Unsafe unfused plugs coming into UK
I have imported several power supplies from China, and begged suppliers not to send the unfused chinese 3 pin plugs leads
to me. I requested they instead keep the leads to save the shipping weight. I have tried to explain to several suppliers
that unfused plugs are not safe on UK electrical systems, and please stop sending them.
Despite my protestations, I keep receiving dangerous leads from these suppliers, which I need to then destroy.
Why are these unfused plugs unsafe?
Our UK house sockets are fused at 30 or 45 amp. The wires I have seen attached to these
plugs are rated at around 1.5 to 2 amp. If a fault develops in the power unit or in the wire, the wire can easily overheat, burn
leading to bare cables, exposed wires, house fire. A 2 or 3 amp fuse in the plug is therefore a necessary safety measure.
It is possible that sockets in China have a much lower power rating than in the United Kingdom, so may be safe in China,
but unsafe in the UK.
Chinese unfused plug:
What should I do if I receive such a product?
If you receive a piece of equipment in the UK with an unfused plug as shown, you should contact your supplier and inform them
that they are selling dangerous goods. If the supplier does not take adequate action (eg removing the products from sale), you
should contact your local trading standards.
If you are importing goods from China, and like me are having trouble comunicating the fact you don’t want unfused dangerous plugs,
try sending the following graphic I made, to your supplier. It seems to work better than words.
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