Hi Mark, on my two trips to England, I never found much consistency in
electrical plug configuration. Even lamps and other appliances I saw for sale
in stores seemed not to have plugs affixed...you purchased the type you needed
separately. Seems like standardization was not a top priority as far as I
could tell. Wal-Mart sells electrical adapters that are supposed to make
American appliances work with most European outlets. Anyway, these inexpensive
adapters worked well for me.
Jack
-----Original Message-----
From Mark Endicott [mailto:mark at nashvilletn.org]
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 8:50 PM
To: Spridgets
Subject: UK Electrical Mains No LBC
I need a little help here, I took my first trip to the UK last year and had
the required battery chargers for Laptop, Camera, Cell Phone, PDA, etc. I
bought one of those little travel power adapter kits to take with me. On
the first day in a London hotel, I plugged it in and sparks flew out of the
box and I poped a main fuse to the room. I was just another "dumb" tourist
at that point and I had to promise not to try it again.
Now I am on my way back to London for a week and a second week in the
Cotswolds. I really need power. I have checked out the transformer and
can't find anything wrong (replaced fuses) with it, it still works! Having
been in the electronics field for the last 40 years I am not going to let
this get me again. I am looking at a UK three prong plug that should be 240
Volts (50Hz). There are two large pins on the plug that are on the same
plane and a third that is lower and in between the other two. Would I be
correct in assuming (dangerous) that the Hot and Neutral are on the two
parallel pins and earth is on the lower one? I may not be in as much
trouble this time as my laptop and camera charger are rated 120-240 50/60Hz
and should work ok, but my cell is listed as 120 only so I still need juice.
Help!
Mark
Nashville
BN1
(and maybe another Spridget soon:)
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