2-pin plug supplied

[Davey]

I just bought a new electric toothbrush, one of the Oral-B ones, pretty much universally available. Tesco wanted £35, Morrisons wanted £17.50 for the exact same mode l, so that's where we bought it. But when unpacked, (after much fighting and cussing) it only has a 2-pin plug, which would be fine if we had one of those bathroom 120v transformer/sockets, but we don't. As it happens, I have lots of suitable 3pin-to-2pin adaptors. But is the supplier (Morrisons, who probably have no idea what they sell) not obliged to supply a UK-ready device? I think I saw something about this recently, but can't remember where, nor the outcome.

[spuorgelgoog]

There's a provision in the Regulations for shavers and similar items to be used in bathrooms, which have 2 pin plugs suitable for shaver outlets. It should be a proper UK shaver plug though, not a Euro 2-pin.

Owain

[harryagain]

A bathroom shaver socket has a transformer fitted and is isolated from the mains supply. This makes it next to impossible to get an electric shock. The bathroom socket can only supply a few watts This is why shavers and toothbrushes have a special plug, so only they can fit into the bathroom socket .

[Brian Gaff]

I'm almost sure tht toothbrushes all come with the shaver plugs these days, as do, um shavers. Brian

[Brian Gaff]

Yes and as far as I am aware, the voltage can legally be 230v. Most devices that run off these plugs are supposed to compensate. I have noticed, however that there do seem to be two varieties of this plug, one with slightly thinner pins. Brian

[DerbyBorn]

"Brian Gaff" wrote in news:lls766$nke$ [e-mail]:

And they don't fit into European sockets so you need an adaptor on the continent

[damduck-egg]

Most shaver sockets I see have sockets which will allow a variety of different shaped two pin plugs from overseas to fit, flat two pin, ,angled two pin . I doubt if all these plugs are just for toothbrushes and shavers The UK shaver plug has the same pin size and spacing as an old 2 pin 5 amp plug so if I so desired i would have no trouble plugging an ancient lamp from by Grans House which has been packed away for about

50 years. Equally I do know of a premises that still has a 2 pin 5 amp socket in place. A toothbrush could easily be plugged in.

So your statement

is wrong.

G.Harman

[Davey]

But I don't have a bathroom shaver socket, so what am I supposed to do?

[GB]

You can use an adapter, but can I suggest charging the toothbrush outside the bathroom. I certainly would not run an extension flex into the bathroom.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Tooth brushes like razors seem to always come with two pin 'shaver plugs. Essential when they were mains - but rather strange when they are re-chargeable. My shaver socket is only live when the bathroom lights are on. But even if it weren't, it's a silly place to re-charge a razor, etc.

[Bill]

In message , Davey writes

A quick, cost effective answer would be to buy a manual one!

No electrical worries, no need to buy batteries and can be used any where at any time.

[Davey]

No argument, but ever since starting to use en electric one, I have loved the extra power and depth of cleaning that it gives. The same for my wife. I keep a manual one for emergencies.

[Davey]

Nor would I. There is a convenient socket just outside the bathroom, which is perfect, but it's the principle that surprises me. But of course, it's a lot cheaper to just fit a simple fuse-less 2-pin plug rather than a spec. UK fused 3-pin one. As I mentioned, I do have several adaptors, but that's by luck, not design. What if I had none? Would the seller be required to give me one, and if not, why not? I purchased an appliance, in the UK, for use in a UK household, and it does not work as purchased.

[GB]

I don't know the law, but you can look up the regs as easily as anybody. You are just assuming that the regs say the plug supplied has to be a 3 pin one.

[Richard Tobin]

The charger is intended to be used in the bathroom, just like a shaver, so it must have a two-pin plug. Would you complain if a shaver had a two-pin plug (as they all do)?

-- Richard

[Bill]

In message , Davey writes

No comment.................

[Ian Jackson]

In message , [e-mail] writes

It depends what you mean by 'just for'. I think you'll find that all such bathroom outlets are labelled "For shavers only".

[charles]

The MK one I've got omits the "for"

[Roger Mills]

+1

[Roger Mills]

Glad to hear that your wife has lots of power and depth of cleaning!

What does a manual wife look like?