We're getting ever closer to
wireless power, but without a doubt have many years of life with plugs ahead of us. It's a drag, but fancy concept receptacles help to make our tethered existences slightly more interesting. The
UK Folding Plug concept wowed us over the summer, and
Art Lebedev's Rozetkus power strip from a few years ago was great, but now his studio is taking us to a new dimension with the Rozetkus 3D socket. It looks like an unassuming and soothingly blue socket but, push the little button above, and it pops out like a Lemarchand box with openings (and, possibly, eternal damnation) on each face. No word on a possible release, but we're guessing manufacturers foreign and domestic are flooding Art's inbox right this very moment.
posted Nov 9th 2009 7:16AM
That's a really cool product idea but I'd still prefer to see some ground pins/connectors on the side plugs.
We've had these pretty much FOREVER in the UK!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-way-UK-AC-Power-adaptor-socket-plug-Splitter-BS1363-3_W0QQitemZ270457641972QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_TravelTickets_Accessories_RL?hash=item3ef8881bf4
Over here I've seen versions of this too for many many years.
Well its a damn site better looking that the generic multi plugs we get in the UK. Having it built into the wall instead is great for keeping things clean looking.
I'm not an expert on how electricity and electronic devices work.. but I've been using that type of plugs all my life and I've never missed the ground pins/connectors on the devices which don't require them.
From the picture it looks like you might not be able to plug the "large" connector in the side plugs, because they are too shallow.
errr, scratch that... I'm sleepy.. that didn't make much sense.
But you still might not be able to plug them in, because the holes might be smaller. I've encountered a few plugs with smaller holes..
Anyway, I'm sure they'd get them to the correct standards if they want to sell them in the EU.
@Anthony "We've had these pretty much FOREVER in the UK!" - No, this is a wall outlet that pops out to reveal 4 additional outlets when you need them and when you don't they retract back into the wall socket. Meanwhile your link is for a 3 outlet adapter that plugs into the wall outlet. They're not the same at all.
@Anthony: That's something different. This is (as far as I understand it) built into the wall (and can be released by the push of a button), and that I haven't seen before. And even if not, I think it looks pretty good.
Missed the push action too, that's clever, glad to see art lebedev isn't starting to fail :)
And continues to mock the worlds big companies with high-priced engineers failing to think up simple effective solutions when art lebedev seems to do it easily.
A nice idea - especially if fitted on an interior, plasterboard wall. In the majority of installations I suspect a fair bit of work is required to chisel out the blockwork / brickwork / wood behind the socket in order to accommodate the huge 3d socket!
I wonder though if something like this actually fits. The maximum debt of the box in the wall is in the Netherlands 70 mm which is plenty with a normal power outlet together with some wiring behind it. But with this you need a lot more space behind it as well how does the folding mechanism behave with the wiring behind it. I can imagine wires shooting loose out of their sockets after repeadet usage. In the end.. nice concept though not viable I think with the present regulations. Not to mention if it´s actually possible to get this poweroutlet actually certified ...
@JZ: exactly - I don't think that I like the long-term viability of high-voltage contacts and the stress on moving bits.
Reakt, you do realize that anyone who can afford to purchase Art Lebedev designs are not concerned with the cost of an electrician installing it?
It looks cool, but I bet it won't be so cool after the fuses blow or the thing melts because you drew to much power...
(No, you can not plug in three Maingear SHIFTs into one of those)
Yeah, I was just going to say...my first reaction is "DO WANT", but then I realize I live in a 125-year-old house with an ancient electrical system that has more 2-prong outlets than 3-prong. I ain't plugging five of anything into a socket around here, even a really cool socket.
Wow that's worse than me, that least my spam comments are relevant
err.. that was a reply, but the original comment has been deleted.
More Plugs != More Power. And to wire these to code I wonder if they have to count that one plug as five? O_o
Nice idea.
Coming to shelves near you in 2012 for 400$. Stay tuned.
