MSA warning on socket converters

Joe Savona

Nov 11th 2009, 12:10

Does it not make more sense if the MSA banned the importation ALL electrical appliances which did not have the correct plug attached to them, and the full instructions were printed in Maltese and/or English.

emicallef

Nov 11th 2009, 09:08

My goodness what a fuss.. all you have to do is to get an adapter that has a fuse .. it is that simple .. as far as I know most ironmongers always suggested to buy the adapters with a fuse ... I cannot understand why we have to blow everything out of proportion..

Rmangion

Nov 10th 2009, 22:28

Great, I remember when I worked in a particular hotel we used to give these for free to tourists, fgreat

simon cutajar

Nov 10th 2009, 21:20

I bought a dvd recorder 6 months ago and the supplier warned me that if i remove the two pin plug I will have no gurentee ! What should i do ?

edward bartolo

Nov 10th 2009, 08:47

Assuming that one cannot change a three pin plug and that such a procedure requires one to have above average intelligence, is in my opinion, not logically justified. Guarantees should not be invalidated if one changes a plug to make it compatible with our British System. This ruling is what is causing all this trouble.

@ EU
Please, revoke this ruling as it is increasing the risk of fire and causing unnecessary inconventience for many customers.

Chris Grillo

Nov 10th 2009, 07:48

While applauding this warning, I think that it is all for nothing. One, the importers should note that the law states clearly that all imported electrical items must use a plug totally compatible with our electrical system.

Secondly, electronic items these days (and most electric units) no longer need an 'earth' or 'ground' wire.

The reason is that these mostly have 'switching' power supplies (using frequency to 'chop' the voltage into equal bits and use as much bits as required - thus not having transformers) , and/or have plastic bodies! What use is the grounding system in a plastic unit?

Ultimately the warning is for safety, and while I agree with MSA, I am afraid nothing will stop people from using these adapters.

Mark Demicoli

Nov 10th 2009, 05:12

The Earth pin is only useful for devices that have a metallic casing. If a live wire were to come loose inside the device and touch the casing, the current is channeled through the Earth wire instead of through whoever touches it.

Since most devices are plastic nowadays, Earthing is not necessary. Further, modern systems have safety switches at the fuse box (not sure if this is standard in Malta yet), so that fuses in each device are not so important as they used to be. If there is a short circuit, the safety switch detects it at the fuse box and shuts down the circuit.

G Chapman

Nov 10th 2009, 02:41

Well done MSA.
So this means that from now on all electrical appliances on the isalnd will be sold with the standard three in plug?? I don't think so somehow, mind you watch this space>>>>>

Claris Galea

Nov 10th 2009, 00:31

Can anyone legally minded confirm that what Joe Camenzuli said about invalidating the warranty if you replace the two pin plug with a three pin plug has any legal truth ?
Personally I replace it every time I buy a two pin appliance , but it still does not have an earthing wire .
The Malta standards authority has woken up from its years of slumber after the market has been selling these adapters for years in their thousands ...pull my other leg MSA !!!!
These converters are only dangerous if you have small children in the house, since adults do not usually poke their fingers into electrical sockets .

Duncan Sant

Nov 9th 2009, 20:42

I have recently bought a multifunction printer from Avantech. The printer came with a 2-pin plug as standard. However, the person selling me the printer gave me an adaptor to be able to plug safely the two pin plug into our 3-pin sockets. Adaptor is like this: http://www.satellitesuperstore.com/images/europlug.jpg and http://www.komplett.nl/img/p/400/113064.jpg Thanks Avantech

r cutajar

Nov 9th 2009, 20:19

@ M S A .........Could you You please make good what needs to be done as soon as possibile for the consumers' peace of mind ? ............standard..? er where have You been ? please .. On shop shelves one comes across food stuff and hardware stuff in any language except ENGLISH let alone Maltese{ honestly I do not expect it in Maltese though I wish to ) unluckily the M S A and O H S A seems to be on the same shelve up up there

DerekM

Nov 9th 2009, 20:06

On moving to Swieqi only a couple of months back Melita Cable installed their box with a two pin plug, does this mean I should return it and ask for a legal version?

