Adapter to use 3-pin plug in 2-pin shaver socket?

Marvqn1

Is the 3rd prong of the plug metal or is it just plastic like it is on some plugs that don't require to be earthed?

It seems to be this shaver

https://www.boots.com/boots-male-shaver-10245111

Grizzlebeard

If the shaver has a 3 pin plug it's for safety reasons, nothing to do with voltage or current.

The 3 pin plug is specifically to stop it being used near water - in the bathroom - near a bath or a sink.

If it (or charger if separate) were to fall into a bath or basin, or even get splashed or steamy it could be lethal even if classified as double insulated.

2 pin chargers have their live circuits hermetically sealed and encapsulated so they stay dry even if totally immersed. Hence they cost more.

A three pin plug to two way socket outlet would not pass any modern safety standards and would be being sold illegally.

I'm sure the Instruction Book/leaflet will cover this.

itm2

Marvqn1 said:

Is the 3rd prong of the plug metal or is it just plastic like it is on some plugs that don't require to be earthed?

It seems to be this shaver

https://www.boots.com/boots-male-shaver-10245111

Yes that's the one. It's designed for mains or battery operation - as confirmed by this from the user manual:

"You can choose to use the shaver whilst connected to the mains supply with the supplied adapter or via its rechargeable battery (cordless operation)"
It's rated at 3.0W (the power supply is 3V 1A output, 110/230V 0.2A input).
The user manual also says:
"it is recommended that the batteries are only re-charged once they have run down completely"

So it means that once every week or so the battery will probably die in the middle of a shave, and I'll need to decamp to another room, plug it in, and find a portable mirror to finish the shave. It's not exactly designed for convenience.

Grizzlebeard

itm2 said:

Marvqn1 said:

Is the 3rd prong of the plug metal or is it just plastic like it is on some plugs that don't require to be earthed?

It seems to be this shaver

https://www.boots.com/boots-male-shaver-10245111

Marvqn1 said: It seems to this one https://www.boots.com/boots-male-shaver-10245111

Yes that's the one. It's designed for mains or battery operation - as confirmed by this from the user manual
:......

So it means that once every week or so the battery will probably die in the middle of a shave, and I'll need to decamp to another room, plug it in, and find a portable mirror to finish the shave. It's not exactly designed for convenience.

It's designed to be much much cheaper (and it is), not more convenient (and it's not).

anotheruser

Aren't they trying to do away with the 2-pin sockets these days... hence only having 3-pin / re-chargable options?

Alderbank

itm2 said:

So it means that once every week or so the battery will probably die in the middle of a shave, and I'll need to decamp to another room, plug it in, and find a portable mirror to finish the shave. It's not exactly designed for convenience.

I'm not convinced it does mean that. Just use it in the other room, the room where you finish the shave?

itm2

I currently finish my shave in the bathroom, as there isn't a convenient room nearby with a power socket positioned close to a mirror. Hence my OP

Sandtree

Grizzlebeard said:

The 3 pin plug is specifically to stop it being used near water - in the bathroom - near a bath or a sink.

How do you explain my shave that came with both a three and two pin cable? On the three pin the earth was just plastic and so is a practical tool for opening the gates rather than a true pin

Somehow magically the shaver knows if the plastic third pin is present and draws different currents or reacts different if dropped in water?

victor2

Sandtree said:

Grizzlebeard said:

The 3 pin plug is specifically to stop it being used near water - in the bathroom - near a bath or a sink.

How do you explain my shave that came with both a three and two pin cable? On the three pin the earth was just plastic and so is a practical tool for opening the gates rather than a true pin
...

So that it can be charged in a regular 13amp socket as well as a 2 pin shaver socket.

Section62

Sandtree said:

Grizzlebeard said:

The 3 pin plug is specifically to stop it being used near water - in the bathroom - near a bath or a sink.

How do you explain my shave that came with both a three and two pin cable? On the three pin the earth was just plastic and so is a practical tool for opening the gates rather than a true pin

Somehow magically the shaver knows if the plastic third pin is present and draws different currents or reacts different if dropped in water?

Probably because your shaver is designed to be used in bathrooms (/wet environments), but the manufacturer kindly provided a second cable for use in 3-pin sockets so you didn't need to splash out on an adaptor if you are using it in other (safer) rooms?