[drbawb]

>I guess you need a beefier cable/pins in the US, as you're drawing more current at a lower voltage.

No, we just accept slow-as-piss kettles.[1] (Our plugs aren't great, either, it's pretty common for a spark to jump the gap of the leads while you're plugging it in.)

High wattage appliances here have an effective max of like 1.8kW on a single-phase 120V outlet, it makes for pretty useless space heaters and kettles. You could probably beat our kettles with an induction cooktop just by virtue of the stove being able to use two phases.

Truly it's a tragedy for those of us addicted to our hot beverages.

[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yMMTVVJI4c

[dylan604]

>it's pretty common for a spark to jump the gap of the leads while you're plugging it in.

how are you plugging it in? Are you plugging the mains end into the wall before you plug the kettle end? That's truly bizarre to me, and goes against everything

[mplewis9z]

> it's pretty common for a spark to jump the gap of the leads while you're plugging it in

If you’re referring to seeing a spark while plugging something in, that’s just current jumping from the socket to the pin that’s entering it - it’s nowhere near possible for current to jump between the pins on a single plug (in air, at least). The distance between pins was specifically designed to prevent that possibility at the given voltages.

Not saying our plugs aren’t poorly designed, just that that’s not one of their problems.

[overstay8930]

> it's pretty common for a spark to jump the gap of the leads while you're plugging it in

Do you live underwater?

[wrs]

Indeed, our new cooktop in “power boost” mode boils water ridiculously fast. Our kettle is embarrassed.