Galea. L

Nov 9th 2009, 19:02

Peter Bonnici
Xorta ghandna dritt li jkollna tifsira bil-Malti.
Magna tal-hasil kulhadd jifimha li qed tghid ghal washing machine.
Magna tal-hasil tal-platti tiftiehem.
Plakka tad-dawl tiftiehem ukoll.

Kathy Elliot
Other countries do it in their own language, so why shouldn't we?

Peter Bonnici

Nov 9th 2009, 18:30

@ Galea L. The manuals are in English because had they been written in Maltese they would be littered with words like: Sokit, tripinplagg, kejbil, swicc, huver, woxingmaxin, dixxwoxxer, and all other bastardized words one can think of.

joe camenzuli

Nov 9th 2009, 18:30

The problem is that if a person buys an appliance with a 2-pin plug, he can't just change it to a 3-pin as it will invalidate the warranty.

Jason Pace

Nov 9th 2009, 18:02

I believe these have been around for years. So why now? Whats the alternative?

Insert screw drivers, keys, biros and anything thats fits within the Earth Pin since most appliances come with 2 pins.

GF Cortini

Nov 9th 2009, 17:56

It might EVENTUALLY be a good idea to phase-out our current three-pin sockets for the two-pin ones used on the continent.

The former were useful when we imported most of our electrical goods from the UK (and depended on this country for virtually everything), but seeing this isn't the case anymore this remnant from the past is little more than an outdated, useless hassle for most of us...

Until that happens many people elicit not to change their continental plugs and use them on our UK-style plugs using this contraption. I'd rather they'd do this than put a knife or a biro in the socket as many do...

Stella Anastasi

Nov 9th 2009, 17:45

Some of these socket convertors (KT) have the CE mark displayed at the back of the product...........!?!?!?!?!? Are these banned?

michael catania

Nov 9th 2009, 17:28

In the wrong hands these adaptors are dangerous and have often wondered why they are so easily available. If the MSA is serious it should ban the importation of all electronic and electrical products that do not meet the safety requirements. That way its the manufacutrers" responsibilty to provide equipment that meets the Maltese specifications

Kathy Elliot

Nov 9th 2009, 16:37

Galea L.

We are Maltese and live in Malta, but manuals in Maltese are a problem because the most obscure, arcane words are used, requiring a dictionary and a degree in the language to understand them, and manuals are usually already pretty annoying by themselves. I love the language, but English is admittedly better from a purely practical point of view.

Article

Well, these ARE better than sticking a biro in (I think we've all done that at some point), but they are also a hazzard if there is no fuse anywhere in site. We have several adaptors which come with a fuse at home; bulky and unsightly, but safe.

Mr Cortis

Thank you, I didn't know that we were supposed to be given the appropriate adaptor in such cases. I'll make sure to ask for one next time instead of buying one myself.

s pace

Nov 9th 2009, 16:34

MSA concerns are justified. However, at least do not let them plugged in the socket, when nothing is plugged into them. There is a warning on them to this effect. Also, be careful while plugging them, not to have any metallic objects in hand that can accidentally touch into the slots.

There are new versions of them with a sort of a little springed shutter. However still, do remove them when young children are around.

A. Schembri

Nov 9th 2009, 16:19

My understanding is that in Malta we use the UK standard of 13A pluga. So whay is it no the law as it is inthe UK, that all electricat goods have to come ready fitted with a 13A plug. I too have bought a kettle with a non standard plug European and was told that if I replaced the plug the warrenty was void.

Frederick Attard

Nov 9th 2009, 15:51

Was the MSA in hybernation all these years that these sockets have been imported into Malta?

Another Authority costing us taxpayers money biex isahhnu is-siggu!

