Power plugs - nonstandard
Electrical appliances and accessories sold in Indian market must confirm to Indian requirement of plugs and sockets. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) have given full guidelines in IS 1293. While age old Indian manufacturers do follow the requirement but new entrants manufacturing under foreign brand names and imported products rarely follow them. The later are on increase. Not following the requirement is a safety hazard.
Most of us would have experienced mobile phone chargers and other power supplies for electronic gadgets do not fit our Indian sockets. Either they are too loose or too tight.
If they are loose, result is poor contact which will cause plug to be very hot or frequent connection and disconnection of the equipment ultimately causing malfunction. If they are hot, they are also potential fire hazard.
If they are too tight, would require extra force to insert the plug in to the socket. With frequent insertions, ultimately the pins get loose from the molding, plug would be disfigured and damaged. Such plugs are potentially electrical shock hazard.
Below, is a table of 4 of such plugs I pulled out from my house and compared with IS 1293 requirements. None of them meet these requirements. All 4 can not be inserted in Indian 2 pin socket without forcing and damaging them and are too loose in 3 pin sockets.
Wonder what other specs (e.g. insertion and withdrawal force) these plugs do not pass?
Question is: Why such nonstandard and potentially hazardous plugs are available in India? Who is responsible to check them? Why Customs department is not able to stop such imports? India is a big market for exporters from other countries and big manufacturing base for foreign manufacturers. Can't India enforce them to meet Indian standards? I am sure they will all meet our standards as they need Indian market for their survival. In no other country you can see such non-standard goods. Are we not proud of our own standards? more
Most of us would have experienced mobile phone chargers and other power supplies for electronic gadgets do not fit our Indian sockets. Either they are too loose or too tight.
If they are loose, result is poor contact which will cause plug to be very hot or frequent connection and disconnection of the equipment ultimately causing malfunction. If they are hot, they are also potential fire hazard.
If they are too tight, would require extra force to insert the plug in to the socket. With frequent insertions, ultimately the pins get loose from the molding, plug would be disfigured and damaged. Such plugs are potentially electrical shock hazard.
Below, is a table of 4 of such plugs I pulled out from my house and compared with IS 1293 requirements. None of them meet these requirements. All 4 can not be inserted in Indian 2 pin socket without forcing and damaging them and are too loose in 3 pin sockets.
Wonder what other specs (e.g. insertion and withdrawal force) these plugs do not pass?
Question is: Why such nonstandard and potentially hazardous plugs are available in India? Who is responsible to check them? Why Customs department is not able to stop such imports? India is a big market for exporters from other countries and big manufacturing base for foreign manufacturers. Can't India enforce them to meet Indian standards? I am sure they will all meet our standards as they need Indian market for their survival. In no other country you can see such non-standard goods. Are we not proud of our own standards? more
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Presentation by Mr. Pravin Bihani was the need of the hour. I fully agree with his views. There cannot be any compromise with safety of electrical appliances -- particularly for plug-socket type. There should be harsh punishment for selling any appliance which do not strictly comply with BIS specification whether from a shop or via e-commerce. I remember that, about 15/20 years before, there were massive drives from the BIS to inspect the electrical appliances being sold in the market and to weed out any substandard materials found. The same procedure should be reinforced and ambit should be extended to e=commerce sellers also. more
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