Converting a 2 pin plug to a 3 pin

ferry

Can I just cut the end off the 2 pin cord and wire it into a 3 pin plug ?
Would I need to worry there being no earth?

Thank you 

KeithP

That's perfectly OK.

ferry

Was just thinking though its for a dvr CCTV recorder which has a metal casing - still good to do that? 

Thank you 

casper_gutman

The lack of an earth is no problem at all. Many appliances have a two core flex with no earth conductor, wired to a three pin plug.

Usually, appliances which don't require an earth will come with a plug which has a plastic dummy earth pin for the purposes of opening the shutters on the socket's live and neutral terminals when plugging in the appliance.

Using a normal plug with a metal pin shouldn't cause any practical danger though: if one of the other wires somehow came loose inside the plug and came into contact with the earth pin then this would trigger the RCD on the circuit or, if no RCD, blow the fuse PDQ. It would also cease to be dangerous when the plug was removed from the socket. I wouldn't give it a second though, personally.

morhen

Just buy a converter plug with the required fuse size and you are good to go.  Something like this, you push the two pin plug in, and screw it closed.

https://cpc.farnell.com/powerconnections/ecp-bk-r-5a/euro-converter-plug-black-5a/dp/PL00231?fi=wp

FreeBear

ferry said: Can I just cut the end off the 2 pin cord and wire it into a 3 pin plug ?
Would I need to worry there being no earth?

Is the device on the other end of the cable rated to work at 240V ?

Section62

FreeBear said:

ferry said: Can I just cut the end off the 2 pin cord and wire it into a 3 pin plug ?
Would I need to worry there being no earth?

Is the device on the other end of the cable rated to work at 240V ?

...and 50Hz.