MSciberras

Nov 9th 2009, 15:40

This is RIDICULOUS. Are we supposed to applaud someone for informing us about this? Why hasn't the importer, wholesaler and every ironmonger who stocked these 'converters' been hauled to court? It is clear that they are just a piece of plastic that direct the pins into the holes and are not converters at all. If this piece of plastic made it to this picture then someone presumbly knows who was selling it!!!!!
And to the many of the people who wrote below ie
@Saviour Mifsud, J Pace, L Bonnici, edward bartolo, Charels Mangani..............etc.
Cant you see that the piece of cheap plastic is nothing like the converters we normally buy!!!!! Yes it is indeed highly dangerous, just like sticking a screw driver in the third socket to insert a two pin plug!!!!!!!

MSciberras

Nov 9th 2009, 15:34

This is RIDICULOUS. Are we supposed to applaud someone for informing us about this? Why hasn't the importer, wholesaler and every ironmonger who stocked these 'converters' been hauled to court? It is clear that they are just a piece of plastic that direct the pins into the holes and are not converters at all. If this piece of plastic made it to this picture then someone presumbly knows who was selling it!!!!!

Galea. L

Nov 9th 2009, 14:46

Philip B Cortis
We are in Malta, the people are Maltese so the manual should be in Maltese.

Adrian Gouder
Adapters do not waste any electricity. They simply convert one plug type to another.

wally vella-zarb Charmaine Chetcuti Reuben Sciberras
Their answer should not apply and the guarantee continues to apply. Simply changing the mains plug does not mean that you are tampering with the internal workings of the device. How about the Consumer and Competition Division coming public on such issues?

albert caruana

Nov 9th 2009, 14:39

the risk of the two pin unfused is present only because of bad electrical wiring practice (british standards vs EU)
the standard socket in most of europe is not chinese/UK but two round pins and a third connector or band for earth. Plugs and sockets are UNFUSED at plug or socket level but are radial-circuit attached to a fuse.
Equipment having the standard Europlug (2-pin no earth) is not banned anywhere in the EU to my knowledge and is usually safer than equipment requiring an earth connection (dual-insulated is the archaic term for such equipment).
In most highly developed countries ring circuits are banned because of the much higher risk of fire and electrocution. circuit breakers (MCB) and current balance "salvavita" is usually prescribed. and this in countries where 3x20Amp (three phase) is standard.
Please therefore instead of banning these adapters, remove the cause of the danger :- change the electrical wiring standards to ban ring circuits and require that old and new houses and offices rewired according to international = VDE/DIN norms. That would generate a lot of welcome work for the electricians and open the market to a larger supply of electrical goods of quality

Martin Spiteri

Nov 9th 2009, 14:31

Regarding all the complaints of sales men stating that if you change the plug you loose the guarantee; By law a distributor of such appliances should distribute appliances only with 3 pin plugs. Even if he imports any appliance with 2 pin plug, again, BY LAW he should change it for you for FREE or give you an appropriate adapter, not like the one in the picture.

saviour mifsud

Nov 9th 2009, 14:26

I can't understand how our authorities function ?????? After wholesalers and retailers filled the Maltese islands with 2 pin plugs, now they are illegal. The contrary of how things should be done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

J Pace

Nov 9th 2009, 13:57

And what about the stuff we purchase from the internet (with two-pin plugs of various shapes and standards)?

Charels Mangani

Nov 9th 2009, 13:25

These socket converters have been on the market for years now. Where was the MSA during all this time?
Moreover I would ask MSA: If we are banning the socket converters, why should we not also, in the first place, ban the two pin? Why is it that there are so many appliances being sold on the market having a two pin plug? Could we, for example, do away with the two pin mobile charges? Or the two pin transformer for the computer printers? Or the transformers attached to the radio/alarm clocks.. and so on!

L Bonnici

Nov 9th 2009, 13:25

Why are this thing being banned only now? They've been around for years and years and no one ever said anything about them..... I wonder what the MSA were doing all this time!!!

