3 PIN electrical plug:a strange question!

southbroom

Hi

there always seems to be very knowlegeable people here so worth a try.

every new 3 pin domestic electrical plug seems to come with a plastic molded cover over the pins.

does anyone know if it is just protective packaging or whether it is some (EU?) safety regulation.

i apologise if it sounds a strange question but perversely the answer is quite an important bit of relevant information in a consumer dispute.

thanks

keystone

Packaging as far as I am concerned.

Cheers

googler

..so that if the plug moves around in transit, the plastic stops the metal pins from scratching the appliance...?

muckybutt

Yup just plain old waste packaging, one thing I wish they wouldnt do is put paper wiring instructions over the pins, number of times they dont get removed and I have seen them scorched and burnt if used on a heavy loaded appliance.....make sure you remove them....a fire waiting to happen !!

27col

Obviously it is packaging. If you did not remove it you could not plug it in the socket. Googler is probably quite right.

Ben84

muckybutt wrote: »

Yup just plain old waste packaging, one thing I wish they wouldnt do is put paper wiring instructions over the pins, number of times they dont get removed and I have seen them scorched and burnt if used on a heavy loaded appliance.....make sure you remove them....a fire waiting to happen !!

I'm sure these are a new thing and appliances used to have these instructions on a tag on the wire itself?

keystone

muckybutt wrote: »

.............I have seen them scorched and burnt if used on a heavy loaded appliance.....make sure you remove them....a fire waiting to happen !!

Who in their right mind would leave them in place......? Oh yes I see. Never mind. Forget I asked.

Cheers

muckybutt

keystone wrote: »

Who in their right mind would leave them in place......? Oh yes I see. Never mind. Forget I asked.

Cheers

????
You would be surprised keystone !, ive seen it in shops and in houses. Ive even had to replace sockets because of scorch marks caused by the bloody things, I think a lot of the time folks dont even know they are there.

keystone

B...ger! My irony control clearly needs a retune again.;)

Cheers