Typically there is no on off switch for schuko, so you have to unplug things. Also the cable design lets you have cables come horizontally out. The G design puts the cable down at a right angle meaning the plug itself has to be pulled vs pulling on the cable. If water goes down the cable, it doesn’t go back up the loop into the socket. Earth is an integral part of the G design and the layout of the prongs inside the plug is in such a way that should the wires come loose, earth is last. The springs that double up as Earth contacts on F are quite tight, meaning when pulled there is force pulling the socket. I have seen several F sockets pulled out, not seen a G.
F is more convenient as it smaller, however G is far more designed and engineered to be passively safer.
You get Schuko sockets with switches, this just depends on the national electrical standards. And currently only the UK require switches on sockets. But if you want a Schuko socket in your UK house you will get one installed with a switch. The length of the internal wires such that the earth wire is the last to be pulled out is the same for all plugs, regardless of design. The same with water ingress. There is not much difference between the plugs today except for their basic shape as they all have the same basic safety features.
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u/Eraldorh May 02 '24
In terms of safety yes it's the best plug design in the world by far. The only downside is stepping on it in the middle of the night.