plug adaptors [Matthew's Journal]

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Dear lazyweb,

If I wanted to go into town and buy a plug adaptor for a South African socket (into which I can plug my UK plugs), where should I try? Tesco (where I've bought similar things in the past) seems to only have US and European ones...

ETA: I've ordered one from the intertubes...
ETA: ...which has arrived :)

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There are 20 comments on this entry. (Reply.)

Got a maplins around?

You should be able to find an "international" plug set that will include SA.

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I've had a look at their online catalogue, and the two "universal" ones don't seem to include SA (based on the pictures...)

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If all else fails, you're likely to be able to get one at the airport (Heathrow?) as part a multi-plug set.

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When I was there that sort of thing was easily found in the malls - air, the main difference is that South African plugs have round pins UK plugs have square pins. I may even have such an adaptor in the cellar - I'll try to remember to look today or tomorrow; I could easily post it to you if I have. It's more likely I have a SA to UK adaptor, however.

Otherwise, contact the person or hotel where you will be staying and ask them to get a couple in advance of your arriving. Voltage is the same, I think.

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Yeah, the voltage is similar (and my laptop, which is the thing I want to plug in, seems happy to cope with a pretty wide range of voltages). Asking the hotel is a good idea; thanks.

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For laptops, assuming the PSU has a "block" with a detachable kettle lead style flex that plugs into the mains, it's probably easier and cheaper to buy a flex once you're out there (what's the ZA equivalent of Maplin?). It certainly made things easier charging my MP3 player with a European flex rather than messing around with a UK->Europlug adaptor. Most PSUs are multi-voltage and take whatever you give them.

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They are one of the old standard british types (BS546) - which are still used in some places today (eg: stage lighting).

I actually walked past some of the plugs in B&Q yesterday. You could wire one onto a 4 way adapter to make your own multiway solution (though it would be wise to use a fused adapter since the incoming is 15A).

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My boyfriend has done this for his trips to Greece. Euro plug on end and then four good British sockets.

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Boots? I have one where you can wiggle the pins around to make them fit different types of socket.

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I have an 'all-countries' adapter that I bought from Argos, that claims to support this configuration. I've just checked on the Argos site, and they don't seem to have it any more.

You can still get these plugs (when I was at college, the sockets in my room were all of this type and the maintenance team provided home-made adapters, all very safe) so if you fancy a homebrew job, that would be possible. Just a) make sure that it's appropriately fused, b) make sure it doesn't look suspicious when going through security.

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On my recent trip to Africa, I got one at the airport and never used it - the current UK plug was standard everywhere (except the resort in Zanzibar, which was a French style).

I'm happy to post mine to you if you like.

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I have a couple of the round pin plugs (not adaptors) if you want them. The place I lived in the first year in Manc used them and I bought a few in Woolworths to replace the standard plugs on clock/kettle etc.

These say 5A on them, but I guess (without opening it up) that;s the fuse.

I've got to go to Coventry tomorrow morning, so if you want I could meet you somewhere on the way back to Leamington.

Edited Date: 2009-08-03 01:03 pm (UTC)

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Thanks; I have ordered one from the intertubes (before you posted this comment), that should get here in time!

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The plugs themselves are not fused, rather they rely on the fuse at the distribution board. There are (at least) three sizes - for 2, 5 and 15A appliances which are designed only to fit in the appropriate socket and are not interchangeable. It is the larger 15A one that is used in South Africa.

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If you have a plug adaptor for a US or european socket (ie plug your UK plug into it and it has USA-style or Europe-style pins), you are bound to be able to buy a USA-to-SA or Europe-to-SA adaptor at the airport in SA when you arrive. (And go through two adaptors, I mean.)

Some business-oriented hotels even have a range of different geographical plug sockets in the rooms, especially USA-style sockets.

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I'll take my dual-purpose EU and US adaptor with me :)

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South African mains plugs are UK stage-lighting mains plugs. Maplin is therefore likely to sell them.

Alternatively, you can buy a South African to IEC lead here. They'll also do figure-of-eight and figure-of-twelve if you call and ask.

…but it seems you've already found something.

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Bah. If I'd seen this earlier I'd have offered you mine!

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If it doesn't arrive in time (I'm catching up so don't know if I'm too late!) I have one on my desk at work from when I went there last year. But I'm not in work until Monday so this comment is quite useless really :)

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Thanks, but it has arrived safely :)

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Matthew's Journal

plug adaptors

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