American Adaptor Plugs

[emma_llew]

I live in the UK and need an adaptor for an American plug so that I can use my electricals here... can't seem to find anything other than European ones though... any ideas where I could get one, or whether they actually exist?!

Thanks for any help.

[ChuckFickens]

loads of places, maplins for a start

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=2 9828&doy=2m11&C=SO&U=strat15

Goggle usa to uk adaptors and you get loads.

Remember they are on a different voltage to us so check your equipment will work on 110v

[ChuckFickens]

having re read your question I'm confused?

are you trying to use American electrical stuff in the UK? and you live here? if so it would be easier to cut the American plug off and put a UK one on.... but only if the equipment is rated for use on 240v

[ChuckFickens]

I'd already re read the question and got there :)

[Buenchico]

The vast majority of countries use electrical systems which supply electricity in the range 220V to 240V. (The UK has a nominal 230V supply). Travellers from any of those countries can use their appliances in any other country, simply by using a cheap adapter which allows for the various types of plugs which are used.

The USA (together with a very small number of other countries) has a 120V system. Plugging a US appliance directly into the the UK supply (using a simple adapter) would result in almost immediate (terminal) damage to the appliance.

You can't simply use an adapter plug. Instead, you need to use a device which incorporates a transformer to drop the voltage to that required by US equipment. Such devices are more expensive than simple adapters. Further, you have to ensure that they have the appropriate power rating, otherwise you'll simply burn out the transformer.

Maplin Electronics sell what you need. If you've only got low-power US devices (such as mobile phone chargers) a 45W converter might do the job (�17.99).
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?TabID=1&cr iteria=usb&ModuleNo=19413&doy=search&C=SO&U=St rat15
A 100W model costs �29.99, the 200W model costs �34.99 and the 300W version costs �39.99. (Unless you've got a lot of US devices, or if you require more power, it might be simpler and cheaper to buy UK electrical devices).

You can find your nearest Maplin store here:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/StoreLocator.aspx?

Chris

[J.JJ]

apart from the voltage difference of UK and US equipment, UK power supplies are 50Hz whilst those in the US are 60Hz so radio's and other such equipmewnt won't work.

[J.JJ]

apart from the voltage difference of UK and US equipment, UK power supplies are 50Hz whilst those in the US are 60Hz so radio's and other such equipment won't work.