In recent years ‘plug and go’ devices have become popular with those keen to save money on electricity bills and especially with the rapid rise in energy bills we have all seen recently, these devices seem like a really good idea. But are they?
The manufacturers of these products market them as energy saving devices which can reduce energy costs by up to 35%. However, ESC has uncovered evidence that they can do no such thing and in fact could be electrically unsafe.
ESC commissioned an independent laboratory to carry out tests on the safety and performance of these devices. They selected five samples randomly, each with a voltage range of 90-250 volts with rated loads ranging from 2500 watts to 50,000 watts.
The tests carried out on these samples revealed a range of safety failures for all of the products in the sample. Also, the manufacturers claims of energy saving were found to be untrue.
It was discovered that the devices had serious design flaws and the laboratory could not find any evidence to support the energy saving claims made.
These results prove that those products in the randomly selected sample could not help consumers save energy at all and are actually unsafe.
This misleading of consumers is shocking and the safety failures of the devices are an even bigger concern.
It is very easy for well meaning consumers to buy such a device and use it regularly not knowing that they are in fact not saving any energy and could be putting themselves at serious risk.
Written by Sara Thomson
