At the end of 1991, the Soviet Union ceased to exist. You can have different attitudes towards socialism and the peculiarities of life during this period, but, in fairness, not everything in the USSR was bad. Over the past three decades, a lot of water has flown under the bridge, and now we can objectively judge that it was still better in the "good old days" in the field of electrical engineering.
6. Fixed telephones
The so-called fixed telephony is rapidly being replaced by mobile communications. At the same time, however, stationary telephones still have a fairly large group of fans, which is not explained only by force of habit, but also by a number of advantages that this device has in comparison with a miniature mobile phone. For example, you can press a classic telephone receiver with your shoulder to your ear while talking, leaving your hands free.
Stationary telephones made in the USSR had a very durable plastic case, by their very appearance, Figure 1 inspired confidence and gave the impression of solidity. Therefore, it is no coincidence that retro models are now in steady demand.
5. External wiring
Another popular representative of the retro direction is the wiring made by twisted cable installed on ceramic insulators, Figure 2. Compared to modern gasket options, it is less laborious to implement and, due to its external design, significantly increases the level of fire safety. At the same time, such wiring becomes one of the elements of interior design and looks great in combination with wooden walls.
4. Plugs for electrical wiring
During the Soviet Union, almost the only means of protecting wiring from short circuits were plugs, Figure 3, into which a fuse was inserted. In its absence (and inserts also often became scarce), a thin wire-bug was screwed onto the thread.
Yielding to modern automatic machines in terms of protection efficiency and usability, traffic jams, however, are noticeable surpass them in reliability, since they have no moving elements and there is simply nothing in them break. In addition, the materials from which they are made (ceramics and metal) are absolutely safe from a fire point of view.
3. Wiring execution
The power wiring in Soviet-built houses, if this house was not intended for the nomenclature, left much to be desired. Suffice it to recall the aluminum cables and the minimum number of sockets in the rooms. But it was carried out according to uniform approved rules and in compliance with the standards in terms of laying.
Now many companies and even private craftsmen who value their reputation, observe the current norms and work in this part in compliance with the established rules (an example of a project is shown in the figure 4). However, cases of their violation are becoming far from uncommon, which complicates repair.
2. Equipment power supplies
The power supply unit of a computer and other electronic equipment with direct current is a connecting link between power wiring and low-current circuits. Soviet electronic equipment was equipped with parametric stabilizers with a step-down transformer, an example of which is shown in Figure 5.
Switching power supplies, typical for modern equipment, noticeably surpass them in terms of efficiency and weight and dimensions, but due to the large number of parts they significantly lose in reliability. In addition, some cheap manufacturers from Southeast Asia ignore the problem of electromagnetic compatibility, as a result of which the interference that inevitably appears during the operation of the "impulse" negatively affects the other equipment.
1. Household electrical appliances
The Soviet designer of consumer goods in the process of their development had to take into account the narrowness of the range of components and a very wide range of their parameters. A typical remedy for these shortcomings is to introduce large inventories into the product. It is for this reason that unsightly-looking domestic electrical appliances such as a hair dryer, an electric meat grinder and even ordinary tee-splitter, unless they broke very quickly, became practically "eternal" and passed from one generation to another.
Conclusion
The examples cited clearly show that in some ways the products of the Soviet electrical industry were superior to modern products. And it is precisely these qualities of grandmother's products, primarily in terms of reliability, that I would like to see in modern technology.