The reason for the UK triangle is that the orientation is set, so you know which... | Hacker News

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		excuse-me on May 29, 2012 \| parent \| context \| favorite \| on: The Mu - Folding UK 3-pin → USB plug The reason for the UK triangle is that the orientation is set, so you know which of the supply wires is live and which is neutral - and if the plug is half removed the top exposed pin is ground so if anything fell down onto the socket it wouldn't touch a hot pin Extreme I know - whoever designed the UK plug was obviously paranoid.

mahyarm on May 29, 2012 [–]

That would be solved by the 'polarlized' flat pins that the USA has, making the pins covered for part of the rod and making the grounding pin longer.

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