Specmaster, Mr. Scram, you've covered all points regarding different mains plug in common and the Schuko/Euro plug in special.
Again, there isn't really a live pin as such with a schuko socket. You could argue that a system with always the same live pin is more predictable, but the problem is that not all sockets are wired correctly, causing potentially dangerous situation because fuses or switches will not be behaving as expected. The Schuko plug eliminates any uncertainty by declaring both pins potentially live, thus also eliminating the risks associated with erroneously wired sockets.
That's it. And that can lead to unwanted/dangerous situations using equipment one being unaware of it missing basic safety requirements.
About two years ago I had fun with a switchable multiple socket outlet for connecting my test equipment to the mains.
I used its switch for cutting off mains due to energy costs: A counter and a function generator had OCXOs and drew current all the time even switched off with their on/off switch.
One day (I was in another room) all of a sudden mains power was cut off due to fuse tripping. A 16A automatic fuse had tripped.
![Huh? ???](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/huh.gif)
When I went to the fuse box I came along the door of the room with my bench in it and I noticed a very strange, burnt smell. I opened the door and the whole room was filled with white smoke that burnt my eyes!
![Shocked :o](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/shocked.gif)
What had happened? The switch of the switchable multiple socket outlet was only SP. (And I hadn't thought of and therefore hadn't checked it
![Face Palm :palm:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/facepalm.gif)
)
The function generator had a 'famous for inevitably failing' Schaeffer EMI mains filter socket built in.
In the way the Schuko plug of that the switchable multiple socket outlet was plugged its SP switch had opened neutral leaving the phase and protective earth connected.
That very day the EMI filters time had come. So it decided to fail between mains and protective earth blowing out as much magic smoke as it could. As this started slowly with increasing current it must have taken several minutes before the 16A automatic fuse tripped.
I was lucky it didn't start to burn seriously!
![Phew :phew:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/phew.gif)
The cleaning of that mess (I still use my HP 3325B, btw
![Smiley :)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
) took me uncounted hours of literally stripping it down to the last screw.
That switchable multiple socket outlet went to the garbage and was replaced with one of good quality that I checked positively to have a DP switch in it.
That incident brought me to check for DP mains switches in equipment connected to mains in my household regularly.
Back to the desoldering station: It contains a switching power supply that has semiconductors and capacitors on the hot side in a metal housing connected to protective earth. Using DP switching is simply safe(r) using the Schuko mains plug system. But I'm
![Popcorn :popcorn:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/EatingPopcorn.jpg)
One advantage of the UK plug seems to be the built in fuse, though that does of course require knowledge of what actually is the live side.
That could have shortened the time the EMI-filter blew out smoke.
![Roll Eyes ::)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/rolleyes.gif)
The safety shutters are also a distinct benefit, although it should be noted some variants of the Schuko also have these.
Safety shutters are built in every Schuko outlet sold in germany for years now. Older Schuko outlets came without safety shutters and there are still many around. That's the reason why safety shutters for retrofitting Schuko outlets are still being sold in numbers: Everytime a child is born the parents become aware of the possible dangers of playing around at mains outlets without safety shutters.
![Wink ;)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/wink.gif)