Cyprus-Forum.com

[kurupetos]

I will unplug and replug my computer a couple of times. Damn europlugs!

[cyprusgrump]

I would be interested to know how many people are killed/maimed/hospitalised in Cyprus (or in Europe) each year as a result of using these (apparently lethal) two pin plugs...?

Presumably those that are saying how dangerous they are know...?

[larnacaman]

Are you saying that all those countries who have the 2 pin system do not have basic electrical knowledge? I didn't say that each individual can do whatever he wants. I said that they should be able to choose between the 2 standards! And if the retailers would change the plug on each item that could solve the problem ... but it would be an additional cost that the consumer would pay. And to tell you the truth I trust much more the plug that comes factory made and sealed, rather than some person in some shop messing with the wires!

The point is that Cyprus HAS a single standard for power outlets, it is the the UK's 13A 1361 outlet, there are not 2 standards here though some will try to argue that there is!!!
The fact that the Cyprus government seems not enforce EU statutory policy on imported electrical goods is another matter. ....That's something that needs urgent action from consumer groups, to force them to comply, for the safety of the general public here!!! Your presently being treated as a second class country, where electrical safety is not much of an issue for your government....

As i explained previously, most of the imported electrical goods come from EU manufacturers normally Germany, France etc, even if the appliances have actually been manufactured outside of the EU like China etc. ...So any goods that are generally on sale here, from the bigger supermarkets and well know electrical appliance stores will be supplied with SHUKO type plug tops. Some of those appliances will be Class 2 (double insulated) and will have a moulded plug top without a means of earthing. They are NOT dangerous as such as they will meet CE requirements/standards for a Class 2 appliance. The main problem here is that these plug tops have no in-built means of polarity, so can be plugged into these adaptors often supplied, in a reversed polarity (that are by the way, provided with a scrapping earth means of earthing) . The system these types of plug tops are designed for, require a double pole breaker (MCB) panel which Cyprus does not have, our panels have single pole breakers!! And it is not a simple exercise to change a single pole CU to accommodate DP breakers, especially if your CU is full or almost full. ....Are you now beginning to understand the differences between the different systems???

Which is why, all imported appliances be they Class 1 (Earthed Appliances) or Class2 (Unearthed Appliances) must be provided with a plug tops suitable for our Cyprus electrical system, the same way they are in the UK the rest of western Europe. What many stores are providing are adaptors, ....which are useless as far as polarity is conserned!! So you see it's nothing to do with other countries not having ''basic electrical knowledge'' they do, but they have protective systems that differ considerably from ours, they are not better or worse, just different but they are ''NOT compatible'', when it comes to plug top configurations!!!

The bottom line Sotos, is that you cannot choose to have different systems within your home with your present CU (distribution panel(s) ). Not unless you go to considerable expense to change your CU, which then, will not comply with Cyprus's wiring regulations maybe. Far easier to ensure ALL electrical goods and appliances imported into Cyprus, be provided with the appropriate plug top, and NOT with a non polarised adaptor!!!

[Sotos]

There can only be one reason why most things imported to Cyprus have the 2 pin plugs: For some reason they are cheaper to import than the exact same device with a 3 pin plug. The government could force everybody to import only devices with 3 pins but this would mean only one thing: higher prices. If somebody believes that this is not the case then please explain to me why importers import devices with 2 pin plugs instead of 3 pin plugs even though they often have to offer an adapter for free.

The point is that Cyprus HAS a single standard for power outlets, it is the the UK's 13A 1361 outlet, there are not 2 standards here though some will try to argue that there is!!!

What I argue is that there should be 2 standards. The "old" and the "new" and both can coexist together for many years until most homes switch to the "new" standard. For this I assume that the electricity that comes in the house is the same for both and that all differences are in the wiring of the house itself. Is this assumption wrong?

The bottom line Sotos, is that you cannot choose to have different systems within your home with your present CU (distribution panel(s) ). Not unless you go to considerable expense to change your CU, which then, will not comply with Cyprus's wiring regulations maybe.

