Electric knife: strange wiring: request advice

[mark641]

The knife is Russell-Hobbs, ECO1255, model 13892.
I work for a charity which receives (among other
things) electrical goods
which must be tested before we can give them to
recipients. The PAT meter gave weird results: normally
when the device being tested is switched off the meter
says "lo load", but on this knife it did not
do so. I tested further:
when the knife is off, the resistance between live &
neutral is ~~ 1/2 Megohm. So if you leave it plugged
in & switched off, it will
draw a continual leak current 1/2 ma. (that is an
estimate: I dont have a
meter to measure this). So I opened it up &
the supply wires go
into a PCB which I assume is for radio interference
suppression. And this PCB is upstream of the switch.

Please: is the knife supposed to be made this way
or is it defective?
Am I right in my belief that this violates
the Regulations?

thank you RM Damerell

 

[telectrix]

think you'll find it's perfectly OK. some appliances will give low readings due to the RF suppression.

 

[ackbarthestar]

Most likely a class II item in which case the single pole switching could be in either phase or neutral (seems to be something that our European cousins - until October - have adopted )

 

[Charlie_]

Did you also check inside the plug?
Sometimes the flex can be damaged under the cord grip and needs to be cut and made off into the plug again

 

[James]

many electronic , rather than simply electrical, devices have a small continuous draw whilst on standby. you should be careful doing high voltage (insulation) tests on such an appliance. it can damage the components and turn a perfectly safe and functional appliance in to a piece of weee.

 

[mark641]

Thank you who replied. Plug is moulded so I cannot check it,
but while the knife was open I did check correct polarity.
R-Hobbs sent an email: it is faulty.
I will probably rewire to put the PCB downstream of the switch.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - good on you for help out and re using stuff.
In this case though, with a small £20 electrical appliance that Supplier states has a manufacturing defect - I’d just recycle it.

 

[Lister1987]

Thank you who replied. Plug is moulded so I cannot check it,
but while the knife was open I did check correct polarity.
R-Hobbs sent an email: it is faulty.
I will probably rewire to put the PCB downstream of the switch.

What did they deem the fault to be and the cause?

 

[RonaldMC]

Hmm. How it work? I wonna buy a few.

 

[mark641]

What did they deem the fault to be and the cause?

(Apology: reply delayed, I have been away). They did
not tell me. I have not yet decided, but either I can
rewire to make the switch go upstream or I
condemn the knife.

 

[telectrix]

just plug it in. chickens, ducks and pigs don't care which pole cuts their heads off.

 

[DPG]

Thank you who replied. Plug is moulded so I cannot check it,
but while the knife was open I did check correct polarity.
R-Hobbs sent an email: it is faulty.
I will probably rewire to put the PCB downstream of the switch.

I'm a big fan of recycling stuff and avoiding chucking stuff away, but I would think carefully before modifying a product, especially if it is to be sold/given to someone else.

 

[Timbo]

If you modify it from manufacturer's specification you are voiding the CE certification and also becoming the "manufacturer" of that appliance.