Help with Electric Wiring

[rogspur1]

Hello

I purchased a new lap top charger today as I left mine in the uk
It works perfectly but I thought to make it easier to use I would change the sealed two pin plug to a three pin
When I cut the wires from the sealed two pin plug I noticed it had two black wires and one blue so does anyone know which is the live and if the blacks are not the live where they go please on a three pin plug
Thank you

[cluffy]

Can`t help I`m afraid but have you put it into Google?

[Keithcaley]

My understanding is that as the 2 pin plug can be inserted either way around, they don't bother to differentiate between live and neutral - unlike the UK where we take great care to do so!

The two identically coloured wires (black, in this case) are the live and neutral, and as the computer power supply is a sealed unit, you don't need to worry about which one goes to the live (right hand side, fused) pin, and which one goes to the neutral (left hand side) pin of the plug. The differently coloured wire goes to the earth pin.

You could use a continuity tester - or a bulb and battery! - to confirm this on the plug /wire assembly that you have cut off, if you have any doubts.

If you still do not feel confident enough that you can determine the correct connections, then do ask a competent electrician to do it for you.

[rogspur1]

Hi
Many thanks for your response it's much appreciated and I will try in the morning
Thank you

[Groucho]

My understanding is that as the 2 pin plug can be inserted either way around, they don't bother to differentiate between live and neutral - unlike the UK where we take great care to do so!

Yes Keith, why is it we are so particular about live and neutral and the rest of the world couldn't give a monkey's?

Simply shocking!

[rogspur1]

Phew it worked lol so thanks again

[Keithcaley]

Funny stuff, that electrickery...

[waddo]

Don't worry yourself about it all Groucho, now you are out of the EU you can just do what you want and be all Live or all Neutral or you can be like here and use any of the many colors for anything, change them for different ones in the same circuit or just be all earth!

[waarigeo]

Why not buy a 3 pin adaptor???

[Keithcaley]

Why not buy a 3 pin adaptor???

'Cos they're CRAP !!

Seriously, there is insufficient contact area on these adaptors to provide a sufficiently low resistance current path for any but the lowest wattage appliance. I have seen many that have overheated and destroyed the 13 amp socket into which they were plugged.

To be fair, they may be just about adequate for a table lamp or a laptop, but I believe that it is good practice to fit a 'proper' ( ) 13 Amp plug with an appropriate fuse in all cases.

Not that the BS1362 13 Amp plug is without its failings, but in my view, it is still the best choice for domestic use, where a 'British' 13 Amp socket is available as a connection point.

[thornaby]

The best electrical plug in the world, by far, the British three pin plug! Another good reason for leaving the eu, before those dictators make us dump it and adopt their crap!