Child Item

How to make power points child safe?

Hi all,

I am after a cover to put over a power point in my child’s room.

Im concerned he’s going to touch it, so thought best thing was to get some kind of cover over the top but still keep plug in (flat plug). I know the power point itself looks like it’s going to pop out, I have an electrician coming next week (I am in a rental and have found multiple power points and light switches like this)

this a thing? Am I dreaming?

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Comments

Dave-1

Good Evening @shenay90

Ummm I have not heard or seen of a plate that goes over a power point so it covers whatever is plugged in.

The powerpoint you have now needs to be fixed as the switch looks off kilter so its good that you have an Electrician coming out 🙂

The plug that goes into the power point looks new, If you remove the plug and look at the pins you may find a black insulated covering on the active/neautral near the plug end of the pins. This is to help make it safe for leverage of the plug out of the point so if something happens to be put across the half removed plug/pins its not touching bare metal. (Newer powerboards all require that the plugs have it)

Dave

JacobZ

Hi @shenay90,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

Unfortunately, like @Dave-1, I am not aware of a product that could be used to cover an in-use PowerPoint.

I'd say your best option is to have a chat with the electrician who is coming through. Hopefully, they will be aware of a suitable solution that is up to electrical code.

If not, I would have a look at organisations such as Kidsafe who specialise in child safety. They may have some resources or information that could help.

Jacob

R4addZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/62003#Comment_62003

Hi @shenay90

I think such a cover would actually be illegal. If someone is being electrocuted, the first thing you have to do is isolate them from the power and if there is a cover over the outlet, this would stop you from being able to do so. power points and plugs these days are designed to isolate before fingers can get to them and outlet covers can be bought to cover individual outlets that don't have anything plugged into them,

If you are truly concerned, the best you can do is replace old fuses with RCD or ELCB breakers as these are designed to cut the power before it can do damage.

AlanM52

Hi there @shenay90,

FYI: Someone has fiddled with that power point and replaced the faulty switch mechanism with a new one.

That is now a hybrid HPM/Clipsal power point.

I would like to make you aware of KidSafe Victoria and this is what you need.

Cheers

Child Item