Explain the difference in construction between an appliance that has a 2 pin plug and one that has a 3 pin plug?

There are some totally rubbish adapters on sale that accept all sorts of crazy configurations of plugs and none of them correctly. The one above is ideal as it has an actual continental European socket on the back, not some approximation of it. Youre like a parrot!

Just plug it into the bloody extension lead! Oh thanks so much! Such a wonderful contribution to the thread.

Same as you,it came with a 2 pin European spec plug. The 2 pin plug with my CO2 injection kit was and is also a "transformer" plug too,so it cant be simply cut off as people seem to think. Doing that would be VERY DANGEROUS.

Did you see the plug on the OP`s filter? Its nothing like the obvious transformer one in your pic. Its a 2.5 amp 2 pin plug.

Visit Bruthal's homepage! Did you see the plug on the OP`s filter? Its nothing like the obvious transformer one in your pic.

Its a 2.5 amp 2 pin plug. Yes I know that. What Im saying is that I have seen many people simply chop off the 2 pin transformer end of their applience and think thats its just a case of whacking on a normal 3 pin plug.

Hense me saying that this it a no no and very very dangerous to do. Buy a 2 pin to 3 pin plug adaptor instead. What is wrong with plugging in the two pin directly into the 3 pin socket?

If there's a standard installation in the house the RCB will trip in case of a snag. What is wrong with plugging in the two pin directly into the 3 pin socket? If there's a standard installation in the house the RCB will trip in case of a snag.

As has already been said in the thread, the difference between the 2 pin plug used directly, or using it through a short extension power strip, or fitting a 3 pin plug, or using a fused adaptor is it will now have a fuse covering the appliance power chord. The RCD does not come into it here with a non earthed and likely double insulated appliance. Visit Bruthal's homepage!

As has already been said in the thread, the difference between the 2 pin plug used directly, or using it through a short extension power strip, or fitting a 3 pin plug, or using a fused adaptor is it will now have a fuse covering the appliance power chord. The RCD does not come into it here with a non earthed and likely double insulated appliance. How does that work in the country of origin of said appliance?

How does that work in the country of origin of said appliance? Im sure it works fine there, and it will work directly plugged in here, but in ireland we have fused plugs on our 20amp or 32amp socket circuit powered appliances. The fuse is an added safety device.

If an appliance develops a fault then a proper rated plug fuse would make it less likely to go on fire etc, even though the fuse is primarily to protect the appliance power chord from a continous overload. Such an overload that the fuse is designed to protect the cable from, would likely be as a result of a fault in the appliance, or from damage to the cable causing a short or partial short circuit. The OP question was is it safe to use the 2 pin plug, and the answer is it is required to have a fuse in plugs of appliances used in ireland.

Visit Bruthal's homepage! The OP question was is it safe to use the 2 pin plug, and the answer is it is required to have a fuse in plugs of appliances used in ireland. So, is it safe?

So, is it safe? Indeed it is, as long as nothing ever goes wrong with the appliance, which it might never do. So its not overly dangerous.

So if you are in the same position, then use fuseless plugs if you wish, if you prefer not to go and get a fused plug. There was a time we had no RCD`s, was it safe before them? Visit Bruthal's homepage!

Indeed it is, as long as nothing ever goes wrong with the appliance, which it might never do. So its not overly dangerous. So if you are in the same position, then use fuseless plugs if you wish, if you prefer not to go and get a fused plug.

There was a time we had no RCD`s, was it safe before them? Good answer, thanks for that.