Misleading connector ?

[ericmark]

Thank you for pointing out the error on this forum. But really this needs to go to trading standards I am sure now you have emailed TLC and ML accessories (the manufacturer). TLC will I am sure withdraw the produce, but it's unlikely only TLC are selling this, so informing trading standards will ensure other outlets are also made aware of this error.

 

[Grizzly]

Kentishman,

Are you absolutely sure that the covers will not fit on the other way round?

In all the other pictures you posted in this thread, and on the TLC link, the sockets are quite clearly shown as housed in the cover with the protruding flange/collar. The pins are housed in the other cover.

The wording on the covers is always 'CONNECT TO MAINS' on the flanged cover, and 'CONNECT TO APPLIANCE' on the other cover.

My first thought when I saw your picture was: "he's got the inserts in the wrong covers".

 

[EFLImpudence]

I am tending to agree with Grizzly as the picture on the TLC site are not the same as the OP's original.

 

[securespark]

I have got hold of one and it is wrong.

I emailed TLC and got a reply from the manufacturer saying they have quarantined all stock. Ditto TLC.

 

[ericmark]

My thanks to "securespark" clearly you have done the right thing. I would hope this means all items have been withdrawn and corrected?

 

[JohnW2]

I have got hold of one and it is wrong. I emailed TLC and got a reply from the manufacturer saying they have quarantined all stock. Ditto TLC.

Good work. However, there's still something a bit confusing about this. Maybe I'm over-optimistic, but I would have thought that it's pretty unlikely (although not impossible) that they will have manufactured non-interchangeable covers with the wrong instructions moulded on them - so it would seem much more likely that the covers were interchangeable, and the items simply incorrectly assembled. However, we've been reassured that they are not interchangeable - is that the case with the one you got?

Kind Regards, John

 

[securespark]

I can't seem to swap them over.

But even if they were interchangeable, they could still not be sold "as-is" and would have to be recalled, re-configured and sent out again.

Even if this were possible, I suspect this would not happen. The company would just bin the lot and charge the fabricator in China for a replacement batch.

 

[securespark]

I am tending to agree with Grizzly as the picture on the TLC site are not the same as the OP's original.

No that's true. I'm not sure if the picture on the TLC site is of a different product they have failed to update or the same product at a different angle, but if you look at the picture the OP posted, the part number on the connector is 2121B and, although that is not TLC's part number, it is the part number quoted to me by the MD of the company.


The following is their response to my email:


Dear Mr Abbott



Your email has been forwarded to us and I wanted to thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We have now quarantined all stock whilst we carry out a thorough investigation as to how this happened, and at the same time we are contacting all our customers that may have purchased this item. Please let me reassure you that this is an isolated incident within the history of our company.



Once again, my sincere thanks.



Kind Regards



Arie Rosenfeld

Managing Director

Knightsbridge_ML_SIG (2)

ML Accessories Ltd.

Unit 4 Foster Avenue

Woodside Park

Dunstable

Bedfordshire

LU5 5TA



Tel: 01582 887764

Fax: 01582 887756

Web: www.mlaccessories.co.uk

 

[JohnW2]

I can't seem to swap them over.

Fair enough.

But even if they were interchangeable, they could still not be sold "as-is" and would have to be recalled, re-configured and sent out again. ... Even if this were possible, I suspect this would not happen. The company would just bin the lot and charge the fabricator in China for a replacement batch.

Yes, I agree with all that. I was just wondering/speculating about 'how it had happened'. If the bits aren't swappable, I guess the only explanation is that the mouldings really were made/labelled incorrectly.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ericmark]

I would guess the person who made the error could not read English so did not realise the error had been made.

Like the road sign in South Wales which gave in English directions to car park in Welsh it said "I am out of the office at the moment I will email on my return" or words to the effect.

Clearly the people who made the sign and erected the sign had no idea of what it said.

Clearly one could just buff off the writing there is no real need to tell people which way around to fit a plug and socket.

The worry is of course that the old stock is sold on market stores and the like and is not destroyed.

 

[JohnW2]

I would guess the person who made the error could not read English so did not realise the error had been made.

Yes, I imagine that's quite possible. Mind you, in the converse situation, I think I could probably identify that Chinese labelling was incorrect, even though I certainly cannot read Chinese!

There are, of course, many stages of the process at which the error could have occurred - the drawings provided from the UK may even have been incorrect. Whatever, the final buck stops with the (UK) 'manufacturer', who should have inspected the items when they were imported.

Errors happen, and it sounds as if this 'manufacturer' is doing (or, at least say they they are doing) about all they can in a situation like this.

Kind Regards, John

 

[333rocky333]

reminds me when i was an apprentice, there was a row of about ten shop displays, all fitted with the duraplugs and they were labelled correct, so to work on one i thought it would be easier just to unplug it at the display before, however unplugging it I got a shock of the pins.
Turned out they were delivered prewired, but some idiot must have had a spare plug half and decided to feed from the wrong end.
What a boring job swapping them all over and what a pain when you forget to slide the cover on first

 

[skotl]

...and what a pain when you forget to slide the cover on first

Yep - been there

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Can't do it with those connectors, but I wonder how many people, when they get to the Doh! moment when fitting a rubber BS 1363, reach for the stanley knife rather than the screwdriver?

 

[plugwash]

Can't do it with those connectors, but I wonder how many people, when they get to the Doh! moment when fitting a rubber BS 1363, reach for the stanley knife rather than the screwdriver?

That style of rubber plug (with the small base and the large wrap around cover that you have to feed the flex through) seems to have fallen out of favour.