Deadly mains plug converter/adapter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2015, 11:14:36 pm
content: A friend from Spain showed this to me. The Australian/Japan pins are connected to the same LIVE as everything else...! That means, if you grab it from the back, you'll be shocked!The pins can be retracted, at which point they are disconnected although the ends are slightly exposed, they are no longer live. However, the lock/unlock switch is very sensitive and it is very easy to accidentally unlock them, at which point the pins become live and exposed, regardless of whether it is plugged in or not. The output socket itself does, at least, use a shutter, but the safety of that system is completely negated by this design fail.And yet it carries a CE mark, must be faked.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2015, 12:30:41 am
content: Quote from: tom66 on July 19, 2015, 11:14:36 pm...then don't do that. You should always use the sides anyway and keep any fingers behind the mating plane.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2015, 08:10:04 am
content: Right. And the five year old knows not to do that? Our sockets are shuttered in the UK. Unless the plug is damaged or the child is extremely dexterous, it is not possible to get shocked from them. Maybe other countries have a lower standard.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 20, 2015, 08:35:46 am
content: Quote from: tom66 on July 20, 2015, 08:10:04 amThe shuttered plugs aren't a bad idea, but I think they could be improved. Over time, they can start to jam up or break. In Australia, the outlets are small and narrow enough that most household objects such as small fingers, knives and screwdrivers don't fit into the receptacle deep enough to make contact with the terminals (although they do come in shuttered variants but I've never seen one). There are also no moving parts (except for the switch itself) so that very little can go wrong unless abused or have suffered a very hard life.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2015, 09:24:48 am
content: I like the shutters, stick a screwdriver into the earth hole to open them up, slide the live and neutral in, withdraw the screwdriver and the interesting wires are held in place. This saves buying and fitting a plug to quickly test something.I also think that the item in the opening post is dangerous and shouldn't be on sale.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2015, 12:08:24 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on July 20, 2015, 09:24:48 amAs long as you're aware of the added danger of having no fuse.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2015, 12:41:55 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on July 19, 2015, 11:14:36 pmChina Engineered.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2015, 01:22:48 pm
content: Quote from: BradC on July 20, 2015, 12:41:55 pmChinese Extrusion.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2015, 04:49:25 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on July 20, 2015, 09:24:48 amGuilty as charged!We used to have chock-blocks on our benches at work. They are an even easier way to jam in bare mains wires. The wires are held and power is applied using the cover as a knife switch. Hmm... I really could do with one on the bench. Isolation transformer equipped of course!Mind you, everything comes with moulded plugs these days.

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 20, 2015, 05:21:48 pm
content: I have never liked mains adapters and converters - most of them are simply of too low quality and can be both annoying and very dangerous. Some adapters seems to have higher quality, but are very expensive for the task (for example, SKROSS adaptershttp://www.skross.com/catalog/category/id/9/sub_id/31).Poor quality in such devices is not unexpected as it is inherently extremely difficult to make sturdy and save construction with moving parts for mains power.Dangerous travel adaptor in the first post are very similar to those reviewed (and ridiculed) in this video:

author: sunnyhighway
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2015, 06:51:39 pm
content: That's why I like these.- No moving parts that can fail.- Won't go in where it's not supposed to go in.- Won't accept what it's not supposed to accept.- Bloody cheap.

author: Bassman59
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2015, 12:34:59 am
content: Quote from: Monkeh on July 20, 2015, 01:22:48 pmChinese Excrement.

author: Melt-O-Tronic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2015, 03:48:26 am
content: It seems the CE mark is a complete joke. When it's legitimate, I'm sure it's a good thing, but it's so universally spoofed, the world would probably be better off without it entirely.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2015, 07:16:09 am
content: Needs better enforcement. The criminal charge for forging a CE mark where the equipment is non compliant should be along the lines of "reckless endangerment", if there is a safety risk.Right now the worst that happens to dodgy corner shops and eBay sellers selling these dodgy adapters and other devices is they get a slap on the wrist and the stock is destroyed. Worth the risk to some.

author: lincoln
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2015, 09:56:42 pm
content: meh, this is my favorite travel adapter.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2015, 10:13:28 pm
content: Quote from: lincoln on July 21, 2015, 09:56:42 pmThat's terrible. Whoever put that together really should be ashamed, there's far too much corrosion on the nails for a reliable contact.

author: Gribo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 09:07:39 am
content: Darwin ++

author: justanothercanuck
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2015, 11:52:03 pm
content: Quote from: lincoln on July 21, 2015, 09:56:42 pmThat's almost as bad asI've been seeing circulating on imgur...

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2015, 12:15:05 am
content: Now try that with an *unswitched* socket !

author: mcinque
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2015, 06:53:07 am
content: Quote from: tom66 on July 19, 2015, 11:14:36 pmAs stated by many, the CE symbol doesn't mean anything by itself.It does not require any special instrument or auth to place that symbol on the case...

author: justanothercanuck
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2015, 12:34:20 pm
content: Quote from: mcinque on July 27, 2015, 06:53:07 amThat's only because Chinatook a huge dumpall over the European safety standards and Europe is too lazy to come up with another one.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2015, 01:02:30 pm
content: Quote from: justanothercanuck on July 27, 2015, 12:34:20 pmI'd personally put all the blame on the lack of enforcement. If they we're stricter on none compliant goods and/or on compliant goods with non compliant markings things would be better. Also the misuse of regulatory marks is hardly just a problem with European ones or with Chinese goods. I've seen expensive things come out of French factories that are at least up there with the most dangerous cheap tat to come out of China, I'm sure there are British, German, American or whatever goods that are just as bad too.

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2015, 01:07:35 pm
content: Quote from: lincoln on July 21, 2015, 09:56:42 pmIs the longer nail live or neutral? I can never remember with LEDs either!McBryce.

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2015, 04:40:10 pm
content: Quote from: McBryce on July 27, 2015, 01:07:35 pmDoes it matter? Simply adjust nail length till it holds mains plug well. Longer nails can hold more than one plug.

author: lincoln
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2015, 05:57:54 pm
content: All BS aside, this trigger a memory....As a young collage dropout I started working doing sound and stage lighting. It is common to have some sort of temporary power system called a "distro". Systems ranged in quality and safety form commercial purpose built systems to shop build stuff made with load centers form the local hardware store.Most bigger venues would have some sort of tie in. ether a big IEC pin and sleeve connector, [url = "http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v1/1986526331/camlock_power_panel_connector_400a.jpg"]"camlocks" for individual wires or a disconnect that cables would be hard wired into.One rat bag outfit had a pig tail that ends wasattached to 5 vice grip pliersTheir standard MO was to remove the closest electrical panel cover and clamp directly to the bus bars. No shits given about electrical hazards or safety.Did not work for them again.