Wrong mains lead.

VSynth

Hi,

I bought an electrical item from a UK supplier but it was supplied with a 2 pin European mains lead.

I assume I am entitled to a UK lead?

prowla

I would've thought so, as it's intended for UK use.

mije1983

Is it a shaver or electric toothbrush by any chance?

Electrical items intended for use in a bathroom will come with a 2 pin plug for safety reasons. You just need to buy an adapter if you want to use it in a standard 3 pin socket.

Thread on similar here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4710657

bris

Cut the 2 pin of and fit a 3 pin one, job done.

shaun_from_Africa

If it's an appliance that has a non detachable mains lead, cutting off and changing the original plug might give the company a reason to refuse a warranty repair should the need arise in the future.

vaio

if it's not for use in the bathroom then the retailer can only sell it if they provide a UK lead or fused adaptor so you can use it in UK sockets.

WTFH

Who was the supplier and what was the product. Answering this two simple questions will allow us to give you better advice.

esuhl

VSynth wrote: »

Hi,

I bought an electrical item from a UK supplier but it was supplied with a 2 pin European mains lead.

I assume I am entitled to a UK lead?

You are indeed. A lead fitted with a 3-pin UK plug should be supplied. It is NOT legal to provide a converter that the consumer must fit themselves:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BS_1363

A conversion plug is a special type of plug suitable for the connection of non-BS 1363 type plugs (to a recognized standard) to BS 1363 sockets. An example would be Class 2 appliances from mainland Europe which are fitted with moulded europlugs. Similar converters are available for a variety of other plug types. Unlike a temporary travel adapter, conversion plugs, when closed, resemble normal plugs, although larger and squarer. The non-BS 1363 plug is inserted into the contacts, and the hinged body of the conversion plug is closed and fixed shut to grip the plug. There must be an accessible fuse. Conversion plugs may be non-reusable (permanently closed) or reusable, in which case it must be impossible to open the conversion plug without using a tool.

The Plugs and Sockets, etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 permit domestic appliances fitted with non-BS 1363 plugs to be supplied in the UK with conversion plugs fitted, but not with conversion plugs supplied for fitting by the consumer.

Be careful when buying from eBay or Amazon (etc.). The same Wikipedia entry has this to say about illegal counterfeit BS 1363 plugs:

Counterfeit plugs and fuses not meeting the standard are commonly available. Legislation was introduced, with the last revision in 1994, to require plugs sold to meet the technical standard. Counterfeit products are regularly seized when found, to enforce the safety standards and to protect the approval marks and trademarks of imitated manufacturers. The pressure group PlugSafe reports that since August 2011 over 1000 listings of products including illegal plugs have been removed from the websites of ebay.co.uk and amazon.co.uk. The UK Electrical Safety Council has expressed shock at the magnitude of the problem and published a video demonstrating an exploding plug caused by a counterfeit BS 1362 fuse. The Institution of Engineering and Technology has also published information on the extent of the problem with on-line retailers.

prowla

mije1983 wrote: »

Is it a shaver or electric toothbrush by any chance?

Electrical items intended for use in a bathroom will come with a 2 pin plug for safety reasons. You just need to buy an adapter if you want to use it in a standard 3 pin socket.

Thread on similar here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4710657

I was assuming it's a round 2 pins plus earth European Schuko plug, rather than a 2-pin shaver one.

WTFH

prowla wrote: »

I was assuming it's a round 2 pins plus earth European Schuko plug, rather than a 2-pin shaver one.

As yet we don't know what the device was, nor what plug was on it. I'd also be interested to know if the plug was attached directly to a transformer, or was on the end of a lead. (i.e. if it was directly on a transformer, then does the 2 pin one slide off to be replaced with a 3 pin one?)

There's too little information to give a 100% correct answer.

prowla

It's not uncommon to receive computer equipment with Schuko to "kettle" (IEC) cables, in which case they can be replaced with UK ones (after a quick check of the power rating!).