Universal adaptor with no earth

[FatallyFlawed]

Untitled

• FatallyFlawed
• 25 Aug 2012
• 1

A recent topic reminded me of this type of device, a universal adaptor which has no earth on the plug side (the UK "earth pin" is plastic] but which will allow earthed plugs (including UK plugs) to be inserted)into the socket.

This type is available at high street stores, including John Lewis http://www.johnlewis.com/231279817/Product.aspx

 

[ericmark]

I had a radio with a USA type two blade plug. Clearly to comply with UK marketing requirements where it must have a 13A plug an adaptor was supplied with it. The cable being designed for USA was very chunky and would take quite a high current but not the 32A available at my sockets.

Shown on right. Also

again no fuse. With these

one seems fused the other not but in fact even the one with a fuse did not have the fuse in line for all three outputs.

The fuse problem does raise the whole idea of a final ring circuit if we used 16A supplies like rest of Europe then not real problem.

The earth problem is also valid for MK sockets my daughter had a TV where earth pin was broken but it fitted in a MK socket with no problem.

There is nothing to stop these

Schuko plugs being put in a non earthed socket and it is common in Europe not to have earths on many sockets.

I really do think we are fighting a loosing battle. However with the RCD protection rules on all sockets is it really such a problem? That's why the Europeans can live with reversible non earthed sockets and plugs. Well before us they went to RCD protection on near every socket as so it is only the old houses in UK which have a problem.

Seems we can't beat them so must join them and insist on RCD protection on all sockets.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Or we could raise merry hell with the sellers.