PAT testing plugs with 1/2 insulated earth pin

[FN-GM]

In australia they build houses with a socket next to the bathroom sink!

[penfold]

In australia they build houses with a socket next to the bathroom sink!

 

I've seen that done in a new build in a science lab:confused:

[SocketMan]

In the UK we have a very high standard of electrical safety.

In the UK we have a very low rate of accidents involving electric shock.

Perhaps the second statement is as a result of the first?

 

The plugs shown in the photos provided are completely illegal to sell in the UK, the penalty for doing so is a maximum of 6 months imprisonment.

 

The Plugs and Sockets, etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 were introduced to provide a regulatory regime to address issues regarding consumer safety. There were concerns that consumer safety was compromised by the substantial quantity of counterfeit and unsafe electrical plugs and sockets being placed on the UK market. The regulations require that all UK plugs have been certified as conforming to BS 1363, so as BS 1363 specifically disallows sleeved Earth pins (but does require sleeved Line and Neutral pins), it is clear that the plugs in question are counterfeit and illegal.

 

Despite this, there are many counterfeit plugs on sale in this country, they often have incorrectly sized pins which cause bad contacts and hence overheated/burnt sockets. Some, such as the one in the picture posted by Chris_ have no fuse, others have fuses which are not actually connected to anything, those counterfeit plugs which do have fuses have counterfeit fuses, these do not conform to BS 1362 and will explode if the load is short circuited. Most counterfeits are supplied attached to power cords, and you can be certain that the wire inside those cables is undersized, BASEC have reported wires with as little as 3% of the copper necessary!

 

If you come across such counterfeits PLEASE return them to the supplier and draw their attention to their illegal activity, Trading Standards will also be interested, if you do not know where it came from, destroy the plug by breaking off the Line pin (easily done with a pair of pliers) and dispose of the cable safely.

 

Someone with PAT testing experience commented that they “wouldn't have batted an eyelid at that”, sadly they are not alone. When I recently had a visit from a PAT tester I gave him a sample power lead having a plug with sleeved earth, and a fuse which was not in circuit. He told me there was nothing wrong with it! (Which demonstrates that PAT testers need some knowledge, and eyesight, not just a test instrument.)

 

I do hope HP has been informed about the OP’s discovery, I am sure that they would not be knowingly involved in such criminal activity.

[localzuk]

It won't be HP who have provided this power lead. It will be the reseller in-between. Most HP stuff I've come across doesn't come with a lead from HP, as it gets sold in multiple countries, with different plugs. Only some items come with them specific for the UK.

 

For example, servers seem to come without and the reseller puts one in the box.

[HaleStorm]

I think ive had it before with HP stuff, you get the equipment connecting half of the power supply but no mains cable

[twin--turbo]

In australia they build houses with a socket next to the bathroom sink!

 

Whilst doing a site vist on our new build I and our M&E Consultant both spotted a 13A outlet that was just about in reach of a swivel mixer tap.... The M&E contractor looked a little embarased... It was not in that location when we opend.

 

Rob