Publishing and copyright information

The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the document was last issued.

The following BSI references relate to the work on this document:
Committee reference PEL/23
Drafts for comment 15/30295207 DC; 18/30377193 DC

Foreword

Publishing information

This British Standard is published by BSI Standards Limited, under licence from The British Standards Institution, and came into effect on 30 April 2016. It was prepared by Panel PEL/23/‑/13, Travel adaptors, under the authority of Technical Committee PEL/23, Electrical accessories. A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

Supersession

BS 8546:2016+A1:2018 supersedes BS 8546:2016.

BS 8546:2016 remains current and will be withdrawn on 31 October 2021.

Information about this document

Text introduced or altered by Amendment No. 1 is indicated in the text by the tags . Minor editorial changes are not tagged.

Presentational conventions

The provisions of this standard are presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Its requirements are expressed in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “shall”.

Commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in smaller italic type, and does not constitute a normative element.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

1 Scope

This British Standard specifies requirements for the construction, rating, marking, dimensions and testing of travel adaptors intended for the temporary connection of electrical equipment. It applies to travel adaptors having at least one plug or socket‑outlet portion compatible with BS 1363 plugs and socket‑outlets, which are suitable for the connection of a non‑BS 1363 plug, or to a non‑BS 1363 socket‑outlet.

Travel adaptors incorporating USB circuits for charging devices are also covered by this standard.

This British Standard applies to travel adaptors intended for use in household, commercial and light industrial premises where:

the nominal supply voltage does not exceed 250 V a.c. single‑phase, 50 Hz to 60 Hz; or
the rated current of the travel adaptor does not exceed 13 A and is not less than 5 A.

Travel adaptors within the scope of this British Standard do not convert voltage.

This British Standard excludes adaptors conforming to BS 1363‑3 and conversion plugs conforming to BS 1363‑5.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Classification

5 General requirements

5.1

5.2

6 Type testing

6.1

6.2

6.3

6.4

6.5

7 Rating

8 Marking

8.1 Requirements for marking

8.2 Test methods

9 Dimensions and dispositions

10 Clearances, creepage distances and solid insulation

10.1 General

10.2 Clearances

10.3 Creepage distances

10.4 Solid insulation

10.5 Requirements for printed wiring boards and equivalent construction

11 Accessibility of live parts

11.1 Requirement

11.2 Test method

11.3 Travel adaptors with detachable plug‑pin portions

11.4 Socket apertures with protection by shutters

11.5 Socket apertures without shutters

11.6 Single pin insertion

11.7 Earthing contact

11.8 Fused travel adaptors

11.9 Dismantling

11.10 Resilient covers

12 Provision for earthing

12.1 Requirements

12.2 Test method

12.3 Insulated metal parts

13 Construction

13.1 Current‑carrying parts

13.2 Sealing compounds

13.3 Plug portion

13.4 Fuses

13.5 Fuse contacts

13.6 Socket‑outlet portions of the travel adaptor

13.7 Torque imposed on a socket‑outlet and provision for withdrawal of travel adaptors

13.8 Socket contacts

13.9 Verification of the maximum withdrawal force

13.10 Verification of the minimum withdrawal force

13.11 Rotation of plug pins

13.12 Abrasion of plug pin sleeves

13.13 Resistance of plug pin sleeves to heat and pressure

13.14 Travel adaptor plug pins and ISODs

13.15 Strength of plug pins

13.16 Insulated shutter opening device

13.17 Travel adaptors with BS 1363‑style non‑solid and/or nickel plated pins and/or ISODs

13.18 Configurable travel adaptors

13.19 Travel adaptors incorporating USB outlets

13.20 Travel adaptor switches

13.21 Electronic components incorporated in travel adaptors

14 Screws, current‑carrying parts and connections

14.1 General

14.2 Screws, nuts, rivets and similar features

14.3 Electrical connections and current‑carrying parts

15 Resistance to ageing

15.1 Requirements

15.2 Test method

16 Resistance to humidity

16.1 General

16.2 Requirements

16.3 Test method

17 Insulation resistance and electric strength

17.1 Insulation resistance

17.2 Test method

17.3 Electric strength

18 Temperature rise

18.1 Requirements

18.2 Test conductors

18.3 Mounting procedures for travel adaptors with a non‑BS 1363 type plug pin portion

19 Mechanical strength

19.1 Requirements

19.2 Tumbling barrel test method

19.3 Pendulum impact test method

19.4 Plug pin retention

20 Resistance to heat

20.1 General

20.2 Resilient materials

20.3 Non‑resilient insulating materials

21 Resistance of insulating material to abnormal heat, and to fire

21.1 Requirements

21.2 Glow‑wire test method

22 Resistance to excessive residual stresses and to rusting

22.1 Current‑carrying parts of copper alloy: resistance to excessive residual stresses

22.2 Ferrous parts: resistance to corrosion/rust

Bibliography

BS 8546:2016+A1:2018

Travel adaptors compatible with UK plug and socket system. Specification

Current

Published:

31 Oct 2018