It happens that Robin formulated :
I would imagine that is because if a brass pin is actually needed, the partially sleeved ones have more of a tendency to break. On something which requires an earth, the last thing you want is an internally broken earth pin, which might still allow you to plug the plug into a socket.
Plastic earth pins are allowed on the likes of phone chargers, even folding ones. There, just to push the shields out of the way.
Martin expressed precisely :
+1..
Yes, I had one in my smaller fishtank - along with mains voltage submersible heaters in both tanks.
SteveW
More likely a small, centrifugal pump, like a submersible fishtank pump. The cable is connected to the motor and the entire unit is potted. The pump rotor sits in the water and is driven magnetically. They are only small - the bulk of the unit being the attached filter, not the pump.
SteveW
Thanks for all the reposes, particularly those that pointed out that mains submersible pumps etc are not forbidden per se.
I will limit my complaint to the non-compliant plug.
Harry B mentioned submersible pumps,I don?t think he was restricting the scope to just pond and aquarium pumps. Not many will have need for a 415 volt one of those in their house.
I ?m surprised you have never seen a submersible pump for sale or in use with a metal case in one of the sheds or somewhere like Machine Mart or an agricultural supplies firm.
GH
John Ward (JW) on his Youtbe channel calls it an Insulated Shutter Opening Device
I have often seen the plastic pin break off, sometimes leaving themselves stuck in the socket. This is unlikly to happen with a brass pin, even if it is shrouded, so in my mind, as long as the applience is using L&N only, the shrouded earth pin itself is better than a plastic one, but obviously sounds alarm bells as to what else might be wrong.
Trading standards teams generally expect consumer complaints to be channelled through Citizens Advice: in E&W
Scotland and NI have their own equivalents.
They tend to break off, then you have to plug the device into the same socket and nothing else there. I don't know whether they are still made, but you could get 13A sockets which didn't rely on the earth pin to open the shutter - you just had to insert pins into both line and neutral simultaneously. That's a better idea as devices that don't require an earth just need two pins. Our 13A plugs and sockets are rather a rubbish design.
But get your refund first. No point reporting it to the shop people as they won't be interested/aren't equipped to deal with H&S matters.
You haven't read the webpage linked to have you? It clearly says "To ensure that the earth connection is made as soon as the plug touches the socket many sockets place the contact right at the faceplate, this means that continuity is lost as soon as a plug with a sleeved earth is fully inserted!" Hence why earth pins are only allowed to be all brass (or all plastic if an earth is not required for the device).
SteveW
If you're reporting a breach of a particular safety regulation for enforcement action that's not "help about a consumer issue". The OP already knows more about the safety regulations than any CAB advisor :-)
Owain
Max Demian laid this down on his screen :
I think I remember when 13A sockets were not required to have the shutters(??)
National Trading Standards have consistently told people:
"If you believe that any online or face-to-face seller is selling potentially dangerous goods, or something you?ve bought has made you suspicious, report it to Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04
05 06."AIUI that's to filter reports and avoid TS staff spending time on calls/correspondence. But yes, if the OP knows eg *which* Trading Standards team will deal with the firm, and that they don't already have enforcement action in progress against them...
Steve Walker laid this down on his screen :
No, not fully - I only scanned it, between doing other tasks like peeling spuds and driving the tractor round to cut the grass. It clearly says "To ensure
Yes of course, my bad!
MK make them.
I was wondering he you had left your brains in bed this morning or were doing something else when reading it!
ARW presented the following explanation :
I always multiplex :oÞ
I know?
No, but he did include 240V pumps.
See above. ;-)
Strange but true. ;-)
Cheers, T i m
that explanation does not make sense.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.