Changing dodgy Chinese plub on power adapter

[MarkGolf]

Hi Guys,

I need a variable voltage power adapter to control the speed of a 12v 10w 3a fan.

So I bought one of these adapters off ebay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313525220556?var=612357859429

When it turned up, it had one of those chinese plugs on, not fused.

I've chopped it off and it's a twin core, not the meatiest of wires.

Am I OK to buy a fused UK plug and fix it to my adapter even though it is not internally earth to the top pin?

Thanks

 

[sxturbo]

Yes that's fine.

No higher than a 3 amp fuse.

There is a lot of equipment these days that don't have an earth to the top pin. Usually the too pin is plastic if no earth. But it's no bither

 

[securespark]

Those leads have a much reduced CSA. Maybe a 1A fuse would be safer?

Please mangle that plug before disposing of it so it cannot be plugged in.

 

[plugwash]

The manufacturer has clearly chosen a plug that does not follow BS1363

The manufacturer has clearly also used a flex that is far smaller than any standard size of mains flex and has non-standard color codes.

You can replace the substandard plug and you can mitigate the small flex by fitting the replacement plug with a 1A fuse.

But I still wouldn't be comfortable using the device. If they are ignoring basic highly visible stuff like design of the plug and size of the flex, then what else are they ignoring? do the insulation barriers between input and output meet safety standards? do the plastics have adequate flame retardants? There is no real way to tell!

 

[bernardgreen]

I would suggest checking there are no active components inside that plug.

Continuity checks between the wires and pins should show zero resistance between (1) Red and Live and (2) Black and Neutral

If there are any components in that plug then replacing it with a normal plug is not an option.

 

[SUNRAY]

I would suggest checking there are no active components inside that plug.

Continuity checks between the wires and pins should show zero resistance between (1) Red and Live and (2) Black and Neutral

If there are any components in that plug then replacing it with a normal plug is not an option.

Yep, I found one with a bridge rectifier not long ago. It was actually a small PCB moulded against the L&N pins with surface mount diodes

 

[Old Salt]

I wouldn't be happy using that plub

 

[SUNRAY]

I wouldn't be happy using that plub

I reckon Blup of this very parish would agree.

 

[mattylad]

Given the plug, the wires being absent of a lot of copper - I would be rather concerned about the quality of the rest of this bit of kit.

 

[thetman]

Its great how on the eBay sales page, all the photos have the plug top edited out of the image.

Really wish trading standards had more power over these sellers.

 

[winston1]

Too late now you have cut the plug off but I would have claimed on ebay. Most get your money back and would not want the item returned.

 

[JohnW2]

Really wish trading standards had more power over these sellers.

They have adequate 'power', but not the time or resources to exercise it very widely or adequately.

In fact, it should not really get as far as being a Trading Standards issue, since (like so many things) it represents an illegal import which should have been (but wasn't) intercepted 'at the border'.

Kind Regards, John