German Power Plug

[Archive7]

I ordered yesterday a hot plate cooker from Amazon Germany, rated 2500 Watts.
The power mains plug is going to be German type F as shown below
As I must replace the power plug with an Israeli type in order to use the hot plate on a daily basis, I am concerned that cutting off the power plug is going to invalidate the warranty, before I even test it that it is working and not faulty.
I know that there are power adapters that I can use, but I am not sure if they can handle 2500 watts power appliances.
Please let me know if I should risk using an adapter before changing the plug. Thanks.

 

[Captain Jack]

Don't you use a modified version of the above with the third pin being the earth, so you should be able to plug it in 'natively' (without earth but still).

 

[Archive7]

Don't you use a modified version of the above with the third pin being the earth, so you should be able to plug it in 'natively' (without earth but still).

I must use earth (ground) for safety

 

[archive10]

Don't you use a modified version of the above with the third pin being the earth, so you should be able to plug it in 'natively' (without earth but still).

That's exactly what we have in DK.

But all appliances are delivered in DK with the European Schuko-plug (as shown in OPs post).

So page one of all Danish user's manuals says "DO NOT operate simply by plugging in, even though is the most obvious and it works. Instead, you must buy an adapter plug, or have a professional fit a new plug with the correct third ground leg."

I find this a bit cheap from the manufacturers - at least they could delivery the appliance with the correct power cord - not just one that happens to work but is not actually according to regulations...

The mentioned adapter can easily handle the wattage.
But the cheapest and most convenient is to fit a new plug.
This does not invalidate the warranty (at least not in DK).
And I can easily do (and have done) this myself multiple times.

 

[2cvbloke]

Lop it off and wire on a local plug, if the company complains with any warranty work, then ask them to supply you with a replacement unit with an appropriate local plug, which they won't, because it's cheaper to sell with a single Schuko plug than to localise it to all the various versions of the Europlug...

 

[Archive7]

That's exactly what we have in DK.

But all appliances are delivered in DK with the European Schuko-plug (as shown in OPs post).

So page one of all Danish user's manuals says "DO NOT operate simply by plugging in, even though is the most obvious and it works. Instead, you must buy an adapter plug, or have a professional fit a new plug with the correct third ground leg."

I find this a bit cheap from the manufacturers - at least they could delivery the appliance with the correct power cord - not just one that happens to work but is not actually according to regulations...

The mentioned adapter can easily handle the wattage.
But the cheapest and most convenient is to fit a new plug.
This does not invalidate the warranty (at least not in DK).
And I can easily do (and have done) this myself multiple times.

I bought few months ago a hot plate and immediately changed the plug myself with one that uses ground.
It is working perfectly and the new one that I ordered is a present to a family member.
In Israel, all power appliances come with the Israeli plug, but I don't expect Amazon Germany to have different power plugs for each country.
It is a risk that I take and so far Amazon have been quite understanding with any issues that I had in the past.

 

[Terryl]

I ordered yesterday a hot plate cooker from Amazon Germany, rated 2500 Watts.
The power mains plug is going to be German type F as shown below
As I must replace the power plug with an Israeli type in order to use the hot plate on a daily basis, I am concerned that cutting off the power plug is going to invalidate the warranty, before I even test it that it is working and not faulty.
I know that there are power adapters that I can use, but I am not sure if they can handle 2500 watts power appliances.
Please let me know if I should risk using an adapter before changing the plug. Thanks.

View attachment 103887

Rated wattage of the equipment divided by the service voltage would equal the total amperage drawn by the device, so if I'm correct in assuming that your AC service voltage is 220, then the total current draw would be 11.36 amps.

90% of the consumer grade AC to AC adapters out there are rated two ways, 15 amps or 20 amps maximum service, there are a few that go higher or lower, but if the standard one is rated at 15 amps then your safe.

Just like this one.
www.110220volts.com/univ-set-10.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAuJXFBRDirIGnpZLE-N4BEiQAqV0KGv98Ld6el2Ve27Wp2U7eczG46ULOPjLvFcSlWJhUpAgaAkC98P8HAQ

 

[PaulR]

If you have the following type of plug and socket in Israel

Then it looks as though the live and neutral pins of the Schuko plug will fit straight in to your socket. If that's the case then I'd see if the two earth points line up as well and then insert a long pin in there between the two for safety's sake.

 

[Channel Hopper]

T
But the cheapest and most convenient is to fit a new plug.

I have to disagree

 

[Archive7]

Rated wattage of the equipment divided by the service voltage would equal the total amperage drawn by the device, so if I'm correct in assuming that your AC service voltage is 220, then the total current draw would be 11.36 amps.

