Selling appliance with EU plug without an adapter

EoinM17

Hi guys,

Just bought an appliance online from an Irish retailer and it arrived with an EU plug and no adapter.
As far as I was aware, there is a legal requirement to provide an adapter for any appliance sold with a different plug.
However, I'm having trouble finding the legislation that actually says that. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance

brightspark

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1997/si/525/made/en/print

EoinM17

brightspark wrote: »

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1997/si/525/made/en/print

Cheers mate

coylemj

Is it worth going legal about a problem that can be fixed with a €2 adapter?

EoinM17

coylemj wrote: »

Is it worth going legal about a problem that can be fixed with a €2 adapter?

Nah, I'm not going to go legal about it, might drop the retailer an email just to mention that they should be supplying them but won't make a deal of it.

Was more just wondering if I was right about it being the legal requirement or if I was incorrect. Had heard it before that an adapter was required but went googling today to check and could only find info about the legislation in the UK, I figured you guys might know more about the situation in Ireland.

I'd agree, not worth making a deal of over a €2 adapter, was more for my own knowledge

Mr Magnolia

I wouldn't use an adapter. Change the plug top making sure your fuse is correctly rated.

EoinM17

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

I wouldn't use an adapter. Change the plug top making sure your fuse is correctly rated.

Best solution but that voids any warranty. Might do it in two years once that's gone anyway

Irishphotodesk

I would assume it could be argued it would not be of merchantable quality if it isn’t suitable for local plug sockets.

Mr Magnolia

EoinM17 wrote: »

Best solution but that voids any warranty. Might do it in two years once that's gone anyway

What makes you think it would void a warranty?

Cerco

Are shavers excluded from the legislation?

You can purchase a fused plug top which allows a screw in connection for both terminals of an EU plug. Not suitable for earthed appliances. In the latter change the plug or use adapter with earth connection.

Tow

Cerco wrote: »

Are shavers excluded from the legislation?

Shavers must only be used with a shaver socket, which is protected by an isolation transformer.

YellowBucket

If you want to keep the European plug on for some reason, there are converter plugs available, quite easily on Amazon and elsewhere, that will convert CEE 7 (the normal continental European plugs) to BS1363.

These basically turn them into an Irish / UK plug.

Bear in mind there are 3 sizes / types of plug used with the same standard CEE 7 type earthed sockets, and you will need a different converter plug for each.

> "Schuko" - CEE 7/7 - 16 amp earthed plug, two pins and compatible with both the standard side earth clips & French style earth pin that goes into the face of the plug. This is earthed.



https://www.powerconnections.co.uk/convert_eurotouk_scp3.htm

> "Contour" CEE 7/17 - 16 amp non-earthed plug (commonly found on hoovers, hairdryers etc) - two full size pins and a round shape face with slots to fit around the earth terminals.

https://www.powerconnections.co.uk/convert_eurotouk_scp.htm

> "Europlug" CEE 7/16 - 2.5amp plug, used for small non-earthed appliances like radios, audio equipment, mixers, lamps etc.

https://www.powerconnections.co.uk/convert_eurotouk.htm

You'll find plenty of them on Amazon and actually in a lot of electrical wholesalers locally here too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ShaniTech-Euro-Converter-Plug-Adapter-Black/dp/B0719FXCB5/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=european+converter+plug&qid=1594907901&sr=8-3

All of those converter plugs are fused and will limit you to 3amps or 13amps, even though the continental plug may be rated 16amps, you cannot draw more than 13amps.


All 3 of those plugs are designed to fit both of these grounded socket types and are just used for earthed, non earthed 16 amp or smaller 2.5 amp loads, avoiding an unnecessarily huge plug.

Standard "Schuko":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko

French variant (In theory, polarised - plugs only fit one way)

https://materiel.hellopro.fr/celiane-prise-2p-t-titane-complet-bl-legrand-23517905-3000980-produit.html?popup=on&utm_expid=.DpZSd6i9T3KTEjyWLfTlhg.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

A lot of French sockets are now flush, and the circular front part is pushed in as you insert the plug - to avoid dust / ugly look.

https://www.legrand.fr/pro/actualites/celiane-tm-prise-surface-avec-chargeur-usb-type-c-ideal-pour-le-neuf-et-la-renovation

wazzi

Would it be an option (maybe even in all Irish households?) to install a few EU outlet sockets?
Should not be a problem in your own house. Or is there a law against it?
Maybe two kinds of sockets would be helpful in case of buying other equipment in the future (Amazon... etc.)

YellowBucket

It’s done in hotels quite regularly. However, just be ware that only BS1363 / IS 411 sockets can be installed on ring circuits as the plugs are fused.

If you were to install Schuko/French or any other sockets on a ring it would be a fire hazard.

Also it’s worth noting that the French / Belgian standard mandate safety shutters, similar to as here.

Many German type CEE 7/4 sockets aren’t shuttered as it’s typically optional.

colm_mcm

Tow wrote: »

Shavers must only be used with a shaver socket, which is protected by an isolation transformer.

Pretty sure that’s untrue?

Terminator.

It was never a great system here with domestic socket circuits

3/13 amp fusing and rings and radials and different size breakers

The ring circuit and ring final circuit is a great innovation but not suitable for domestic

Terminator.

colm_mcm wrote: »

Pretty sure that’s untrue?

Think you're right there