How large a layout is being planned?

My layout is 12ft x 2ft 6 and like many on the forum, I'm a Powercab user and they, as an example, like all NCE power units come with only twin pin plugs as per USA. All you need is a three pin shaver adaptor and your problem is solved! 

Digitrains highlight the need of the shaver socket for use with the NCE P114 power unit (Powercab/Powerpro).http://www.digitrains.co.uk/ecommerce/search/powercab-power-supply.aspx

The same solution will apply for the european stuff too. It's not as if you will be running trains 24/7 (or maybe you will) then you might need to seriously review how you power a layout.

Your household supply will be be fused protected, three pin shaver adaptors are fused protected which you can fit a 3 amp fuse

While I wouldn't poo hoo safety regulations, I have to live with them, I feel common sense needs to come into play here.

Yer !
As I said, you raise an interesting topic and made me think about all my stuff, being a dinasour I would just reach for the old shaver adaptors that we still have from when we went camping 'abroad' back in the 60/70s !

So basically you are divided into two ? :
1 ) is there a legal work-round
because (2 ) what if it all comes to grief !

Dunno about (1)

If (2) would/could your insurer refuse ?
I, being only an innocent, would assume they could not if _you_ had not done anything unreasonable. They, the insurer would need to recover their loss against the vendor/ manufacturer for it is they not you that is competent to decide what is correct/ reasonable /legal useage ?

How am I doing so far ?

Quote from: Only Me on January 05, 2015, 02:59:57 PM
Sometimes threads go too far...delve to deeply into the quagmire.... I think this is one of those

You may be right I dursnt say
but sometimes they even begin that way ??
I nearly used that horrid expression "from the get-go" !

But it doesnt stop them being interesting if one has an afternoon to kill 

What is the likelihood of it coming to grief and burning the house down? I am assuming that you would not have the system running 24/7 and that you would be in attendance whilst it was up and running - and maybe able to turn off the electricity if things did go bang?

If I am being dense  and have missed the point then I apologise 

Getting a bit lost here, was going to suggest one of the multipin adapters
in airport shops but perhaps too risky........

The simplest and easiest fix is as only me said. Cutthe plug off and swap for a three pin. Most transformers use standard three wires. Live,  neutral and earth.

The other thing to remember not all pictures shown are what you get they are generic.  The outlets over here often swap adapters to suit uk regs.

Quote from: Pengi on January 05, 2015, 03:46:27 PM,
,

missed the point then I apologise

It is a good point
, ,
no I dont think so, except perhaps that AncientHermit (OP) wanted to explore all avenues in detail ?

and just for discussion, perhaps it could be argued that even though you were nominally in attendance, wot about when you went off looking for that cup of coffee that NPN forgot where he put ?

Ok I'll get my coat as well

I'm not sure I understand this thread. Why not just by the controller with the correct plug for local outlets?

If it's one of the main manufacturers, I'd have thought it would be in their interests to be able to supply a plug that fit the market they were selling in. The NCE Powercab I bought came with a UK plug..........

I'm not convinced safety laws are supposed to be "worked around", or there would be little point in them.........

Quote from: Pengi on January 05, 2015, 03:46:27 PM
What is the likelihood of it coming to grief and burning the house down? I am assuming that you would not have the system running 24/7 and that you would be in attendance whilst it was up and running - and maybe able to turn off the electricity if things did go bang?

If I am being dense  and have missed the point then I apologise 

Coincidentally a few days back there was a report on RMWeb of the 3 pin UK moulded plug on a 3D printer catching fire. The plug was fitted with a 13 amp fuse which turned out to be a dummy so basically would never have fused. OK there was a fault somewhere else to allow too much current to flow but you may not even be able to rely on what appears to be a compliant plug.

Curious, the plug catching fire. The fire usually occurs where the short is, as that generates the heat. Even if fitted with a dummy fuse, the 30amp fuse in the consumer unit should have popped.

Quote from: Malc on January 05, 2015, 05:32:23 PM
Curious, the plug catching fire. The fire usually occurs where the short is, as that generates the heat. Even if fitted with a dummy fuse, the 30amp fuse in the consumer unit should have popped.

History/mystery is here:- http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/94161-help-exploding-plug-on-3d-printer/

Quote from: Malc on January 05, 2015, 05:32:23 PM
Curious, the plug catching fire. The fire usually occurs where the short is, as that generates the heat. Even if fitted with a dummy fuse, the 30amp fuse in the consumer unit should have popped.

Could it be that it was a plug with a built in DC power supply - this quite common with things like printers. If that was the case, then a fault in the power supply part could have caused the heat. There have been a number of reports of USB type 13A plug power supplies catching fire - e-cigarettes for instance.

Last few posts made me curious and I had a look at my Gaugemaster
plug in wall transformer which appears to be sealed with no access
to a fuse if there is one, must dig out the instruction leaflet to see if
this is mentioned .

Quote from: Agrippa on January 05, 2015, 05:47:44 PM
Last few posts made me curious and I had a look at my Gaugemaster
plug in wall transformer which appears to be sealed with no access
to a fuse if there is one, must dig out the instruction leaflet to see if
this is mentioned .

As far as I am aware plugs with built in power supplies do not generally have accessible fuses. Quick examples - USB power supplies/chargers. Mains network connectors. Printer Power supplies

Hold on fellows. There are standards and there are regulations and there are laws.

As I understand it, the manufacturing and import regulations require anything with a plug to have a wired plug to fit the 13 amp UK standard socket complaint to the relevant British Standard. Exemptions can be obtained for other European standards but not the American 110 V three bin spade type.

Adapters are commercially available to convert "approved" plugs to fit the British 13 amp standard square pin plug.

Mess around and use any non approved set up and not only will you have insurance claim trouble, the electricity supplier may well claim damages from you as well for disruption to the network.

The trouble is that it's virtually uncontrollable. Damage after the event often destroys incriminating evidence so the chances of either the local authority, the electricity supplier, the adapter supplier, the  appliance supplier or yourself as the haplas user being caught are almost nil.

Maybe time to relax. If you wedge wires into the socket using matchsticks you probably deserve all that's coming. Forcing a Euro flat two pin into the standard outlet can work but only if socket and appliance fit well and do not overload the plug's rating.

The safest bet is to use an approved adapter with the necessary approval marks molded on. Please note that Chinese text probably does not count.