Plugs with half-shrouded earth pins

[cerotus]

I've never seen them before today but I cames across a mains plug where the earth pin was half-shrouded. On this particular plug, it was tight fit in the socket and the earth pin actually snapped off at the point where it entered the shroud. Leaving aside the obvious quality question abouth this particulat plug, I can't find anything that states whether this type of plug is legal or not and I can't say I've ever seen one before.

Does anyone know?

Thanks

 

[Adam W]

What kind of situation did you find it in, ie could it have been the product of a DIYer putting together bits of other plugtops to make some kind of hideous 'Frankenstein' plugtop? Could that explain the poor fit?

 

[Dazza1976]

I have seen these quite a few times before, but i cant recall if it was on an item that didnt require an earth ?? If you look at the earth pin on a mobile phone adapter it is normally plastic coz obviously the earth is not required, but the pin is still necessary to open up the small covers over the live and neutral holes in the socket so you can get the plug in.

 

[cerotus]

This was on a fan tray to fit in a network cabling cabinet. Metal tray and metal cabinet so definitely needs an earth. It was a moulded on plug, not a diy job, but the whole thing was made in China. The dubious quality of the plug, seeing the way the pin snapped so easily, is reason enough for me not to want to use the whole tray, but it also made me wonder about the legality of the plug seeing as I've never seen a half-shrouded earth pin before.

 

[Des 56]

I have seen these quite a few times before, but i cant recall if it was on an item that didnt require an earth ?? If you look at the earth pin on a mobile phone adapter it is normally plastic coz obviously the earth is not required, but the pin is still necessary to open up the small covers over the live and neutral holes in the socket so you can get the plug in.

I think there lies the correct answer
Something metalic in the construction does not necessarilly mean an earth is required

 

[Adam W]

I don't get why there is a half shrouded earth pin though. Surely it should be either all brass or all plastic?
Has it got BS1363 on it?

 

[cerotus]

Yes, it does have BS1363 and the kitemark on it. All the references I can find to BS1363 say that the earth pin is either all metal or all plastic. not half-shrouded.

 

[tornadoarnold]

we got warned about these plugs when i was doing th pat testing course this year. we were told that they were being put on various pieces of I.T. kit from china, mainly laptops. i was told to take it off and fit a rewirable plug on it where the earth pin is fully exposed.

if you do decide to change th plug on it, i would get it pat tested to make sure everything else is ok with it.

 

[Andyfm]

A customer of mine recently bought an LED kit off ebay from China and that arrived with a laptop type power supply and an IEC lead of about .25mm cable with no fuse in it at all

 

[Graeme Harrold]

There was something recently regarding this on an Acutest e-mail. Problem lies with class 1 items as the plastic round the top can prevent the earth from being connected within the socket outlet, due to the connection point being further down the pin - first to connect, last to disconnect...........

Without being able to see a specification drawing, its not possible to know whether these are legitimate plugs. Personnaly Id fail a class 1 appliance and pass a class 2 with a recommendation to change the plug.

Presume this is what you are talking about........

 

[cerotus]

Yes, the one is the right is exactly it.