29 Nov
2011
29 Nov
'11
1:43 p.m.
Lately I've seen some Chinese-made 2-prong gizmos
that are being sold
as being compatible with unearthed/ungrounded US and Australian
sockets. The blades of the plug can be rotated to assume either V-
shape or parallel orientation. The sockets on those devices are even
more bizarre. They will accept flat blades (either orientation) or
round prongs on all three (2 current-carrying, one protective), even
though there is no third prong on the associated plug. It carries
the Chinese CCC mark as well as the looks-just-like-a-European-CE-
mark China Export CE mark.
We get those over here too, with a 13A BS1363 socket on the back, which
looks as though it would alsdo take a 2 pin shaver plug.. They often come
as a set of 2 adapters. One has the flat pins which can be rotated as you
describe to fit USA or Australian sockets -- this type makes no connection
to the rarth pin. It has moulded into it 'Class II appliances only' [This
meand double-insulated - -ARD]. The other fits the German mains sockets,
it has 2 round plins and is so arragned that the earth pin of the UK mains
plug wioll end up in contact with the earthing spring contact of the
German socket.
Scares the bejeezus out of me.
I don't like them much, but I've seen worse.
-tony