Talk:Electrical systems/Archive

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Nice diagrams! Are you going to put in more soon? Here is a nice reference page for the plug configs. (WT-en) Fuzheado 00:53, 1 Feb 2004 (EST)

What other countries are using 110V ? (WT-en) Wojsyl 05:09, 30 Jan 2005 (EST)
 * You're link is now a dead link, but there's an archived copy of it here from July 2004 if you want to use it. 👍  Seagull123  Φ  16:38, 21 August 2015 (UTC)

Laptops
I don't believe it. Are there any laptops that require grounding ? (WT-en) Wojsyl 12:47, 1 Feb 2005 (EST)


 * I think what is meant is that some laptop PSU's come with a plug with a grounding pin, that will not fit in outlets, that are not grounded. Then you need an adaptor. --(WT-en) elgaard 13:52, 1 Feb 2005 (EST)


 * Still, seems weird. Have you seen a laptop PSU like this, where one could not simply replace the connecting cable with the plug ? Aren't we inventing things here ? (WT-en) Wojsyl 17:30, 1 Feb 2005 (EST)


 * I would have thought so until I got my new Dell, which indeed has a 3-pronged plug, connected to the PSU with a weird-ass proprietary cable. So evidently these exist. (WT-en) Jpatokal 22:23, 1 Feb 2005 (EST)


 * They certaily do. I am traveling now and had to go to K-mart and buy a 3->2 plug adapter so I would not have to use my laptop in the bathroom (which have grounded plugs). Danish grounded plugs also have a pin, and can need an adapter. Of course you could cut off the plug and mount a two-pin plug. But you might prefer to ground it when you can, or you employer do not approve, etc. --(WT-en) elgaard 04:34, 2 Feb 2005 (EST)

Italy
The italien diagram is misleading. The holes have a smaller diameter, which mean they cannot be used with all plugs that would work in the "continental Europe" outlets. --(WT-en) elgaard 22:48, 31 Jul 2005 (EDT)

Having used the two-pin plugs on a number of occasions in hotels in Italy, I have found that the Italians have two different standards for these plugs. I have been able to buy convertors for both here in the UK - once I understood the difference. "European adaptors" claiming (simply) to be be ""european universal" are being misleading. The two standards are "amperage" based.  Either 7.5 amps or 10 amps.  The 10 amp adaptors do not fit easily into the 7.5 amp receptacles, though they can be forced in and work.  Possibly with damage to both plug and receptacle.  The difference appears to be the pin diameter.  The 10 amp pins have a visibly larger diameter.  Quartic 11.32 30 April 2007 (BST)

Israel
The Israel diagram is also misleading. In 90 % of israel sockets, the two holes have semi-circular form, alowing them to be used with the "continental Europe" outlets. --(WT-en) jarondl 15:19, 2 Oct 2006 (IST)

hairdryer
That thing about testing voltage using a hairdryer, is that correct? I'd guess that if the engine spins fast despite being set to "Slow", this means it's fed 240V while set to 120V, not the other way around. Problem is, I'm easily confused so I thought I'd check here first before editing ;) {(WT-en) Peirz 23:02, 11 April 2007 (EDT)}
 * I have edited that section out. It could work if you know what you are doing, but would be dangerous if you make a mistake. (WT-en) Davidbstanley 03:23, 12 April 2007 (EDT)

Looking for a converter
I am going to London & I want to bring my laptop, I need to find a converter/adapter that can handle every one I find says it does not work on stuff anything but hair dryers.

I don't want to get the wrong one & blow-up my laptop.

Thanks for any help -OX_Bigly
 * Check the power adaptor for your laptop. It should give an input voltage range. It will hopefully say something like 100-240. It might say 90-250. The important thing is that it should include 240. If it does, you can connect your laptop to a UK/European supply with any problems. You will just need to by an adaptor plug so that the US plug you have will physically go into a UK socket. These are readily available at the airports. (WT-en) Davidbstanley 02:55, 13 February 2008 (EST)


 * Also, check to see if it says 50-60Hz. --(WT-en) hopha 12:07, 14 February 2008 (EST)


 * One other option for laptops: there are replacement adapters available for many models (typically these are an external switching power supply which drops line voltage to a regulated 18V DC, although this depends on the computer). If your current laptop power supply isn't dual voltage, go to a computer store and buy one which is. The same could also be said for other AC to DC adapters, such as mobile 'phone chargers, if they match a standard and inexpensive adapter type (European Union is trying to standardise mobile 'phone as microUSB for recharging, so if you have such a 'phone just buy a local charger at destination). K7L (talk) 23:33, 2 November 2012 (CET)

Map of Frequency for Japan and Easterness/Westerness
It'd be nice to see a map of Japan showing power frequency use.

