US -> UK plug convertor

Oct 16, 2004 13 Replies

Any ideas where I can pick one up ? - I have a "wall-wart" PSU with moulded plug pins, and I need to be able to use it in the UK.



The PSU handles 100-240V but getting a travel adaptor the "other" way around (ie. not UK -> US) in this country seems a little tricky.



Failing that, the connector blocks are coming out and i`ll botch it together onto a flex :-p


  • I have got a US -> UK autotransformer around here somewhere, but i`m sure its only rated for about 100W which may not be enough for the electronic gadget I need to plug in.


** I have a cigarette lighter connector for it, and failing that, i`m going to end up getting one of those stupid bloody cigarette lighter things that you can stick in a 5.25" drive bay on the `puter :-}


iirc CPC do one:

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sPoNiX

A good DIY approach might be to remove the innards and put them in an empty UK-style wall-wart box! CPC do them...

I`d probably prefer just an adaptor for now, as I might need it back in a US-stylee before long :-p

Maplin do an American 3-pin chassis socket (Item JK19V) for 99p - and also a

2-pin in-line socket. You would probably have to mount the chassis socket in a little box, and wire up a cable into it.

If this is a two pin US plug , then the £ shop does 2 13A plus to US 2 pin sockets for a £ normally.

Regards Capitol

A 13 amp to shaver adaptor will usually take a US plug for low current stuff.

I have a box full. They cannot be sold in the UK because the outlet is unshielded (you can poke wires in and get a nasty surprise). If you want one let me know, its free but if you survive a contribution to REMAP

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would be appreciated.

Belkin sell one. It's a folding all-in-one anything to anything converter. i.e. US/Europe/NZ/UK can be converted between any of the combinations of plugs and sockets just by folding bits up and down.

I have one on the desk at the moment, I use it for my laptop as I zoom about the world in my intriguing jet-set lifestyle.

Spare change?

The local Tesco's here (Twickenham) stock them in their travel section bit, branded with the Samsonite label.

HTH

Roger

One thing to be aware of with these travel adaptors which allow non-UK appliances to plug into a UK BS1363 socket is that may do not have a fuse.

Ergo, there is a no protection other than the 32A breaker or fuse and unless there is a fusible link in the transformer or other suitable safety device, it is somewhat hazardous.

.andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

In article , Colin Wilson writes

I assume you mean your wall-wart has American pins.

A shaver adapter is cheap and works well. Good ones even have shuttered pins.

Thanks for the replies everyone - I might have something sorted now -=20 Maplins sell them for =A32.99 although it`ll need a little "hacksaw=20 adjustment"...

--=20 Please add "[newsgroup]" in the subject of any personal replies via email

--- My new email address has "ngspamtrap" & @btinternet.com in it ;-) ---

They're called shaver adaptors an available all over the place (supermarkets, drug stores, etc.)

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