> >I've reported it to the suppliers of this equipment. Will 
> >chase
>>them up until I get an accepatble result, eg. product 
>>withdrawl
>>and free replacements. Still techincal questions to be 
>>answered
>>though, ie. is it a design fault or component failure, 
>>or... ?

> I would go straight to Trading Standards or the local 
> electricity authority
> inspectors, as well as the suppliers. By going to the 
> regulatory authorities
> pressure gets to bear on the supplier to fix it, and 
> recall any units in the
> field, rather than let things slide and forget about it.

Alas, the authorities here are (sample of 1) able to be 
cowered by a large enough loud enough businessman.

In my case it was a Zip toaster involved . A time honoured 
name but quite probably largely badge engineered these days. 
(July 2002 my records show)

The 'boss' was a very loud very stroppy very obnoxious 
bullying and supremely confident individual who was all 
sweetness and light while he thought he could bend me to his 
will ("just bring it in here and we will have it tested..." 
/ Yeah Right.) - but a fire breathing ranting yelling 
naughty wording monster once crossed. The electrical 
inspectors started off very aggro when they saw how bad the 
problem was, but I was very surprised how well he managed to 
moderate them in very little time.

They did a newspaper recall but it would have been of most 
limited efficacy and there will still be numerous of these 
out there still trying to kill people. Some may have 
succeeded.

I devised a simple test which allowed me to check them while 
still boxed :-).
Enter wholesalers.
Crouch down at toaster display.
Open each box, pull out mains cord end.
Plug into tester.
Depress toasting lever.
Capacitance reading up and down from (phase and neutral 
joined ) to body was enough to show if both leads were being 
broken. Even capacitance up was really enough. Never got 
"outed" while testing many dozens in various stores and 
wholesalers. I found a number of duds and bought a few to 
refer on.

The toaster is "safe enough" if you don't poke metal things 
in it when it is mains live but "off" (but that's what 
people do when toast is stuck and that's WHY they require a 
2 pole switch by law OR if you dont carry it using the two 
slots as finger holes (bowling ball style) 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . That's what my Nephew did. I 
cringe at the thought on ANY toaster BUT it should have been 
safe and it could easily enough have killed him.

So, I hope you have better luck with your quest.

I did actually get paid a modest fee by the authorities for 
my report to them.
Here FWIW (no photos)

        http://others.servebeer.com/misc/ziptoasters.doc






        Russell 

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