I am building a new house so I can build it as I want it. But unfortunately now I am forced to build my house with the UK standards even though most of the devices I will be using will have the 2 pin plugs because that is what is sold here. The result is something less safe, less convenient, and less elegant (adapters etc)!!

[CBBB]

Change the bloody plugs, it only takes five minutes!!

With the amount of time you have wasted on this thread you could have changed plugs on about 1000 appliances!

On the other hand, you could have changed one appliance, electrocuted yourself and given us peace and quiet!

[kurupetos]

Change the bloody plugs, it only takes five minutes!!

With the amount of time you have wasted on this thread you could have changed plugs on about 1000 appliances!

On the other hand, you could have changed one appliance, electrocuted yourself and given us peace and quiet!

[larnacaman]

There can only be one reason why most things imported to Cyprus have the 2 pin plugs: For some reason they are cheaper to import than the exact same device with a 3 pin plug. The government could force everybody to import only devices with 3 pins but this would mean only one thing: higher prices. If somebody believes that this is not the case then please explain to me why importers import devices with 2 pin plugs instead of 3 pin plugs even though they often have to offer an adapter for free.

You are WRONG!!! I have already explained twice, and i don't intend to do so again!!! If these manufacturers can and do supply ALL the UK appliances with 13A plug tops then why do you think it's going to be more expensive to do so here??? If you don't understand simple terminology you shouldn't be here writing about what you don't understand...

The point is that Cyprus HAS a single standard for power outlets, it is the the UK's 13A 1361 outlet, there are not 2 standards here though some will try to argue that there is!!!

What I argue is that there should be 2 standards. The "old" and the "new" and both can coexist together for many years until most homes switch to the "new" standard. For this I assume that the electricity that comes in the house is the same for both and that all differences are in the wiring of the house itself. Is this assumption wrong?

NO!! ....that is the very last thing you would want. You have the safest standard and you want to toss it, ...Amazing!!! NO they cannot co-exist, CU arrangements are totally different. I think i explained that to you already too!! If you did change to the German system, your CU will need to be twice the size, at least, ...Still keen to change?? Geezus this is bloody hard work!!!

The bottom line Sotos, is that you cannot choose to have different systems within your home with your present CU (distribution panel(s) ). Not unless you go to considerable expense to change your CU, which then, will not comply with Cyprus's wiring regulations maybe.

I am building a new house so I can build it as I want it. But unfortunately now I am forced to build my house with the UK standards even though most of the devices I will be using will have the 2 pin plugs because that is what is sold here. The result is something less safe, less convenient, and less elegant (adapters etc)!!

Think yourself bloody lucky that you have UK electrical standards in Cyprus.... If you don't want to use those adaptors, and your not prepared to partition those responsible to ensure your appliances are supplied with the correct plug top, ...then fit those appliances that you buy, with the correct plug top YOURSELF, ....Simples!!!
As for the rest of your statements, it's pretty obvious you haven't a clue about whats electrically safe and what isn't, and what's more you don't want to listen to someone that does. Which makes you a danger to yourself

[CBBB]

As for the rest of your statements, it's pretty obvious you haven't a clue about whats electrically safe and what isn't, and what's more you don't want to listen to someone that does. Which makes you a danger to yourself

Perhaps Sotos wants to compete for a Darwin Award!

[supporttheunderdog]

I hope not: we have recently lost too many CFer's as it is!

[B25]

Sotos,

we have a standard here, it is much better that the euro standard, the goods are NOT cheaper because they come in 2 pin plugs, it's because the importers get them a ta price and rip us off. No electrical appliance in Cyprus is cheap. Your problem, speaking as a cypriot, is you just don't want to accept anything British. Larnacaman is totally correct. I hate those MFs that provide goods with 2 pin plugs and then I have to go out and get a plug. Come on, lets be sensible, there is no price for safety, especially electrical safety.

LMan, i'm with you. Unfortunately, you will not get through to Sotos as he hates anything to do with the British.