Are these safe? - EU plug to UK

waqasahmed · Jun 5, 2020

Hi,

I've got some EU plugs where you can't simply replace them with a UK one as well as a toothbrush which has two prongs

Would this be safe for an EU charger? - Pretty much exactly as pictured

US $0.81 15% OFF|European Euro Eu 2 Pin To Uk 3Pin Power Socket Travel Plug Adapter Converter international plug adapte pop socket plug adapter|Electrical Plug| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

Or this for a a toothbrush adapter? I bought one for about £1 but it's an easy picture

0.71€ |Adaptateur prise d'alimentation électrique ue à royaume uni, type boîte ronde à deux broches 4.0mm conversion à 3 broches prise de rasoir avec fusible 13A | AliExpress

Achetez malin, vivez mieux! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

Or this for a schuko plug?

2.91€ 20% de réduction|Connecteur de fil ue à royaume uni, convertisseur de cordon d'alimentation universel, 250v, 16a, 13a, mise à la terre, adaptateur BS | AliExpress

Achetez malin, vivez mieux! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

I'd rather get something that's absolutely safe where I have no real option but to use an EU plug or if I've got a toothbrush with two prongs. If these aren't safe, what would you recommend as valid alternatives?

Lucien Nunes · Jun 5, 2020

Adaptors that clamp permanently onto a Europlug or Schuko plug are safe and effective, provided they are made to the applicable standards. They are sufficiently safe that it is permissible to sell goods in the UK with such an adaptor fitted, instead of a UK plug.

I would be cautious about buying them from an unknown vendor overseas. In general many plug-in adaptors that turn up with grey imports are substandard, non-compliant or downright lethal. I have not seen the same problems with permanent clamp-on adaptors, but it is quite possible that unsafe counterfeits exist. I would buy from a recognised UK electrical accessory supplier.

One snag to beware of: some devices intended for use in the bathroom in the UK have two pins a bit like a Europlug but parallel and fatter - these are BS4573 shaver plugs and AFAIK are not compatible with Europlug adaptors. If necessary, these should be connected via a BS4573 shaver adaptor.

waqasahmed · Jun 6, 2020

Lucien Nunes said:
Adaptors that clamp permanently onto a Europlug or Schuko plug are safe and effective, provided they are made to the applicable standards. They are sufficiently safe that it is permissible to sell goods in the UK with such an adaptor fitted, instead of a UK plug.

I would be cautious about buying them from an unknown vendor overseas. In general many plug-in adaptors that turn up with grey imports are substandard, non-compliant or downright lethal. I have not seen the same problems with permanent clamp-on adaptors, but it is quite possible that unsafe counterfeits exist. I would buy from a recognised UK electrical accessory supplier.

One snag to beware of: some devices intended for use in the bathroom in the UK have two pins a bit like a Europlug but parallel and fatter - these are BS4573 shaver plugs and AFAIK are not compatible with Europlug adaptors. If necessary, these should be connected via a BS4573 shaver adaptor.

Thanks. I already have my toothbrush connected to one of those clamp ones above but not schuko. Should I instead buy a BS4573 adapter?

Lucien Nunes · Jun 6, 2020

If it's mechanically secure and makes good contact, it's probably fine. Make sure the adaptor is fused at no more than 3A though.

pirate · Jun 6, 2020

Some of these are absolutely fine, and indeed are supplied as standard on some appliances, ie you get what appears to be a UK 13A plug, but it'd actually a euro plug inside, just as you illustrated. However, as Lucien stated, some are substandard, often because the plugs are not wide enough, so there is a (small) risk of fingers contacting the pins when you insert or withdraw the plug. IMHO, this is usually a very small risk, much smaller than the risk when inserting/withdrawing a euro 2 pin plug, and i haven't seen many reports of countless people being electrocuted in Europe when using such plugs. if the connection is a good, secure one inside the adapter, it is probably ok.