In most cases, however, everything is exactly as it should be - a functioning protective mechanism on sockets. Since it can sometimes be very difficult and annoying to unlock socket strips with increased contact protection (socket strips with shutter), here is a simple trick to solve the problem.
What does increased contact protection for socket outlets mean?
How does a socket outlet with contact protection work?
The touch protection used in brennenstuhl® products is based on the use of plastic sliders that close the openings to the contacts of the socket. This type of protection is referred to by brennenstuhl® as integrated protection.
Integrated contact protection - quality assurance and testing at brennenstuhl®
When a brennenstuhl® product is certified by appropriate test houses, the integrated contact protection is of course also checked. For example, during quality assurance, a 1mm wire is used to check whether protection against access to dangerous parts is guaranteed. Plugs are also plugged in and unplugged thousands of times. The increased protection against accidental contact must withstand these plugging processes undamaged.
Is increased protection against accidental contact necessary for socket outlets and socket strips?
The use of electrical energy is becoming increasingly safe due to technical progress. Statistics show that the number of fatal electrical accidents is continuously decreasing. Nevertheless, accidents involving electricity still occur in German households, some of them fatal in the worst case. For this reason, one should not dispense with the fuse or the contact protection on sockets and under no circumstances should one attempt to remove it oneself.
People and animals can come into dangerous contact with electrical energy from everyday power sources. The danger comes not only from electrical devices, but especially from the source of the electrical current: sockets. This does not only refer to sockets in the wall of the house. The plug locations installed in socket strips, cable drums or extension cables should also be safe, as they are often placed in an easily accessible location. For example, on the floor. This poses a danger especially to pets and small children.
If an electric shock actually occurs, this can be a massive strain on the body and lead to various consequential damages. Not every electric shock is automatically fatal, but you should still be aware of the danger. Therefore, one should always assume that every electric shock, no matter how small, is dangerous, directly or indirectly, because anyone who stands on the ladder, for example, during contact with electricity, could fall and be seriously injured due to the shock.
The plug does not go into the socket - So what to do if the increased contact protection gets stuck?
The contact protection mechanism used by brennenstuhl® blocks if the plug is not put on correctly - After all, that is exactly the purpose it is supposed to fulfil. So how does it work correctly? Only if the same amount of pressure is applied to the plastic slides with both plug pins at the same time, the protective mechanism opens and the electrical appliance can be plugged in. If you have a problem again and a plug does not go into the socket properly, you can make sure that it is inserted as straight as possible and as sensitively as possible. A little pressure is needed, but one thing is clear: if the mechanism is blocked, please do not use force when plugging in an electrical appliance. A damaged contact guard is itself a source of danger.