France - sockets

[Nijinski001]

My friend is wiring a socket in a utility room in france and has called me to ask a question.

The socket has no markings on it to indicate the polarity. Which way around should the hot (He's American) and neutral be wired?

 

[plugwash]

i belive the standard is N on the left and L on the right but i'm not sure on that and i also have got the impression the french aren't too bothered about getting it consistant.

remember unearthed french sockets and all german sockets are unpolarised so european equipment has to be designed to be safe with live and neutral either way round (we brits are an exception because we have a single pole protective device in our plugs to allow for our generally higher current cuircuit).

 

[Nijinski001]

So does a converter plug compensate for the polarity reverse when using British appliances in Europe?

 

[JohnD]

No, polarity reversal requires a blue box as well.

 

[plugwash]

So does a converter plug compensate for the polarity reverse when using British appliances in Europe?

no it doesn't but the plug fuse isn't nessacery with european wiring practice due to thier lower current cuircuits so its not a huge problem (though not ideal either) if it ends up in the neutral.