Chinese kettle

emperorstevee

As a few others mentioned, being from china doesn't automatically mean it is bad. In fact it is quite the opposite. Almost everything in the retailers are made in China. And as China is the leading country in industry they know what they are doing. I will be trying the option of taking off the plug and installing a UK one. Thanks, everyone!

dj1471

martinsurrey wrote: »

Cheap UK items still need to comply with The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994

and numerous other laws and regulations to ensure they are safe

...the most important being: is it CE marked? This indicates that it meets European safety requirements, which it might if is also sold in Europe, otherwise I'd be wary... Fairly sure it's illegal to import a device into the EU if it isn't CE marked.

Make sure it's a 220/230/240v device before even attempting to plug it in... And don't use an adapter, it's preferable to change the plug (assuming you are, or know someone who is, competent to do so).

coffeehound

The PRC is 220V so the kettle should be okay if it has been designed with a safety margin. Don't assume all Chinese-made stuff is safe, though: children's toys painted with lead paint is one example that comes to mind..

Ruski

dj1471 wrote: »

...the most important being: is it CE marked? This indicates that it meets European safety requirements, which it might if is also sold in Europe, otherwise I'd be wary... Fairly sure it's illegal to import a device into the EU if it isn't CE marked.

Make sure it's a 220/230/240v device before even attempting to plug it in... And don't use an adapter, it's preferable to change the plug (assuming you are, or know someone who is, competent to do so).

A friend of mine is in wholesale - they were offered a load of 'CE' items - when questioed the importer admitted that it meant "Chinese Export" and had no relevance to the true CE mark at all!

Keep 'em peeled!

Russ