is this legal/normal?

[zak_swan]

i live in the uk.
i bought a set of speakers unpacked them then noticed plug for wall socket is the 2 pin european one.
there is no adapter supplied.
WTF!
i suppose i could get adaptor plug thing out of B&Q or something but why should i?

[reboot]

Where did you buy them?

[Cole]

Many items now come with a two pin European plug (Such as my Loewe TV) but usually in my experience have an adapter fixed. Odd that this didn't unless you got this from a Continental based company.

Also, having bought cheap sets of speakers in PC fairs, there has been the occasion where this happened to me, but I just put this down to 'one of those things' (mind you I already had an adapter to recharge my shaver anyway ).

BUT I believe that it is only against the law to sell any electrical item with NO plug. Who remembers the days when one had to fit a plug to every purchased electrical item?

[zak_swan]

bought the speakers out of a pc shop, pile it high sell it cheap kind not the pc world kind, having lots of idiots pretending they know what they are talking about and trying to sell u warranties that cost more than product.

speakers were'nt dirt cheap they were £45
i don't use electric shaver, i wet shave.
suppose it's off to B&Q for me.

[Tool Man]

Make sure they can handle 240V before you buy a B&Q shaver adapter.
If they have a contenental plug, chances are they will only run on 110V.

[bugster]

Make sure they can handle 240V before you buy a B&Q shaver adapter.
If they have a contenental plug, chances are they will only run on 110V.

Nope, most (if not all)of Europe is 230v-250v.

@zak_swan, AFAIK, any electrical item sold through a UK retailer must have a 3 pin plug attached. " pin plugs are only allowed on a very limited range of products. With a 3 pin plug, the earth pin can be a dummy if the device meets certain requirements. At the very least they are breaking consumer protection laws that state that any item sold must be 'fit for purpose' which this clearly is not.

Either take the item back and demand a refund or fitting of a fully legal plug for free, or swallow your pride and fit a 3 pin plug yourself.

[KBeee]

Make sure the speakers are supposed to be mains fed before you try anything else. Look for a label.
Most computer speakers are powered via an adaptor to reduce the voltage and rectify the output. Of course, the adaptor could be in-built into the speaker cabinet, but check the label to make sure you're not putting a 240v supply into a 12v speaker.
BTW, all Europe is now "officially" 230v

[zak_swan]

i bought a plug thing out of b&q the 2 pins snap into it then cover goes over and a screw holds it together.
there is an power adaptor on the lead going into speakers.
i've bought a printer out same shop in past the guy gave me a uk lead to go into it cause the one in box was 2 pin.
they must import from europe at cheap prices, so i get stuff as cheap or cheaper as buying online but suppose there is disadvantages.

[808smokey]

is there a switch on the back by the power cord plug? Many items have a 110/220 volt switch to allow for universal power requirements.

[zak_swan]

written on the back of speakers beside where power cord goes in it says, 12 v ac in and the adaptor is 12v.
they have'nt blown up yet so i think it's ok.