Plug sockets

[Sweet G]

Is it dangerous to have an empty plug socket with the ON switch turned on? Does it use up electricity?

I have a habit, whenever I see them, of turning switches off when there is nothing plugged into the socket.

Thanks

[Champagne]

It's not dangerous to leave it switched on, but it does waste a little bit of electricity. From an environmental perspective switching off plug sockets is certainly a good habit to get into. But the main thing you should look at is switching off items that go to 'standby' mode (TV's, computers etc.) as these waste considerable amounts of electricity. See the attached link for further information:-

http://generous.org.uk/actions/planetary/112/s witch-it-off-at-the-plug-dont-stand-by

[heathfield]

A curious idea - that a socket uses electricity if nothing's plugged into it. It doesn't.

The only danger from having the switch on might be if a toddler managed to push something metallic into the live side of the socket. Unlikely, since these days the holes are guarded by shutters. These only open when the earth pin on a plug is inserted.

[nightmare]

There is the very remote possibility that a suitably inventive toddler (if you have children, you will KNOW it's possible)
could get hold of a suitable implement, insert it in the earth orifice,thus displacing the protective shutter, and then stick a finger in the live..............

Simple rule -if there are young children in the house, fit covers (easily available) to EVERY unused socket.
Peace of mind is a wonderful thing.....

[Carol Anne]

In 25 years of nursing and health care work I cannot remember one single incident of a child injured by sticking its fingers in a wall socket. This of course was a very common hazard up until the 1970's when a lot of homes still had pre- war sockets with huge round apretures that even an adult could have inserted a digit with ease.
Now with modern shuttered outlets and RCD's in most homes electrical injuries are virtually unheard of.

[Sweet G]

Thanks Guys. Going back to Champagne's comment that it uses a little bit of electricity I have this weird theory that if you turn the switch on, even though the socket is empty, you are corraling a bit of electricity from the supply ready for use and thus incur some very small expense. Anything in that at all? Cheers

[heathfield]

Being pedantic, and splitting hairs to the nth degree, if you turn the switch on and off several times you will lose an infintesimally small amount of electricity that would take exceptionally precise scientific instruments to measure. Certainly, your electricity meter is utterly incabable of measuring this, so rest easy, Sweet G, your bill won't increase in any way.

[Champagne]

Heathfield is right, you would lose the tiniest amount of electricity, but not enough to make a noticeable difference to your electricity bill. But going back to my earlier statement, if you leave items on 'standby' then they use up electricity continually. The worst offenders are phone chargers being left plugged in when not in use. Get into the habit of switching these off at the plug and you will notice a difference in your bills.

If you're thinking about energy saving and doing your bit for the planet then you may also be interested to know that a lot of electricity escapes when it is transported from its source to your home. This is something that we pay for as well. Not that 'Green', eh?

But if you're thinking of electricity from a safety aspect, then you have nothing to worry about.

[Sweet G]

Many thanks.

[munchiepea]

just a little comment to add
did you know that if you put a 20p piece between the 3 pins on a plug,plug in and switch on, that you can blow an entire hairdressing and beauty section's electrics out at college!!
my husband did it in his youth, needless to say he got in big trouble and i don't condone this sort of behaviour at all!!
:-D x

[Teddio]

A three-pin socket uses no electrical energy whatsoever if switched on. (assuming it doesn't have a neon light connected) There is no complete circuit therefore no current can flow.
It's very bad practice though especially when connecting machine tools!