The use of the terms "Eastern" Japan and "Western" Japan is insufficient for foreigners. One is usually told that "Eastern" Japan uses 50 Hz, and that "Western" Japan uses 60 Hz, with examples of a few cities, but since Japan is long and skinny with a considerable North/South dimension, it's not clear to a foreigner what is meant by "Eastern" and "Western" Japan. By "East" and "West", one can mean side, as in West coast and East coast, or one can mean which end, such as North-East end versus South-West end.

The tiny part for Japan on the world map, http://wikivoyage.org/upload/shared//thumb/d/db/800px-Map_of_the_world_coloured_by_voltage_and_frequency.png/400px-800px-Map_of_the_world_coloured_by_voltage_and_frequency.png, seems to indicate that by "Eastern" Japan and "Western" Japan, one does not mean East coast and West coast, but rather Northern or North-Eastern Japan and South-Western Japan. An extra map, just for Japan would help. So would less artful use of "Eastern" and "Western" 24.26.128.185 17:39, 4 March 2008 (EST)

Districts
This article is getting long and should be split into districts. Any suggestions on how to go about this? --(WT-en) Peter Talk 12:16, 23 October 2008 (EDT)


 * I don't have any problems with current size, I actually think it's a quite well layed out guide. --(WT-en) Stefan (sertmann) Talk 16:42, 7 July 2009 (EDT)

Adaptor
What does a universal adaptor cost from C to all? Does it fit all kinds of sockets? Isn't there problem with the frequency? Thanks in advance. (WT-en) Ferike333 16:31, 7 July 2009 (EDT)
 * Erm, Wikivoyage is a global site, and I suspect the price varies greatly between say the United States and Zimbabwe. As for the other questions; some of it is answered in the article, some are probably better left for another forum, atleast if you're looking for a quick answer - since most of us aren't electricians but travellers :) --(WT-en) Stefan (sertmann) Talk 16:40, 7 July 2009 (EDT)


 * Thank you.You're right. I should be more attentive. Nearly everything was included except the price. I just hope there's someone from Hungary reading it and having an adaptor bought not so much formerly :) 87.97.119.121 03:00, 8 July 2009 (EDT)

Electrical plugs
Why don't we make little plug icons for the electrical outlets so everybody knows what kind of plug they need to bring when they look at a glance at the entire article? I don't think this move is at all unreasonable. --(WT-en) Destron Commander 23:04, 16 April 2009 (EDT)
 * Currently, each country has an Info Box which lists its electrical system, and a link to the fairly extensive Electrical systems page. Are you proposing that icons should be added next to these specifications in the Info Boxes for each country, or in a more general sense for all destinations? --(WT-en) Jtesla16 23:30, 16 April 2009 (EDT)
 * Yes, any destination we have provided info on electricity. I just think it's a good idea to give a little icon to give a heads up for prospective travellers. While there is a link to electrical systems article, some people might take too much time or not even able to figure out which plug to bring at all. --(WT-en) Destron Commander 22:58, 18 April 2009 (EDT)
 * Even a little row of icons with the type names underneath, either somewhere near the top or big enough that you find it when skimming through. If people are going to be clicking to this page to find out what the plug looks like, we should make sure it's there.

East Africa
The map is wrong for the east African region, Kenya and Tanzania both use the G type socket, but the map only shows this for northern kenya, with southern Kenya and Tanzania being displayed wrongly as using A&B/D&M.

Grounding & Surge Protectors
''In some countries like ex-USSR ones no grounding is available even when grounding pin is present in the socket. In these cases your surge protector is only a decoration and won't protect against anything.''

Not true, surge protectors have to protect hot-neutral as well as hot-ground. Many appliances don't even have a ground wire. There's no electric shock protection, however.

'And not true to you either.' The surge protector sends to ground damaging spikes it detects. If there is no ground then your equipment is at risk. All surge protectors have an indicator light that show protection is active when lit. When this light is not lit, the surge protector has either been damaged or there is no adequate earth ground connected. —The preceding comment was added by ‎Lbrown48127 (talk • contribs)