Also there are 2 very similar types of 2 pin plug which sometimes
causes confusion. The modern EU ones cant fit a UK socket, the pins
are too fat and too closely spaced. Forcing doesnt work. There are
also historic French plugs that look similar and do fit our sockets
with a bit of fiddling, but very rarely does one see one of those used
over here. They have 4mm pins. I dont think I've seen one in over 20
years.
The current EU standard is a 2 pin plug that looks like the one you have
not seen in 20 years. The grounded version is the same with a third
pin of the same diameter, but slightly longer between them but below.
The two "fat" round pins, were only used in some parts of Europe and
does not fit in the U.K. outlets.
According to an answer to a previous post, modern U.K. outlets have
shutters which are opened by inserting the ground pin. This is to
prevent the two round pin plugs going in on their own, albeit with
a little force.
I know the adaptors of which you spoke, I have several. They take a
two pin "euro" plug and clamp onto them. They have to be installed
with a screwdriver, so they are not for casual useage and won't
fall out halfway when pulled, like the simple two pin U.S. to "euro"
plug adaptors.
I recently bought a rice cooker made in the U.S. for export. It had
sat unused for years. It was 220 volt, but had a U.S. plug with one
of those simple adaptors on it. Since I consider the chance of it
staying together while I unplugged it near zero, as soon as I tested
it to make sure it worked, off came the plug and a three pin "euro"
plug went on it. The third pin is of no real use, the cord is only
two wire.
However, I've seen enough of them to know that I am in the very
small minority. Most people just use the adaptors and be done with
it. I assume the smarter but less handy ones tape them together.
Geoff.
