
cheaply made Chinese copy of a BS1363 outlet",

I can't see it somehow!

David.

In article ,
says...


I'm also still puzzled by the claim that "tourists" are buying socket
outlets in flea markets in the US to bring home with them. Socket outlets
are simply far too cheap here to make it worth the bother and expense of
purchasing with foreign currency and then having to pack in one's
weight-limited luggage.


I would agree with that but then, 'tourists' are a peculiar breed! If
they've never looked further than the local High Street or shed they
might expect to pay around £5 (or more)

http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/electrica...hite-switches-
sockets/mk_white_range/MK-Double-Socket-White-13A-9289618

or http://tinyurl.com/7fkucwo

rather than a little over a pound:

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Elec...cessories/Cont
ractors+Twin+Switched+Socket+5+Pack+Single+Pole/d190/sd2633/p33287

or http://tinyurl.com/65bp6m7

although the price in dollars - $1.85 each - looks much higher.

How cheap do they need to be to persuade 'tourists' to buy them ...?


"Look what I've brought you as a souvenir of my holiday in Florida, its a
cheaply made Chinese copy of a BS1363 outlet",


Of course it is quite likely that many that are sold in the UK also
originate in China ...!

--

Terry

David Looser wrote:

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote

They had UK outlets, and the 'voltmeter was about 1/2" * 3/4" like the
tiny VU meters that were popular 30 years ago in battery powered tape
recorders.


Now that I *would* like to see a photo of, because I cannot imagine what
they look like from that description. Wherabouts on the socket faceplate is
the meter fitted? You say they have UK outlets, so why are they not
available here? Why would the Chinese make UK sockets and only sell them in
Florida? it makes no sense.

I'm also still puzzled by the claim that "tourists" are buying socket
outlets in flea markets in the US to bring home with them. Socket outlets
are simply far too cheap here to make it worth the bother and expense of
purchasing with foreign currency and then having to pack in one's
weight-limited luggage.


They were a dollar. This isn't the same as what I saw, but it will
give you some idea:
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/255041326/DZ_909A_6_way_power_outlet_with.jpg
since the meter was next to the power switch and cord.


"Look what I've brought you as a souvenir of my holiday in Florida, its a
cheaply made Chinese copy of a BS1363 outlet",

I can't see it somehow!

David.


--
You can't have a sense of humor, if you have no sense.

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
...


They were a dollar. This isn't the same as what I saw, but it will
give you some idea:
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/255041326/DZ_909A_6_way_power_outlet_with.jpg
since the meter was next to the power switch and cord.

Right. You started all this by refering to European sockets which had to be
installed in equipment racks. So I naturally assumed that you were talking
about UK specific installation sockets being sold in flea markets in the US.

But now I realise that you are talking about plug-in extention sockets, and
I notice from the photo that that one has "universal" sockets that will
accept US and a variety of European plugs as well as UK ones. Personally I
wouldn't touch one of those with a barge-pole. Those sort of "universal"
sockets rarely make good contact whilst the meter is clearly for show, it
would tell you nothing useful. I'm sure it would not be legal to sell those
here as the sockets appear not to have shutters, which probably explains why
I've not seen one.

David.

David Looser wrote:

But now I realise that you are talking about plug-in extention sockets, and
I notice from the photo that that one has "universal" sockets that will
accept US and a variety of European plugs as well as UK ones. Personally I
wouldn't touch one of those with a barge-pole.

You can get plastic barge poles nowadays.

Bill

David Looser wrote:

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
...


They were a dollar. This isn't the same as what I saw, but it will
give you some idea:
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/255041326/DZ_909A_6_way_power_outlet_with.jpg
since the meter was next to the power switch and cord.

Right. You started all this by refering to European sockets which had to be
installed in equipment racks. So I naturally assumed that you were talking
about UK specific installation sockets being sold in flea markets in the US.

But now I realise that you are talking about plug-in extention sockets, and
I notice from the photo that that one has "universal" sockets that will
accept US and a variety of European plugs as well as UK ones. Personally I
wouldn't touch one of those with a barge-pole. Those sort of "universal"
sockets rarely make good contact whilst the meter is clearly for show, it
would tell you nothing useful. I'm sure it would not be legal to sell those
here as the sockets appear not to have shutters, which probably explains why
I've not seen one.


I wouldn't touch one, even if I needed the voltmeter.

--
You can't have a sense of humor, if you have no sense.

In article ,
Michael A. Terrell wrote:

They were a dollar. This isn't the same as what I saw, but it will
give you some idea:
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/255041326/DZ_909A_6_way_power_outlet_with.jpg
since the meter was next to the power switch and cord.

That's what we'd call a trailing socket. To be used with an extension
lead. I thought you meant permanently installed sockets. But perhaps you
can't tell the difference.

It look like it would also accept other than the UK 13 amp plug - which is
why some tourists might buy it. It doesn't conform to UK regs.

--
*Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

In article ,
Michael A. Terrell wrote:

They were a dollar. This isn't the same as what I saw, but it will
give you some idea:
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/255041326/DZ_909A_6_way_power_outlet_with.jpg
since the meter was next to the power switch and cord.

That's what we'd call a trailing socket. To be used with an extension
lead. I thought you meant permanently installed sockets. But perhaps you
can't tell the difference.



Perhaps you just like to start fights. We wanted to use Wiremold
Plugmold type steel power strips made for relay racks, but the ESA
wanted individual outlets mounted on metal boxes inside the racks which
wasted a lot of space so we used what they shipped us.


It look like it would also accept other than the UK 13 amp plug - which is
why some tourists might buy it. It doesn't conform to UK regs.


I never said it did. That's why I thought that it was funny to see
them buy a bunch of them, and walk away like they had won a huge prize.


--
You can't have a sense of humor, if you have no sense.

In article , Michael A.
Terrell wrote:



They were a dollar. This isn't the same as what I saw, but it will
give you some idea:
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/255041326/DZ_909A_6_way_power_outlet_with.jpg
since the meter was next to the power switch and cord.

as someone has said, must have been designe for the Hong Kong market.

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.16