US to UK Plug Adapter

[fo3nix]

I've bought something on eBay, from the US. Has ratings of 117Volts AC, 20Watts or less, and 50-60Hz.

Has a two pin plug, but comes with a note saying that it has a "polarized line cord plug," (one of the pins is slightly wider than the other, which is apparently the ground side).

Obviously I need an adapter to convert the voltage, but on most adapters I've seen that go from a US plug to a UK one, they don't mention anything about the polarized line.

Would something like this do?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000TI46S/ref= br_lf_li_1_2/202-4476353-2925448

[Top_Gooner]

I think the link you posted shows an adapter to allow UK plugs to be used all over the world (the plug fits in to the back of the adapter. You need an American version which will allow the American type plug and enable it to be plugged into a UK socket.

[fo3nix]

oops yes it does!

anyone know about the polarised thing though?

[qapmoc]

The original US power socket designed for this type of plug is now obsolete anyway, but as you say the wider pin is meant to be the neutral, the easiest way around the problem is to buy a 230/110vac isolating transformer, then it will not matter which is the live and which is the neutral on the 110vac side. Make sure that you buy an isolating transformer where the input and output windings are completely electricaly seperated and NOT a autotransformer which is not isolated between the input and the output.

[fo3nix]

have you got an example of one of those things? half of that doesn't mean a thing to me ;)

[helle]

I have ordered lots of r/c equipment from the states and use this adaptor:

http://www.beststuff.co.uk/voltage_conversion.htm

[helle]

By happy coincidence it fits your criteria perfectly!

[helle]

Oh sorry, Im new to this! when you get to the site from the link you need to scroll down a bit and it is the model FS-12 for 11.99 (how do you make the pound sign work? - mine doesn`t!)

[fo3nix]

thanks a lot :)

hope it works with the polarising plug though. qapmoc or helle, can you confirm this for me please?

[helle]

You could perhaps telephone the helpline on the site? -sorry, I know thats obvious and not much help. qapmoc, I dont know much about transformers but I thought ALL were isolated from input and output - there being 2 seperate windings not electrically connected. The changes in the magnetic field induce current/voltage from primary to secondary winding.

[helle]

oops, dont mean to sound pedantic, but FACT

[helle]

oh noooo, Im a fool:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/autotransformer

[corbyhugh]

Here's where I get my adaptors from;

http://www.threedoubleyou.com/convertpower.htm

scroll down the page,the USA/UK one near the bottom.

[qapmoc]

Hi helle, don't worry about it, the point is you checked it out and learned something new.