Electricity Connectors and Voltages

Hi All

Haven't been to some of those groups for a while:-)

Some of you will have seen this, but this is probably the best web-site
I've seen for a comparison and description of what you'll need for
connectors when you travel.

Electrical Connectors

http://www.topline.tv/lang/electrical/plugs.html

If you are travelling Europe, those variations in Switzerland and Italy
can catch you out. The two prong non-earth European plug will fit
either, but the Italian and Swiss earthed plugs will not fit a European
socket.

If you are coming my way, note that the Australian socket shown is for a
15A plug with a higher (wider?) earth slot, the 10A earth is the same
height as the active and neutral.

Cheers, Alan, Australia.

"Alan" wrote in message
news
Hi All

Haven't been to some of those groups for a while:-)

Some of you will have seen this, but this is probably the best web-site
I've seen for a comparison and description of what you'll need for
connectors when you travel.

Electrical Connectors

http://www.topline.tv/lang/electrical/plugs.html

The USA one is misleading, implying there is a top connector for all their
plugs, when most of the plugs and sockets I have encountered only have two
pins.

It also implies that customers in the UK have to fit their own plugs to
products. Supplying goods without fitted plugs has been illegal for several
years now.

"Alan" wrote in message
news
Hi All

Haven't been to some of those groups for a while:-)

Some of you will have seen this, but this is probably the best web-site
I've seen for a comparison and description of what you'll need for
connectors when you travel.

Electrical Connectors

http://www.topline.tv/lang/electrical/plugs.html

The USA one is misleading, implying there is a top connector for all their
plugs, when most of the plugs and sockets I have encountered only have two
pins.

It also implies that customers in the UK have to fit their own plugs to
products. Supplying goods without fitted plugs has been illegal for several
years now.

"Alan" wrote in message
news
Hi All

Haven't been to some of those groups for a while:-)

Some of you will have seen this, but this is probably the best web-site
I've seen for a comparison and description of what you'll need for
connectors when you travel.

Electrical Connectors

http://www.topline.tv/lang/electrical/plugs.html

The USA one is misleading, implying there is a top connector for all their
plugs, when most of the plugs and sockets I have encountered only have two
pins.

It also implies that customers in the UK have to fit their own plugs to
products. Supplying goods without fitted plugs has been illegal for several
years now.

I am perhaps unaquainted with previous posts, but ALL plugs are two
pronged and rectangular, not rounded, in the US, as well as 110-129 v.








"Iti is better to be vaguely right than precisely wrong.
--J. M. Keynes

I am perhaps unaquainted with previous posts, but ALL plugs are two
pronged and rectangular, not rounded, in the US, as well as 110-129 v.








"Iti is better to be vaguely right than precisely wrong.
--J. M. Keynes

Sorry, meant 110-120 v.








"Iti is better to be vaguely right than precisely wrong.
--J. M. Keynes

ALL plugs are two pronged and rectangular,
not rounded, in the US

The standard 120-volt outlets in the U.S. used to have
two vertical slots, but at some point in time they started
adding a 3rd opening -- a D-shaped hole that accepts a
round plug -- as a safety measure for grounding purposes
in case the electrical device plugged into it is defective.

In older buildings you'll still find 2-hole outlets, but
in newer buildings you'll find 3-hole outlets.

If a plug only has 2 prongs, it'll still plug just fine into a
3-opening outlet; you just won't get the added safety of
a ground. However new appliances that use more power
now came with 3-prong plugs, and can't be plugged into
one of the older 2-prong outlets unless you use an
adapter (which can be purchased for about a dollar at
any hardware store).

James



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Remove "NOSPAM" from my address when sending me e-mail.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
-

ALL plugs are two pronged and rectangular,
not rounded, in the US

The standard 120-volt outlets in the U.S. used to have
two vertical slots, but at some point in time they started
adding a 3rd opening -- a D-shaped hole that accepts a
round plug -- as a safety measure for grounding purposes
in case the electrical device plugged into it is defective.

In older buildings you'll still find 2-hole outlets, but
in newer buildings you'll find 3-hole outlets.

If a plug only has 2 prongs, it'll still plug just fine into a
3-opening outlet; you just won't get the added safety of
a ground. However new appliances that use more power
now came with 3-prong plugs, and can't be plugged into
one of the older 2-prong outlets unless you use an
adapter (which can be purchased for about a dollar at
any hardware store).

James



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Remove "NOSPAM" from my address when sending me e-mail.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
-

"Alan" wrote in message
news
Hi All

Haven't been to some of those groups for a while:-)

Some of you will have seen this, but this is probably the best web-site
I've seen for a comparison and description of what you'll need for
connectors when you travel.

Electrical Connectors

http://www.topline.tv/lang/electrical/plugs.html

If you are travelling Europe, those variations in Switzerland and Italy
can catch you out. The two prong non-earth European plug will fit
either, but the Italian and Swiss earthed plugs will not fit a European
socket.

It is also misleading in showing only one 'European' style. In France, the
Schuko style is mostly used in the north, while the south uses a plug with a
separate offset earth pin, positioned about where the screw is in the lower
of the two sockets shown. Travel plugs will usually accommodate both, as
will plugs bought in France, but it is not a good idea to rely on Schuko
fittings bought elsewhere to work in the south.

If you are coming my way, note that the Australian socket shown is for a
15A plug with a higher (wider?) earth slot, the 10A earth is the same
height as the active and neutral.

As already noted, it is now illegal to supply domestic equipment in the UK
unless the plug has already been fitted (usually as a moulded-on item).
Plugs will usually now be found to carry the number BS 1363A, which means
they are made from a flexible material and are less prone to damage than
those made to BS1363.

Colin Bignell