Continental iron wiring

[shipwreck]

Working away I came home to find My wife had bought a lightweight Cont.iron from a car boot with a two pin plug.
My son promptly cut off the plug and rewired a UK 3 pin in it's place.
Coming home I promptly put a RCD adapter in to ensure safety but;
Can you just rewire a two pin plug with it seems no earth wire to a UK pin plug safely?
Seem to remember in the old days my Mother hooking the iron up to the light socket!
Is it safe/legal to do so.
Appreciate the help if you can.
Thanks

 

[foxhole]

If it's designed without an earth then it's not required.Not unique many UK appliances are the same.

 

[kbdiy]

Continental? Is it rated at 240v? Personally I'd chuck it away before it fries someone.

 

[Burnerman]

Often the continental stuff has an earth tag, rather than an actual prong....
did the original flex have two or three cores?
John

 

[HERTS P&D]

Seem to remember in the old days my Mother hooking the iron up to the light socket!
Is it safe/legal to do so.

DON'T HOOK IT UP TO THE LIGHT SOCKET!!!!!!

Andy

 

[shipwreck]

Many thanks for the fast replies
First I won't let her put it in a light socket! and it must be rated 240V as it worked fine my wife said with a shaver socket before my sons got a hold of it!
Two wires Brown and Blue,I hooked them up and switched on,no sign of any problems it heated up ok,as it was a moulded plug Sonny boy just snipped it off so I don't know where the prongs went.
Problem is Wife has severe Rheumatoid Athritis and this iron is so light she would like to keep it.
I may ditch it but I thank you all again for the quick replies,very helpful'
Nice to know there is a place for help when needed.
Cheers
Shipwreck

 

[Burnerman]

Two wires means the appliance is double insulated, and will probably display the appropriate symbol somewhere which is two squares - one inside the other.
Getting more common these days, and the theory is that no metal part can come into contact in any way with anything live.
Personally, I like seeing an earth!
John