A Kitney

Nov 9th 2009, 13:21

So this converter plug is more dangerous than putting in a screwdriver in the socket or keys????? Come on!!! I believe that with the removal of these converters, people will use more dangerous things to access the power socket. As every day consumers a big majority do not care when they buy a product if it is with the three pin or two the important thing is that they have their appliance or whatever it is... Get Real MSA !!!

Albert Farrugia

Nov 9th 2009, 13:19

More beaurocratic nonsense! In any case, is it the consumers fault that in this so called "single EU market" different countries use different plugs and sockets? We use the UK system. But many imports come from the continent, with the simple European two-pin plugs. I have been plugging such appliances into our British sockets for ages. I never had the least incident. And why is it that on the continent appliances are not fused, while in our British electrical system they are? Why the difference? Both in the UK as well as on the continent, the electric supply has the same technical characteristic: 240V with 50 cycles.

edward bartolo

Nov 9th 2009, 13:17

Why all this red tape to change a plug?! This ruling is nothing less than disguised RED TAPE.

If the original plug is incompatible, one should be able to change it with the standard one. The idea of using cumbersome adpators, increases the risk of fire as it can easily introduce a loose connection.

@ EU and Malta
Welcome back to the Dark Ages of Enlightened Control From the Few!

Charles J. Buttigieg

Nov 9th 2009, 13:14

All the appliances that we purchase with 2-pin plugs are obviously not wired to take the 3-pin plugs. Can somebody tell what is the safety advantage in a 3-pin plug when the earth pin ( the third pin) cant be connected?

Albert Borg

Nov 9th 2009, 13:14

If these sockets "pose a serious risk to consumers", why were they permitted importation??? I don't think that these are locally-made, no?

Another case of 'l-id il-leminija.. ma tafx x'qed taghmel ix-xellugija'!!!

Andrew Cachia

Nov 9th 2009, 13:11

Why not switch to the continental system?

Philip B Cortis

Nov 9th 2009, 13:05

To ALL

Since Malta joined EU (and I think even before) we (I’m a distributor / retailer) are bound to sell items with the CE mark, with the correct electrical connections, and with a user manual in a local official language. Failure of so, the customer have a right to ask for a “fix” or refund, and there is no time limit on such, even after 100 years and even if the shop / company close. This is a personal liability. To explain in a bit more details

CE mark – not only electrical appliances has to have the CE mark, but also other items like toys etc. This mark is to be displayed on products that are according to the EU safety regulations

Correct Electrical Connections (also part of the CE). Most importers import items with a different plug from the 13A we use in Malta. This is legal as long as the required, correct adapter is also given for free with the item.

In Malta, you should be given a user’s manual in either Maltese (impractical in most cases) or English. This is the law so no Italian manuals please.

Tonio Cini

Nov 9th 2009, 13:03

Should we also return all appliances we have with a two pin plug to the retailer as we cannot change them to a safer 3 pin as we will lose the guarantee?

Or MSA is informing us that it is more safer to open the socket with a knife, screwdriver or scissors rather than these socket converters!!!??!!

J. Schembri

Nov 9th 2009, 12:58

"Moreover, they allowed a two pin plug to be inserted directly into the socket without the use of a fuse to protect the appliance being connected to the mains supply."
As far as I know the only places where plugs are fused are where IEE regulations are in force: Malta and the UK.
In the first place MSA should see to it that appliances sold in our supermarkets and stores should be provided with a 13 amp plug with a properly rated fuse.

Adrian Cachia

Nov 9th 2009, 12:55

MSA should make sure that all appliances being imported to the country all come with a UK Standard 3-Pin plug then. What about mobile chargers, Laptop Chargers, Digital Camera chargers? What will MSA do about that?

These type of adaptors have clearly labelled that they should be removed from the socket outlet when not in use. Are we going back to revert to sliding in a screwdriver or pencil / biro whatever fits in the earth pin on the socket outlet??

Adrian Gouder

Nov 9th 2009, 12:50

@Reuben Sciberras: I too bought a kettle with a two pin plug, but to be fair, the traider gave me a suitable three pin converter which considers both the earth and the fuse, i.e., it was the proper converter to use.

