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Google-foo has failed me, should probably have just asked here first.
I've recently bought a couple of things which included battery chargers, neither of which were supplied with a moulded/fused plug. One was e-bay, but the other a reputable company sent a European 2 pin and a cheapy, un-fused adapter.
When I talk to them, which particular rules/regs. have been broken here? Ta.
Depends on the appliance. Certain items, for example toothbrush and charger, are exempt. Also did you buy from a UK supplier or import it? As fitting a new plug or a fused adapter takes seconds and costs a quid I really wouldn't worry about it.
It's a LiPo battery charger, so not exempt as far as I can tell. Yes, both UK suppliers.
I'm happy to fit a plug or buy a lead, but as the reputable supplier charges £1000 for this bit of kit, I think they should be meeting their responsibilities, I want to let them know for future.
Obviously the e-bay one, well you take your chance don't you?
and a cheapy, un-fused adapter.
Which will say "Made in China, for Export Only" and has no CE marking...
Pretty sure they are illegal to sell in the EU.
EDIT: yep see: http://www.bs1363.org.uk/html/adaptors.html
It actually does have a CE mark on the adapter, for what it's worth but not on the lead. Coincidentally it's EXACTLY the one on the left hand side of the second row of photo's on your link!
"CE" label often means Chinese Export 🙂
Chinese export - nice I'll remember that one.
That link is very useful Footflaps, I'll let the supplier know and send them links to that.
They often put the C and the E too close together, which gives a hint.
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Sent an e-mail, I'll let you know what the outcome is.
It's turned into the bunfight at the OK corral.
The UK suppliers are blaming the manufactures, as they put the shonky power cable in the box, but the manufacturers are saying it's up to the UK supplier to apply the local rules.
I'm OK, I just purchased one, but it concerns me that everyone else who purchased/purchases one of these chargers might be at risk.
Most people wouldn't give it a second thought.
but the manufacturers are saying it's up to the UK supplier to apply the local rules.
I would imagine the manufacturers are correct in saying that.
You didn't buy it from the manufacturer, so they are basically an irrelevance in any dispute over what has been supplied to you.
Pretty much every mains adaptor on Ebay / Amazon is an illegal fake.
Under SoGA, your contract is with the supplier for any disputes. I expect a similar ruling applies here; the supplier can blame who they like, but that's their problem, not yours.
That and Cougar's SoGA comment is largely my view too, but I have some (small) sympathy with the suppliers as the equipment arrives in a sealed up box. If they change them out before dispatch I imagine they will then get complaints that used equipment has been sent.but the manufacturers are saying it's up to the UK supplier to apply the local rules.I would imagine the manufacturers are correct in saying that.
I'll leave it up to them to sort out. My conscience is clear that I've highlighted the issue and now I'm busy writing a safety alert for work to let other people know of the risk. 🙁
Why do UK plugs come with a fuse, when the rest of the world (AFAIK) manages without? I can accept that the UK standards are a lot higher and safer than the Spanish I'm most familiar with, but the Japanese, the Germans, the US... none of them need fuses in their plugs. So why the UK?
but I have some (small) sympathy with the suppliers as the equipment arrives in a sealed up box.
It does, but if they use reputable sources, and spec what they want to be supplied with correctly, they wouldn't need to change anything that comes in the box.
Or they can can buy in the product as it is, and supply you with a lead/plug that meets the regulations in a separate package, with a note explaining why.
I have some (small) sympathy with the suppliers as the equipment arrives in a sealed up box.
Which doesn't prevent it being their problem and their responsibility to supply something legal. Clearly if this particular sealed boxed product isn't then they shouldn't be selling it.
They just chose to sell cheap shit, knowing full well it's not legal.
If I was the seller, That wouldn't sit well with me, 'cos then the consumer could plug the dodgy lead into something else, possibly of a higher power and make the problem worse.Or they can can buy in the product as it is, and supply you with a lead/plug that meets the regulations in a separate package, with a note explaining why.
Mogrim, I don't know. UK 3 pin does seem a bit over-engineered granted.
UK 3 pin does seem a bit over-engineered granted.
But at least it fits securely into a plug socket, the US plugs are, pardon the pun, shocking.
Why do UK plugs come with a fuse, when the rest of the world (AFAIK) manages without?
It's because our power sockets are wired on ring circuits with a main fuse/breaker at 30A or 32A. Appliance flexes then get secondary protection from the fuse in the plug (or else the flex would have to be much heavier gauge).
In the r.o.t.w. sockets are typically wired radially at 16A or 20A and the lower max current at the socket means they can do without the secondary fuse.
It's because our power sockets are wired on ring circuits with a main fuse/breaker at 30A or 32A. Appliance flexes then get secondary protection from the fuse in the plug (or else the flex would have to be much heavier gauge).In the r.o.t.w. sockets are typically wired radially at 16A or 20A and the lower max current at the socket means they can do without the secondary fuse.
Can see why the plug fuse would be needed, not sure which design is better though - I can see pros and cons for each.
And yes, US plugs are an awful design. Mainland EU plugs are better and don't generally fall out, albeit not as secure as UK ones.
the US plugs are, pardon the pun, shocking.
Yeah, but conversely their mains supply is the electrical equivalent of a lager shandy, so getting shocked is considerably less likely to cause you to spontaneously break out in a nasty case of death.