SAFETY ALERT Crazy Cameras

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This post is to warn people in the UK of the potentially dangerous electrical components supplied to me by the online trader CrazyCamera.Co.UK. If you have purchased any electrical equipment from this company which plugs into the United Kingdom 230V domestic electrical supply please read the following information very carefully and visit the ECS web site links at the bottom of this post.
In December 2009, after browsing the internet for a certain Christmas present, I ordered a Sony Digital Picture Frame from CrazyCameras.Co.UK. Like many others I was fooled by the apparent UK web site and placed an order without too much checking. When I didn’t receive a confirmation e-mail alarm bells rang and after reading other peoples experiences and reviews of this company I tried to cancel the order. CrazyCameras.Co.UK blocked and disregarded every attempt I made at cancellation and delivered the goods anyway all contrary to the Distance Selling Regulations 2000. I am still in negotiations with my credit card company and attempting to return the goods.
The goods I ordered were manufactured by the electronics company Sony who are a very reputable multinational company whose products can be relied upon to meet all the relevant safety standards in the country they are designed to operate in. However, when a product is manufactured for one country but then shipped to a different country technical incompatibility and safety issues will arise. The same safety concern exists for any manufacturers product not just Sony as in my case.

I am a qualified Electrical Engineer with over thirty five years experience in electronics and power engineering. I am professionally involved in the electrical safety of marine, industrial and domestic power systems. This knowledge enables me to recognise the very real danger CrazyCamera.Co.UK placed me in.

The item I ordered is designed for continuous unattended operation from a domestic mains supply and operates via the manufacturers power supply unit which is rated at 110-240 Volts AC. This component is perfectly acceptable and is CE certified for use in Europe.

However, as CrazyCamera.Co.UK have supplied a US version of the product the mains power lead in the Sony box is a US version rated at just 127 Volts AC. To enable customers to use the equipment in the UK CrazyCameras.Co.UK have placed a low cost travel adapter style plug in the outer packaging. I notice that in some of the few positive reviews about this company people comment on the ”handy adapter throw in”.

Electrical equipment supplied to the UK must meet a series of very stringent requirements and among these are The Plug and Socket Etc (Safety) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/1768). This legislation requires that all mains powered equipment supplied to the UK must be fitted with either:-

A standard UK 3 pin 13A plug complying with BS1363 containing a suitably rated fuse complying with BS 1362 or,

A conversion plug which completely encloses the non UK plug and is only removable by a tool. The conversion plug must comply with International Standard IEC 884-1 and contain a fuse to BS1362 and the whole assembly must be rated at least 230V AC.

The adapter and mains lead supplied to me by CrazyCamera.Co.UK fails to meet the above legislation in every respect. The use of the supplied components could lead to a situation where a simple fault in the power supply could cause an electrical fire in the lead as there is no protective fuse in the circuit. Additionally the use of a moulded US plug rated at 127V AC on a UK domestic supply of 230V AC could give rise to a fatal electric shock.
On 2nd January 2010 I advised CrazyCameras.Co.UK of my concerns but so far I have not received any response.

The items supplied to me by CrazyCamera.Co.UK cannot be safely used in the UK. I am very concerned that this company may have supplied similar components to other customers in the UK who may not realise the dangers involved. They too could be at serious risk of electrical fire or electrocution. I have alerted the UK Electrical Safety Council to this matter who have independently validated my concerns. They have supplied the following links to their web site and a specific leaflet which highlights the issues.
(unfortunately this site will not allow links as I'm a new poster)
the site is wwwDOTescDOTorgDOTuk and
wwwDOTescsafeshoppersguideDOTorgDOTuk



The Electrical Safety Council web site contains a wealth of information on general electrical safety and is well worth a look around. If you think you may have been supplied similar components please let me know and also contact your local Trading Standards Office for advice.

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www.escsafeshoppersguide.org.uk

Link for ease of use