Still, such configurations can be hazardous just the same, apart from being a little wastful on electricity. Perhaps the authories may enforce the requirements that all plugs should conform to Malta's standards and requirements.

wally vella-zarb

Nov 9th 2009, 12:49

"It reminded retailers that they were required to ensure that electrical appliances were handed over to consumers fitted with a plug or similar fused device of a suitable three-pin configuration."

All well and good. However, when I contacted a well known supermarket / discount store as to whether I was allowed to change the two-pin plug that was fitted to a battery charger purchased from their San Gwann outlet with a proper three-pin plug, the email answer that was sent from the parent company in Italy informed me that, if I did so, my three-year warranty would become void!

Needless to say, I prefer safety and so I said goodbye to the warranty.

J Brownie

Nov 9th 2009, 12:43

@C Micallef
yes you are very right - but if they pose a risk let's eliminate it in the bud not waiting for a tragedy to happen before we act so there is nothing wrong in having MSA being proactive

Jurgen Scicluna

Nov 9th 2009, 12:43

About time eh ...

Andy Towler

Nov 9th 2009, 12:43

I would like to echo some of the earlier comments. If the MSA is so keen for us not to use these adaptors (which I use regularly and have quite a few of), how about forcing retailers (particularly large companies like Homemate and Scan) to only put products with UK 3-pin plugs on their shelves.

Only 3 months ago I bought a steam iron from Homemate which had a European style 3 pin plug on, not the Malta standard UK-style one.

Charmaine Chetcuti

Nov 9th 2009, 12:41

@ Reuben Sciberras

The same thing happened to me when I bought a hairdryer. I was told that if I changed the two pin plug with a safer three pin plug I would automatically lose the guarantee.

patrick mifsud

Nov 9th 2009, 12:41

there is a special plug in which you can fit the 2 pin plug without cutting the wire and hence without loosing the guarantee. today quite a lot of outlets are giving these plugs when you purchase an appliance or an electronic gadget with a two pin plug. they are easy to assemble since they fit into it and are tightend by a screw driver

Joseph Casha

Nov 9th 2009, 12:39

Isn't that the whole point of these converters? you buy them so you can expose the socket and use a two pin plug!

Paul Barrett

Nov 9th 2009, 12:37

Oh Dear. In sensible hands they are safer than sticking an electric screwdriver or worse, another article into the Earth hole to open up the safety gates so that a two pin plug is then forced into the three pin socket.
Sometimes I really wonder at the over zealous safety precautions taken - all it needed was a label stating "DO NOT LEAVE IN SOCKET WHEN NOT IN USE".

C Micallef

Nov 9th 2009, 12:34

Before banning these socket converters make sure that appliances being imported to Malta come fitted with a 3-pin plug in the first place.

Reuben Sciberras

Nov 9th 2009, 12:28

Recently I bought an electric kettle with a 2 pin which is not fused. When I asked the salesperson whether I could change it to a normal 3-pin for safety reasons, I was told that if I change it, I would lose the guarantee.

Sharon Grech

Nov 9th 2009, 12:26

"It reminded retailers that they were required to ensure that electrical appliances were handed over to consumers fitted with a plug or similar fused device of a suitable three-pin configuration."

That's news to me. Most appliances sold in Malta - or at least the one's I've bought - seem to have non-compatible plugs. It's about time this requirement was enforced. It's so frustrating having to fiddle around with adapters or to change plugs. Not to mention the safety hazard.

L Micallef Capello

Nov 9th 2009, 12:22

These adapters have been in use for a very long time.

Today we have a more modern similar adapters that literally plugs in the modern two pin plug of modern appliances.

The thing is that old appliances are not compatibile with the modern adapters. So instead of using a screw driver or scissors to manually plug it a normal 3 pin socket I use the old adapter. I always thought this adapter was safer than using the scissors or screwdriver to plug a two pin plug to a three pin socket.