90% of the consumer grade AC to AC adapters out there are rated two ways, 15 amps or 20 amps maximum service, there are a few that go higher or lower, but if the standard one is rated at 15 amps then your safe.

Just like this one.
www.110220volts.com/univ-set-10.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAuJXFBRDirIGnpZLE-N4BEiQAqV0KGv98Ld6el2Ve27Wp2U7eczG46ULOPjLvFcSlWJhUpAgaAkC98P8HAQ

Thanks. That's a really nice adapter.
The trouble is that it costs more than the hot plate itself, but might be worth it buying one to have around in the future.

 

[Archive7]

If you have the following type of plug and socket in Israel

Then it looks as though the live and neutral pins of the Schuko plug will fit straight in to your socket. If that's the case then I'd see if the two earth points line up as well and then insert a long pin in there between the two for safety's sake.

Thanks for the great idea.
Yes, the two pins (live and neutral) of the German plug can be inserted in the socket with a bit of force (slightly thicker than the local plug).
Will see what I can do about the grounding.

 

[Archive7]

I have to disagree

There is a position as a regulatory engineer in a large company here.
I think they will be thrilled to receive your application for the job.

 

[PaulR]

Another possibility. Take the cable and plug off a similarly rated scrap device and change it over to the hotplate. Then you can keep the original cable and plug intact in case you need to return the hotplate.

This is basically what I do when I take electrical items (washing machine, fridge, microwave, etc) over to France from the UK. I have a huge supply of "kettle" leads with Schuko plugs that are delivered, together with a UK lead, with every computer and printer we get at work. I've probably got at least 30 cables over in France waiting to be used.

 

[archive10]

Thanks for the great idea.
Yes, the two pins (live and neutral) of the German plug can be inserted in the socket with a bit of force (slightly thicker than the local plug).
Will see what I can do about the grounding.

Just buy a three-prong local plug and fit it (properly, as if done by professional installer).

Costs < EUR10.
Takes 10 minutes.
Eases your sleep (less concern for relative's well-being).
Will last lifetime of appliance.

Next topic, please.

 

[archive10]

Another possibility. Take the cable and plug off a similarly rated scrap device and change it over to the hotplate. Then you can keep the original cable and plug intact in case you need to return the hotplate.

This is basically what I do when I take electrical items (washing machine, fridge, microwave, etc) over to France from the UK. I have a huge supply of "kettle" leads with Schuko plugs that are delivered, together with a UK lead, with every computer and printer we get at work. I've probably got at least 30 cables over in France waiting to be used.

Unless the cables terminate in an IEC plug, you will be modifying the appliance (by opening and attaching a different cable) by fitting a new cable.
If you modify the appliance, warranty may be void.
If you have a properly re-plugged appliance, the warranty should still cover if the plug fitted is approved (and thus as good) or better than the one supplied.

 

[Terryl]

I have to disagree

Ahhh the old chewing gum foil trick, the old fix all for electrical land....Or in other words, keep 911 on the speed dial....But most can't find the number 11 on their phone.

 

[Terryl]

Thanks. That's a really nice adapter.
The trouble is that it costs more than the hot plate itself, but might be worth it buying one to have around in the future.

If that hot plate cost less that that adapter then it may not last as long as the adapter.

 

[jeallen01]

Replacing a Schuko plug with an equivalent local one should be an easy task for you - and I doubt that Amazon would make much of it in a warranty claim situation if the replacement is done correctly and safely. That's what I would do if they sent something with the wrong national plug fitted (which they haven't so far, although some ebay suppliers have - and some of them do have "British" plugs of an entirely unsafe design, and I do complain to the UK Trading Standard authority about that!).

 

[Terryl]

The PC industry (and others) standardized all their power connectors and voltage inputs to the power supply's long ago....So I don't see why the AC service plugs should not follow along....But what a mess that would make, and what one would win out????

 

[jeallen01]

The PC industry (and others) standardized all their power connectors and voltage inputs to the power supply's long ago....So I don't see why the AC service plugs should not follow along....But what a mess that would make, and what one would win out????

Going on 50 yrs ago or so, the International Electrotechnical Committee ("IEC") came up with an "international" plug for "everyone" to adopt with that objective - and so how many countries have actually adopted it? PRECISELY ONE - Argentina!

TBH, if "someone" asked "you" - or, even better, the "collective USA"! - to change all your various NEMA-style plugs with the many & various voltage / current / pin configuration /current rating combinations (NO other region in the World has anything anywhere near as varied and confusing a selection!) to ONE completely different one that is acceptable Worldwide then what would you (and the "collective USA") say/do? The "collective US" reply would probably "unprintable" (certainly here)!

That's the World as we have it, and that's what the "collective We" have, and will have to, live with for the long-foreseeable future.