2-pin adapter

[morqthana]

What I don't know is how people get away with selling products without either a UK plug or an adapter - I thought there was a law about that.

UK consumer protection legislation allows for shavers, electric toothbrushes and similar personal hygiene products to be supplied with a Europlug as an alternative to the BS 4573 plug.

 

[Collectors]

The reason for many item with 2 pin plugs "read the instructions" is to use them via a bathroom shaver point to prevent electric shocks in these types of rooms/environments with water/dampness present. This type of socket has a safety isolating transformer so it doesn't give out direct electric & works on an inductive field. This is why you can only plugin low powered things like a shaver/toothbrush. But yes you could use a 13amp plug with a 3A fuse for areas outside the bathroom.

 

[SUNRAY]

Quite honestly I'm totally confused by that whole post. What are you trying to say?

 

[plugwash]

What I don't know is how people get away with selling products without either a UK plug or an adapter - I thought there was a law about that.

There is, the "plugs and sockets safety regulations 1992". This is split into two parts Part 1 revolves around techincal details of plugs and sockets, while part 2 is about requiring appliances to be fitted with plugs.

part 1 excludes

Any non–rewirable or any moulded–on Europlug (that is to say any plug conforming with BS EN 50075) which is designed for the purpose of connecting to a shaver supply unit conforming to BS 3535: Part 1 any electrical shaver, toothbrush or similar appliance; and for the purposes of this paragraph the expression “shaver supply unit” shall have the meaning given to it in BS 3535: Part 1.

I can't find anything in part 2 excluding explicilty exclusing bathroom appliances but the applicability section of part 2 does say.

11.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, this Part applies to any appliance which–

(a)is designed to operate at a voltage of not less than 200 volts; and

(b)is designed to operate at a maximum rated input of not more than 13 amperes; and

(c)is either–

(i)equipment which is fitted with a flexible cable or cord, is designed to be connected to a socket conforming to BS 1363 by means of that flexible cable or cord and a plug and is ordinarily intended to be so connected directly without the use of a cable connector; or

(ii)a flexible cable or cord which is connected to a portable socket or portable sockets and is designed to be connected to a socket conforming to BS 1363 by means of a plug; or

(iii)a flexible cable or cord which is designed to be connected to electrical equipment by means of an appliance coupler and to connect that electrical equipment to a socket conforming to BS 1363 by means of a plug; or

(iv)a flexible cable or cord which is designed to be connected by means of a cable connector to a flexible cable or cord fitted to electrical equipment, and which is intended to connect that electrical equipment to a socket conforming to BS 1363 by means of a plug; and

(d)is ordinarily intended for domestic use.

(2) This Part does not apply to any appliance specified in Schedule 3 to these Regulations.

So stuff is only required to be fitted with a BS1363 plug (or conversion plug) if it's "intended for connection to a BS1363 socket".

I guess shaver/toothbrush manufacturers would claim their devices are primarily intended to be connected to shaver supply units rather than BS1363 sockets, so are outside of the scope of part 2.

"ordinarily intended for domestic use" also seems like a pretty big hole.

 

[morqthana]

Quite honestly I'm totally confused by that whole post. What are you trying to say?

 

[AndyPRK]

I think this is what you requested.

2 pin top and bottom.
Looks like it will do shaver and euro.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/197974128844?var=497206186050

If you buy one, let me know(what you think). I was tempted to get one for the Xmas decorations.

 

[Collectors]

I think this is what you requested.

2 pin top and bottom.
Looks like it will do shaver and euro.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/197974128844?var=497206186050

If you buy one, let me know(what you think). I was tempted to get one for the Xmas decorations.

Well done, very unusual to see these adapters with a fuse, many dont & would mean a lot of tooth brushes & shavers backed up buy a 32A fuse & both would lose as they only want a 3A fuse.

 

[SUNRAY]

I think this is what you requested.

2 pin top and bottom.
Looks like it will do shaver and euro.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/197974128844?var=497206186050

I see it claims to be CE marked, I'll assume it's the Chinese Exemption with the non shuttered holes

The description says protected by 13A fuse. EDIT: Ah description s for 3x 13A sockets

If you buy one, let me know(what you think). I was tempted to get one for the Xmas decorations.

