Do you know which plugs are safe to use in Cyprus?

13 AMP wall power sockets found in all Cyprus homes are designed exclusively for BS 1363 plugs (British 230V wiring system). FOR YOUR SAFETY and the correct operation of connected electrical items, ALL plugs connected MUST conform to BS 1363. 

In our experience none of the above plugs are safe for use in Cyprus, yet almost every home will have many of these cheap chargers from China, converters and non BS 1363 plugs in use, supplied by some of the biggest electrical retailers in Cyprus.

What's the problem?

• Many of the electrical appliances imported into Cyprus are from Greece and other countries that do not use the British electrical wiring system adopted by Cyprus. They are almost always supplied with plugs not designed to be plugged into BS 1363 sockets installed in every Cyprus home.
• There is a general misconception in Cyprus that forcing international non British plugs into a BS 1363 sockets is acceptable. Passed on through friends and family members is the dangerous practise of learning how to open all the socket pins to allow for a non BS 1363 plug to be forced in.
• There is also a lack of information for consumers about the potential risks of using converters (they are not all the same even if they allow you to plug in a 2 pin plug electrical item).

The effect.

• Converters of all shapes and sizes are sold to unsuspecting members of the public. Many retail stores provide free converters with electrical purchases with no explanation on their correct use, they never explain the dangers of inserting international plugs into these adaptors upside down for example (Neutral and Line reversed), or the dangers of swopping converters found in the home which do not have a Earth connection (potentially a lethal risk of electric shock to the user). ~ Almost every home we visit has at least one such situation.

The result.

• Electrical items are plugged into wall sockets with their polarity reversed which can be unsafe, and may damage or shorten the life of expensive electrical appliances like fridges, washing machines, tumble driers and heaters etc.
• Metal appliances that must be connected to Earth are often plugged into converters by mistake that do not have a Earth connection. This is potentially a electric sock risk to the user and the reason why it's our opinion that all converters should be avoided being brought into the home. Items get thrown out and old converters are kept, they then get used on new items brought into the home incorrectly.
• Years of abusing BS 1363 wall sockets by home owners and office working forcing 2 pin international plugs into them causes damage to the safety and integrity of the sockets. Even if later on a correct plug to BS 1363 standards is plugged into the socket, the socket pins have often become lose and broken causing over heating of the plug and a potential risk of fire.

The solution.

• When buying electrical appliances and equipment in Cyprus, check that it's supplied with a BS 1363 plug, if its not, ask the retailer to fit the item with a correct British standard BS 1363 plug. If they do not offer this service and insist the adaptor supplied is adequate, then we suggest you get a British qualified electrician to change the plugs for you. If there is an issue over voiding the warranty by changing the plug, buy the item anyway and again contact a British qualified electrician to explain how to use converters properly and safely and to get the sockets tested in your home before use.

For a home safety check of all the plugs and sockets in your home, call Limassol Electricians