I hope it's before Dec 21st, 2012....
This is very new and interesting.
While I guess nobody cares if you electrocute yourself in Russia plugging grounded plugs into non-grounded sockets, fortunately most civilized countries have regulations for that.
For the sides therefore you wouldn't be allowed to have a receptacle that can take full-size Schuko plugs, but in fact you'd need to have hexagonal Europlug sockets that are *meant* for non-grounded devices and don't allow for deadly mistakes.
But then again this proposed retractable socket won't fit inside the standard round pattresses used across Europe anyway, so we'll stay safe and get to keep our money, too.
I guess you have no idea how European plugs work, that plug is grounded. If you actually used your eyes and brain you'd realize this.
@Dmitri: Sure I know how the plugs on my walls work :)
The front plug yes, that one is grounded. But the side plugs aren't.
That's simply because the cube-style device isn't large enough to accomodate the full socket. And that's why they'd need to be hexagonal Europlugs, not these ground-less Schuko variety we see in the photos. That used to be common in some countries but in most places has been outlawed as it should have been
I live in Poland and I have no idea what are those hexagonal Europlugs you speak of. There are generally speaking three types of power plugs I have in my house: round one with ground, round one without ground, slim one without ground. Any of the three types can be (physically, though is inadvisable if the device needs ground) plugged into any of the sockets on this outlet.
5 socket plug eh? Did I ever tell you my plan to do a better version than 6-minute abs?
No! No, no, not 6! I said 5. Nobodys comin up with 6.
Who works out in 6 minutes? You wont even get your heart goin, not
even a mouse on a wheel.
5s the key number here. Think about it. man, thats the number. 5 chipmunks twirlin on a
branch, eatin lots of sunflowers on my uncles ranch. You know
that old childrens tale from the sea. Its like youre dreamin
about Gorgonzola cheese when its clearly Brie time, baby. Step
into my office.
Ted: Why?
Hitchhiker: Cause youre f***in fired!
lololololol,
Classic.
What d'ya mean we're getitng *closer* to wireless power? We've had wireless power for a century!
http://scottthong.files.wordpress.com/2006/12/coil.jpg
... Just a hair less safe than the wired alternative!!
Talkinga bout multiple plug, I have to say that's one of the nice thing I found when coming to Switzerland : given the shape of the plug, most walls outlet have 3 plugs
cf http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__XCX8LPou5c/ScFVubChCUI/AAAAAAAAAUo/rJP9e6ebTg4/s320/IMG_2881.JPG
"No word on a possible release, but we're guessing manufacturers foreign and domestic are flooding Art's inbox right this very moment."
Actually, thanks to this post, some factory in China already started making them. :p
For some reason I believe this thing is going to be more expensiver than get 4 more sockets on the wall....
"push the little button above, and it pops out like a Lemarchand box with openings (and, possibly, eternal damnation) on each face."
What's your pleasure, sir?
If you go more than 3-way, don't some of the plugs have to be off-center or oriented diagonally so they don't intersect/collide inside?
Actually, this has been done, and in a better way (in my humble opinion):
http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Letout-Outlet-concept/344045
...and it already won the 2009 Reddot Award
Pretty crappy design IMHO, it won't fit the standard wall boxes and also will probably not confirm to wiring regulations in Europe due to the moving parts.
Looks like they took there colour cues from the Wii
I've had such an extension to a regular socket for years...
Does it come with a fire extinguisher?
Communist non-grounded socket.
Do not want.
in addition to all of the above you will have 5 power cables plugged into the wall (i kinda prefer to hide them under the desk, he he)
plus: to have fun with outlets/sockets? perhaps you've got nothing else to do.
"designer"? yes. useful? no.
Ummm how different is this from something like this other than having 2 more outlets?
http://www.jascoproducts.com/products/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=238&idcategory=32
I'm almost 30 and I've seen these around since I was a kid in my house