Likewise It would be useful to know the dimensions of the round 3 pin socket, if fits 15A BS546 I'd probably get some.

 

[SUNRAY]

View attachment 419324

Thank you.
I confess initially I took it to mean shaking his head at the correct explanation.

 

[plugwash]

Likewise It would be useful to know the dimensions of the round 3 pin socket, if fits 15A BS546 I'd probably get some.

Looking at the pictures the pin spacing of the round pin socket is clearly slightly smaller than that of the rectangular pin socket. Assuming that the rectangular pin socket is BS1363 that would suggest that the round pin socket is a 5A BS546 (aka Indian).

 

[SUNRAY]

Looking at the pictures the pin spacing of the round pin socket is clearly slightly smaller than that of the rectangular pin socket. Assuming that the rectangular pin socket is BS1363 that would suggest that the round pin socket is a 5A BS546

Yes I think so too.

(aka Indian).

Funnily enough I find more refer to the larger size as Indian, when devices come with multiple IEC mains leads they never include the 5A size. I don't try to use the larger from that source any more as I find they are very tight in BS546 15A sockets (particularly 2 way Grelco's).

Indian sockets are currently rated at 6 & 16A and I wondered if they are different dimensions.

 

[plugwash]

Indian sockets are currently rated at 6 & 16A and I wondered if they are different dimensions.

My understanding is that an indian 6A socket is essentially a 5A BS546 socket and an Indian 16A socket is essentially a 15A BS546 socket. The current ratings were presumably tweaked to line up with IEC standards. I wonder if other things were tweaked too.

I was under the impression that the smaller 5A/6A size was more associated with India, while the larger 15A/16A size was more associated with south africa but perhaps I was mistaken, or perhaps that was old info and the larger size has become more common in India in recent decades. I just looked up an indian power cord on farnell and it was listed with a rating of 16A. The dimensional drawing showed L-N pin centers consistent with the 15A BS546. It showed a diagonal from L/N to E of 28.6mm, comparing to the BS546 figures I suspect this is most likely a drawing error and they intended to draw a perpendicular distance of 28.6mm which would be consistent with the 15A plug.

 

[SUNRAY]

My understanding is that an indian 6A socket is essentially a 5A BS546 socket and an Indian 16A socket is essentially a 15A BS546 socket

I've never looked at spec's or measured anything but they feel the same and they have always worked properly but having to prise them apart with a screwdriver is not a good situation.

The current ratings were presumably tweaked to line up with IEC standards. I wonder if other things were tweaked too.

I was under the impression that the smaller 5A/6A size was more associated with India, while the larger 15A/16A size was more associated with south africa but perhaps I was mistaken, or perhaps that was old info and the larger size has become more common in India in recent decades. I just looked up an indian power cord on farnell and it was listed with a rating of 16A.

I agree South Africa at 16A. A very quick google for Indian plug seems to show around 50:50 so I'll guess they use both, just as we did in the days of Fred Flintstone... Oh except 5 & 15A are still very much in use in some situations

The dimensional drawing showed L-N pin centers consistent with the 15A BS546. It showed a diagonal from L/N to E of 28.6mm, comparing to the BS546 figures I suspect this is most likely a drawing error and they intended to draw a perpendicular distance of 28.6mm which would be consistent with the 15A plug.

Instantly there's a rounding error, miniscule but there.
Original dimension

Current dimension

I've just done a google and found a selection of dimension charts with small variations but the earth pin offset really screams out,

 

[AndyPRK]

The picture suggests it has a 13A fuse.
I would probably lower to 7A myself

 

[morqthana]

Not seen that style. Ever.

I haven't seen mine for a while, but I am confident that I haven't thrown it away.

I have one 13A fused plug style with a 5A on the 'face', and two 2A 2-pins either side, exactly as you describe. Likely over 50 years old (and unsleeved 13A pins, and no shutters of course - how did we not kill ourselves in those days?).
Now where exactly did I last see it?

Mine definitely had a 13A on the face. Shutters & sleeved pins? Can't remember.

But given its age the 2pin sockets would have been for BS546 shaver plugs, not CEE 7/16 Europlugs.