Help explaining plug dilemma

Basq

Girlfriend bought me a Storex mpix 357HD Media Player from Pixmania for Christmas but here's the problem, the plug attached is an odd one. Might be a European plug (as they're a French company) and the adapter Pixmania sent with it (not in the same box) is entirely wrong.

To help explain, attached (as photo1.jpg) is the plug on the Storex Media Player, it's two bulbous circular prongs which don't seem to fit into any plug connection I have comfortably (in fact, there's quite a bit of pressure to take it out once partly in).

I've also sent a picture of the adapter Pixmania sent (photo2.jpg). I've plenty of these adapters.. they're used with the electric razor type plugs (flat with two prongs that just push into the bottom). There's absolutely no way the plug with the Storex will fit into it. Any adapter I can buy, or should I just chop off the Storex plug head and re-wire it?

Very frustrated.. and can't be arsed with Pixmania's woeful support.

Slaphead07

basquille wrote: »

.... or should I just chop off the Storex plug head and re-wire it?

Yep. Simple solution.

coffey-16

iv one like that as well for my digital camera...i just turn off the power going to the socket, stick a steak knife in d earth to open d flaps and put it in that way....the only problem is you'll have to keep it in that socket unless you want to go through the whole process again

omb0wyn5ehpij9

coffey-16 wrote: »

iv one like that as well for my digital camera...i just turn off the power going to the socket, stick a steak knife in d earth to open d flaps and put it in that way....the only problem is you'll have to keep it in that socket unless you want to go through the whole process again

Not exactly the safest option though!

snappieT

Three options:
1. Get Adaptor
2. Rewire
3. If the lead is just a figure-8 or kettle lead (as in, it can be detached from the back of the device), just buy the appropriate irish lead.

byte

Ah, the Schuko! And to think we used to use those plugs here once upon a time!

Personally, I'd just lob the plug off and rewire a new one.

There are UK-Schuko adaptors if you prefer not to wire a plug, any electrical shop should have them.

Slaphead07

Bryn wrote: »

Not exactly the safest option though!

do you think there's a current throught the earth pin?

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Slaphead07 wrote: »

do you think there's a current throught the earth pin?

Very blonde comment i made earlier on, i was half asleep

Basq

Cheers lads.. it is indeed a Shuko.

Just checked and it is a simple kettle lead from the adapter to the Shuko plug head. Checked the two kettles in my house (both on their way out) and both are wired directly into the base.

I've rewired plugs before but not particularly comfortable with it. And seeing I don't have a spare plug head, might just get a kettle lead from parent's house - bound to be one there.

Thanks again lads.. and cheers byte, I can finally put a name to it!

TequilaMockingBird

Aren't they the same leads that are used on a PC? I'm sure I got one in the computer place in Market Yard beside the garden centre Basquille, for a couple of quid.

TequilaMockingBird

Slaphead07 wrote: »

do you think there's a current throught the earth pin?

Still probably not the best thing to advocate though?!

omb0wyn5ehpij9

sueme wrote: »

Aren't they the same leads that are used on a PC? I'm sure I got one in the computer place in Market Yard beside the garden centre Basquille, for a couple of quid.

You are quite correct on that one!

Basq

sueme wrote: »

Aren't they the same leads that are used on a PC? I'm sure I got one in the computer place in Market Yard beside the garden centre Basquille, for a couple of quid.

Yeah, exact same ones alright. Cheers sue.

I own 3 laptops and a Mac Mini... not one spare power cable lying around.

There's definitely some spare ones lying around either my parents house or brothers house so I'll pick one up tomorrow.

Solair

You've three options:

1) Get a "Schuko" adaptor:
They look like this . This will perfectly safely connect your plug to an Irish socket, and will make the earth connection correctly. The adaptor in the thread further up is not suitable for Schuko.

Or, a permanently fitted one like this for a neater job :



Available here : http://www.lindy.ie/earthed-schuko-plug-converter/73096.html

The version they sent is for the smaller unearthed version of the plug.




2) Cut the plug off, and wire on an Irish one.

3) Replace the cable with an Irish/UK version. Any computer shop has them in stock.

Basq

Crisis averted!

Went searching in the press with my old surround sound system and... my 14 week old Yorkshire Terrier almost took it as his chew toy