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Attaching a three pin plug

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  • 03-07-2020 3:37pm
    #1
    eisenberg1
    Registered Users Posts: 5,387 ✭✭✭


    Hi,
    As a rule, I wouldn’t be great with electrics, and if any DIY is other than
    Very basic, I employ a professional.
    However I have this humidifier air mist thing, and the plug was dropped and broke. I finally got around to replacing the plug, but when I stripped back the lead, it’s only got a black and a red wire ( it’s probably a Chinese device) so
    Which wire goes where? Never came across this before...
    Any info would be be greatly appreciated
    TIA


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    #2
    brightspark
    Registered Users Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭brightspark


    Can you post a pic of the broken plug, I suspect it may have been a power supply.


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    #3
    eisenberg1
    Registered Users Posts: 5,387 ✭✭✭eisenberg1


    brightspark wrote: »
    Can you post a pic of the broken plug, I suspect it may have been a power supply.

    Sorry, in the bin. But it was one of those permanently attached at factory.
    I had to cut it off...


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    #4
    keithdub
    Registered Users Posts: 208 ✭✭keithdub


    Was it a standard plug? Some of them air cleaners use a transformer with in the plug


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    #5
    eisenberg1
    Registered Users Posts: 5,387 ✭✭✭eisenberg1


    keithdub wrote: »
    Was it a standard plug? Some of them air cleaners use a transformer with in the plug

    Standard three pin....


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    #6
    brightspark
    Registered Users Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭brightspark


    Please post a pic of the cable and any information plate on the humidifier.


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    #7
    mickdw
    Registered Users Posts: 23,277 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    eisenberg1 wrote: »
    Standard three pin....
    You say standard 3 pin but it could be a 3 pin with a big lump of a back on it versus the ordinary 3 pin. That would be a transformer.


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    #8
    eisenberg1
    Registered Users Posts: 5,387 ✭✭✭eisenberg1


    On reflection, this thing only cost a few quid,
    So safest thing maybe is to bin it and replace.
    Thanks all for your input.


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    #9
    Turbohymac
    Registered Users Posts: 472 ✭✭Turbohymac


    If theres only 2 wires ..it would suggest theres no earth wire..so red would be live + and the black would be neutral..


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    #10
    brightspark
    Registered Users Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭brightspark


    Turbohymac wrote: »
    If theres only 2 wires ..it would suggest theres no earth wire..so red would be live + and the black would be neutral..

    Or red could be a positive and black a negative from an extra low voltage power supply built into the original plug top. A basic voltage dropping circuit could easily be built into a device not much larger than a standard plug top, especially if the manufacturer skips some safety components.


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    #11
    Turbohymac
    Registered Users Posts: 472 ✭✭Turbohymac


    You're right brightspark.. but its crap or bust..just connect it up and it either works or not.. if the original plug is gone in the bin ....worst case scenario he will trip a breaker.. he could Google the exact make and model of appliance but that's another 50 posts.. connect up and it either works or else goes in the bin....


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    #12
    autumnalcore
    Registered Users Posts: 827 ✭✭✭autumnalcore


    Turbohymac wrote: »
    worst case scenario he will trip a breaker.

    The words of someone that didn't spend enough of their childhood blowing stuff up. I can think of scenarios like the low voltage electrolytics going off like firecrackers, shooting molten electrolyte through the vents causing burns, setting fire to the carpet and making the entre room smell like cat piss :pac::pac:


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