European Electrical Items (2 Pin Plugs)

fleetingmind

I recently bought a Samsung 1Tb Story Station Hard Drive on Amazon for a very good price.

The item though was shipped form Germnay and came with just a 2 pin plug cable that then connects to the power supply box that then conencts to the hard drive.

Is there an adapter you can buy and is it safe to run it off the mains in the UK? I will be copying things to it at night so ob don't want it getting faulty then.

Thanks.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

is this what you are looking for?




Shaver/toothbrush adaptor, easily obtained locally.

Inactive

Or this;

http://www.chsinteractive.co.uk/electrical-components/electrical-accessories/plug-tops-plug-in-european-converters-2-pin-to-uk-13amp-plug/full-range-european-converter-plugs/european-converter-plug-cp1-screw-converts-2-pin-euro-plug-uk-mains-plug-3amp-fused-black.htm

kwikbreaks

Or cut off the Euro plug and fit a UK one.

Most suppliers include a converter or adapter in the box though - are you certain there isn't something in there?

shaun_from_Africa

You might be better off cutting off the 2 pin plug and fitting a standard 3 pin UK plug. (the 2 pin plug isn't fused, nor will the adaptor have a fuse).

Just for info, it is now illegal to sell a mains powered electrical item in the UK unless it is fitted with an approved (3 pin) fused plug. (the only exceptions being shavers and similar bathroom items designed to be plugged into a 2 pin shaver supply socket)

[Deleted User]

Hi,

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

You might be better off cutting off the 2 pin plug and fitting a standard 3 pin UK plug.

only thing with that is if something goes wrong with HD after you have changed the plug.

I did it with a electric toothbrush from Lidl that stopped working after about 6 months and had to be binned, as couldn't take it back.

kwikbreaks

I'd still have taken it back.

Returns on something shipped from Germany are going to be problematic anyway.

Two pin adapters are usually fused though (unless they are the cheap tat you get with a HongKong eBay purchase).

googler

[Deleted User] wrote:

only thing with that is if something goes wrong with HD after you have changed the plug.

I did it with a electric toothbrush from Lidl that stopped working after about 6 months and had to be binned, as couldn't take it back.

I hope this means the 3-pin plug was on a charger that was plugged in somewhere remote from the bathroom....

googler

Anyone know if Germany also uses a 240v supply?

ManAtHome

If the 2-pin lead pugs into the power block, you should be able to get a replacement 3-pin lead to suit - items 1, 2 and 4 are the most common for computer kit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=3pin+power+cable&!!!!!googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=7682325948&ref=pd_sl_3z1c6kt0zm_b

[Deleted User]

Hi,

googler wrote: »

I hope this means the 3-pin plug was on a charger that was plugged in somewhere remote from the bathroom....

yes, was plugged in in kitchen, no sockets in bathroom anyway.